U THE Sior:

MARINEs IN THE
CENTRAL
SOIOMONS

MAIuNis IN
WoRLD WAR II
COMMEMORATWE SE1rns

BY MAJOR CHARLES D. MELSON

U.S. MARINE CORPS (RET)
Up the Slot:
Marines in the Central Solomons
bi1 Major Charles D. Me/son, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret)

peration Watchtower threat to the Allies still fighting to next and used as supply bases and
was the codename as- also as artillery positions for dcliv-
wrest Guadalcanal from the enemy.
signed by the Joint It had to be taken, or at the very ering supporting fire for the main
Chiefs of Staff for the least, neutralized. U.S. pilots also attack on Munda. The plan called
reduction of the Japan- reported another field being com- for ground forces then to drive the
ese stronghold at Rabaul, on the pleted on Kolombangara across the Japanese into the Munda Point
easternmost tip of New Britain Is- Kula Gulf from New Georgia. area aiid once they were there, Al-
land in the Bismarck Archipelago. In response to these potential lied air, artillery, and tanks could
The plan called for the South Pacific threats, Operation Toenails, land- support the main landing. The
Area forces of Vice Admiral Robert ings in the New Georgia Islands in enemy "would be annihilated or
L. Ghormley (relieved in November the Central Solomons with the cap- forced into a costly withdrawal,"
1942 by Vice Admiral William F. ture of Munda as the primary objec- according to the Allied concept of
Halsey) to move up the chain of the tive, were planned, scheduled, and the operation.
Solomon Islands toward Rabaul, mounted. The first step leading to For Toenails, Rear Admiral Rich-
beginning with the Guadalcanal the invasion of New Georgia was mond Kelly Turner, Amphibious
landings on 7 August 1942. In De- the occupation of the Russell Is- Force Commander, divided his as-
cember that year, patrol flights tak- lands, 65 miles northwest of signed forces into two task groups:
ing off from Henderson Field on Guadalcanal, which would serve as Western Force, which he would per-
Guadalcanal and from the decks of a forward base on which airfields sonally command, was to seize Ren-
U.S. fleet carriers in the waters would be constructed. Operation dova, Munda, and Bairoko. The
around the Solomon Islands discov- Cleanslate on 21 February 1943 saw Eastern Force, under Rear Admiral
ered the Japanese hard at work on a the Marine 3d Raider Battalion George H. Fort, also an experienced
well-camouflaged airfield at Munda (Lieutenant Colonel Harry B. Liv- amphibious force commander, was
on the northern end of New Geor- ersedge) land on Pavuvu, and the directed to capture Wickham An-
gia. This new field posed a definite 43d Infantry Division (less a regi- chorage, Segi Point, and Viru Har-
mental combat team) invade Banika. bor. Turner's ground commander
Both landings were unopposed. The was Army Major General John H.
On the Cover:
The approach fo Rendova Harbor as seen 11th Defense Battalion landed on Hester, who headed the New Geor-
from the deck of an LST carrl/ing Marines Banika the same day and had its gia Occupation Force (43d Infantry
ashore, It sails through the narrow Renard guns in place by noon. By 15 April, Division; Marine 9th Defense Bat-
Entrance with Rendova Peak in the back- Allied aircraft began operating from talion; the 136th Field Artillery Bat-
ground and the Lever Brothers' landing nf the first of two new airstrips the talion from the 37th Infantry Divi-
the right jus t n ron nd the bend. (Marine Seabees constructed on Banika. sion; the 24th Naval Construction
Corps Historical Collection) Battalion (Seabees); Company O of
The primary objective of Opera-
tion Toenails was the capture of the the 4th Marine Raider Battalion; the
At left: The objective of the Central
Soloinons campaign was the Japanese airfield airfield on Munda in the New Geor- ist Commando, Fiji Guerrillas; and
on Munda Point, which, in friendlij hands, gia group. Preliminary landings to assigned service troops). Fort's
would be a stepping-stone in the conquest of support the main effort were to be Eastern Force included Army
the Solomon Islands chain. The airfield runs made at Wickham Anchorage on Colonel Daniel H. Hundley's Army
west to east and a taxi-waif snakes through Vangunu Island, Viru Harbor, and 103d Regimental Combat Team
both sides of the field. Kokengolo fiji! is on the Bairoko Harbor areas of New (RCT), less a battalion with Hester;
its north side. This photograph records the
results of a Marine dive-bomber attack,
Georgia. Rendova Island and Companies N, P, and Q of the 4th
which resulted in a hit on a gas or atnmuni- smaller islands nearby, across Raider Battalion; elements of the
tion dump in the center of the pic furo. (De- Blanche Channel to the south of 70th Coast Artillery (Antiaircraft)
partnient of Defense Photo f USMCI 55454) New Georgia, were to be occupied Battalion; parts of the 20th Seabees;

i
 N TtwE SOLOMON ISLANDS
/943
u Er/Inny A/ BO...
ST MIITHIAS IS
-,0.- US A' BO...
ÖEM/RMI 1S US Nta,/ BO...
I Dr.o thai. 'nil nt/CO/P O9Flfl on 'h
US Ottone. t hi $oIoon. 0w/ng 943)
00 5
NEW aANOVER 'S os,,, Cs_ .
.iv,,_ a/ncta

