Muschu Island is an idyllic Pacific setting; 16km long, 13km wide. It is located 13km off the northern coast of PNG near Wewak. In 1945 it was occupied by the 27thJapanese Naval Base Force, commanded by Rear-Admiral S. Sato. The Australian forces were advancing, 40km away. 🧵
New Guinea north coast, March 1945: After being shot through the face in the Australian advance on Wewak, Private J.J. Parkes of 2/2nd Infantry Battalion had to stagger for 5 miles (8km) to reach a jeep ambulance. Almost 2 yrs later (Feb. 1947) he was discharged from hospital. 🧵
New Guinea, near Wewak. April 1945: In stifling humidity men of Australian 2/1 Tank Attack Regiment watch one dig a pit for the gun trail of a 75mm Pack Howitzer mounted on a truck so it could attain a high elevation for firing on Japanese troops dug in on a high nearby feature.
HMS 🇬🇧 NEWFOUNDLAND, Fiji-class light cruiser. Sailed to New Guinea supporting Australian 6 DIV (Aitape-Wewak). On 14 June 1945 attacked Japanese 🇯🇵 naval base at Truk, Admiralty Islands then took part in home islands bombardment of Kamaishi 🇯🇵 Japan.
A good start to the PNGDF Smartphone Photography Course in Wewak, covering photo composition, the benefits of positive public perception of the force, and how it can assist on operations. Supported by participants of our earlier course in Port Moresby to provide context 🇵🇬🇦🇺
The Australian portion of the Aitape-Wewak campaign took place in northern New Guinea between November 1944 and August 1945. Aitape had been occupied by the Japanese in 1942
