Large-scale warfare going on around here now. Japs are reinforcing Solomons and have made a landing at Fall River [the US code name for Milne Bay]. Glad I'm not there. Unless the Aussies have got in some better troops, the Japs will take the place without very much trouble.
Diary of Captain Hyman Samuelson, 96th Engineer Battalion, US Army, 26 August 1942. Read his account.
On the night of 25 August 1942, 2,000 Imperial Japanese Navy troops landed in barges on the northern coast of Milne Bay. A further 800 reinforcements would arrive later.
The Japanese landed at the wrong place, some 11 km east of the planned site. This miscalculation made it easier for Australian troops to block their access along the coastal flats.
The night of the landing, there was low cloud and heavy rain. But having an airfield nearby gave the Australians an advantage. RAAF bombers could quickly target Japanese forces during any break in the weather, whereas Japanese planes had to come from further away at Buna, Lae, and Rabaul. They also often lost communication with their troops on the ground. This meant that most of their air raids were unsuccessful.
RAAF Kittyhawk aircraft damaged many of the Japanese landing barges. This prevented them from undertaking waterborne flanking movements along the coast. They also destroyed Japanese ammunition and supplies. They were supported by USAAF bombers from Charters Towers, Queensland. One of these sank a Japanese transport ship.
Following the landing, the Japanese troops began advancing along the coast towards the Australian base. The Battle of Milne Bay had begun.
Gallery
Gallery for `Japanese land marines at Milne Bay`
Artwork: Barge and cargo ship, Gilli Gilli harbour, Milne Bay
Photo: Japanese invasion barge
Photo: Hoisting the Union Jack on a captured Japanese barge
Photo: View of Japanese landing site at Milne Bay
Photo: Wreckage of Japanese barge and equipment