PACIFIC OCEAN
NEW
IRELAND mass,asa' s,$,,(c O
ISLAND
Cs ¡00.0, 4,w030

BISMARCK flßa.r .,n.&a -

ARCHIPELAGO
:jcPEEN ISLANDS

w050 a/t'ECC tUNA ISLAND

/Sfl &O)C(ST(I ran ./,L0 aus' SO
I1StA044/ 4/fl/ICC a/fi,,, j OtiS 4"(CO
0 ONIONS JAVA IS
BOUGA/NV IL LE 04
HEW BRITAIN ISLAND SL ANO ç,çy.ç
C.'cflrfl
4E(D -
asse Pt /øf4L O
.t/ /St/ILO
(.0.4-SS auQ5ra
C ROIS E U L
SL ANO
SHORT L AN D
ISLAND
TREASURT IS,
\
et'
AVELLA IS SANTA ISABEL ISLAND
. I.OM8AhGARA
-sato NEW

on a/fl/Ito
s/fl/rca SE ORGIA
StAND

e: :::WC:\ SL/tOS 4/fl(

RE N DO VA
MAL AIT A
ISLAND
ISLAND
4/fl/ft O
RESISO
a/St/fc00

'c-stool
a,n,(to \C400f'
Sat/Ft O
C
;an "n'fao

COP4L SEA S
cNNELL ISLAND

Col Harry B. Liversedge commanded the
ist Marine Raider Regiment and the XiV
Corps Northern Landing Group. His mixed
Army and Marine command was used as
infantry rather than in the special opera-
tions role for which the raiders had been
trained and equipped. isolated from the
naín attack ou Munda, he had to commit
his forces to supporting operations.
Marine Corps Historical Collection
and service units. Colonel Harry B. base personnel. Marines from the
Liversedge's ist Marine Raider 10th and 11th Defense battalions
Regiment (less the 2d, 3d, and 4th were in reserve as reinforcements.
Battalions) was designated ready Defending the New Georgia Is-
reserve for the operation, while the land Group were the Southeast De-
Army's 37th Infantry Division (less tach?nent of Major General Noboru
the 129th RCT and most of the Sasaki and the 8th Combined Special
148th RCT) was held in general re- Naval Landing Force under Rear Ad-
serve on Guadalcanal ready to miral Minoru Ota (later to die as
move on five days' notice. commander of Japanese naval
Hester's corps headquarters was forces at Okinawa); subordinate
formed by taking half of the 43d Di- units included the 13th Infantry Reg-
vision staff, the rest remaining with iment, 229f h Infantry Regiment, Kure
the Assistant Division Commander, 6th Special Naval Landing Force, and
Brigadier General Leonard F. Wing, the Yokosuka 7th Special Naval Land-
USA. Over 30,000 men were in the ing Force. New Georgia and Kolom-
units assigned to the New Georgia bangara, and enemy outposts on
Occupation Force, the majority of Rendova, Santa Isabel, Choiseul,
which were Army troops, Marine and Vella Lavella, were strongly de-
and Seabee units, patrol-torpedo fended. The number of Japanese oc-
(PT) boat squadrons, and naval cupying the outlying islands was
 Marine Corps Historical Collection
LtCol William J. Scheyer, third from the left, was the 9th De- left, from Admiral Nimitz' CinCPac headquarters at Pearl Har-
fense Battalion commander. He is shown at his New Georgia bor, and Maj Zedford W. Burriss of the 10th Defense Battalion
command post with Col John W. Thomason, Jr., second from the on the left.

comparatively small. The forces on
Kolombangara were "estimated" at
10,000 troops while those on New
Georgia were figured to be between
4,000 and 5,000.
ist and 2d Marine Aircraft Wing
squadrons based in the Russells
and Guadalcanal under the control
of Brigadier General Francis P.
Mulcahy's 2d Marine Aircraft Wing
forward echelon staff would pro-
vide air support for the operation.
The staging areas for the attack on
New Georgia were Guadalcanal
and the Russell Islands, where the
Marine 4th Base Depot, com- they radioed information about
manded by Colonel George F. Japanese troop, air, and naval sight-
Stockes, established a supply dump ings and movements to Allied lis-
for XIV Corps. tening stations. With the exception
In mid-Spring 1943, reconnais- of two or three members from each
sance parties from the units slated patrol party who remained behind
to take part in the New Georgia to arrange for guides and to give
campaign began patrolling in the homing signals to Allied vessels on
areas designated for landings. their approach, all patrols returned
Solomon Islanders acted as guides to their parent units by 25 June
and scouts led by British resident 1943. For these individuals, the
administrators and Australian navy campaign was already underway.
intelligence personnel, who, as The Solomon Islands were some
Coastwatchers, hid in the hills in of the least known and underde-
the enemy rear areas. From here veloped areas in the world. John

The Central Solonions campaign was launched by the raiders at familiar sage-green herringbone twill and camouflage utility uni-
Viru Harbor before the landings at Rendova and the Dragons forms which were worn during the campaign by tile raiders. The
Peninsula. A burial detail renders honors to those Marines who firing squad is armed wit/i Garand M-1 rifles.
were killed in action. The Marines here are clothed in both the
Department of Defense Photo (USMC) 57581

3
 Under The Southern Cross
Marine Troop List
I Marine Amphibious Corps** Marine Transport Squadron 253 2d Separate Wire Platoon*
Forward Echelon Flight Detachment 3d Special Weapons Battalion**
Medical Battalion Marine Fighter Squadron 121* 4th Defense Battalion**
Company A Marine Fighter Squadron 122* Headquarters & Service Battery
Company B Marine Fighter Squadron 123' 155mm Artillery Group
Motor Transport Battalion Marine Fighter Squadron 124*** 90mm Antiaircraft Group
Company A Marine Scout-Bomber Squadron 132* Special Weapons Group
Signal Battalion Marine Scout-Bomber Squadron 141 9th Defense Battalion*
ist Medical Battalion** Marine Torpedo-Bomber Squadron 143 Headquarters & Service Battery
Detachment Marine Scout-Bomber Squadron 144* 155mm Artiller Group
ist Marine Raider Regiment* Marine Fighter Squadron 214*** 90mm Antiaircraft Group
Headquarters Company Marine Fighter Squadron 215*** Special Weapons Group
ist Raider Battalion Marine Fighter Squadron 221 Tank Platoon
Headquarters Company Marine Fighter Squadron 222** 10th Defense Battalion*
Company A Flight Detachment Tank Platoon
Company B Marine Scout-Bomber Squadron 232** 11th Defense Battalion*
Company C Marine Scout-Bomber Squadron 233* Battery E
Company D Marine Scout-Bomber Squadron 234*** Battery K
4th Raider Battalion Marine Scout-Bomber Squadron 235** Marine Scout Bomber Squadron 236**
Headquarters Company Flight Detachment Marine Night Fighter Squadron 531 *
Tank Platoon Company N 2d Platoon, Battery A
Marine Aircraft Group 25*** Company O 4th Base Depot**
Headquarters Company P
Marine Service Squadron 25 Company Q *Ne%v Georgia only
Marine Transport Squadron 152 2d Marine Aircraft Wing* **Vella Lavella only
Marine Transport Squadron 153 Forward Echelon ***Nev Georgia and VeBa Lavella

Miller, Jr., himself a former Marine, lands had much in common, he wet tropical climate. There were no
veteran of Guadalcanal, and after went on, and "much that is com- roads, major ports, or developed
the war an Army historian, consid- mon is unpleasant." The islands facilities. New Georgia was all of
ered it "one of the worst possible were mountainous, jungle covered, this, and more.
places" to fight a war. All the is- pest-ridden, and possessed a hot- The New Georgia campaign
began for the ist Marine Raider
Allied Inudings were met by ground and air defense, as seen in titis photograph taken Regiment when Admiral Turner re-
from tite LISS Algorab (AKA 8) on D-Day, 30 June 1943. Japanese were bombing Ren- ceived a request for support and/or
uova Harbor in the background while the transport group moves to sea under "Condition rescue from the resident coast-
Red." During this raid the flagship USS McCawley (AP 10) was hit, but Allied air watcher at Segi Point, Donald G.
cover kept most of the ene,ni,' aircraft away. Kennedy. The Japanese were mov-
Marine Corps Historical Collection
ing into his base area where the Al-
lies planned to build an auxiliary
fighter strip. Responding to the re-
quest for help, Turner loaded Lieu-
tenant Colonel Michael S. Currin's
4th Raider Battalion on high speed
destroyer transports (APDs) and
sent it north to Segi Point. Captain
Malcolm N. McCarthy met the
raiders in a dugout canoe to guide
the ships in. McCarthy felt certain
that Conipany P's commander, Cap-
tain Anthony Walker, would have
 t. LAAEL LA
LNDINS IN NEW 6EORGIA
2! ArARS - G JA15 5953
- Ars LA.S,OS
"N'SANA
O SPPsAA
1.4
NWt,MIO*S PINT
ROSTRO RA
CASQUAS SNOOP
A
T L LJ
SANA N SSAA 5515.05!

N t NS SA NC ARA
/'45
p,

G,
G,'. GN.AA. 745 SNLF

D,,. G'N SNIPI,

NASA NANA I

E W

G E O R G A

-N a
Wsd4tI O s'»...

LLA

qn,-' SANDOWS

his men's weapons at the ready, and linking up with Kennedy, Currin June, and on the night of 27 June, he
" kept hollering, 'Hold Your Fire!" turned his attention to his initial and his Marines set out by rubber
Currin went ashore with part of goal, the seizure of the protected boats across the mouths of the
his headquarters and Companies O anchorage at Viru Harbor. He had Akuru and Choi rivers for Viru.
and P, followed by Army and Navy to accomplish this prior to the ar- After an eight-mile paddle, the
forces to begin the airstrip. After rival of the invasion force on 30 raiders arrived at Regi Village early
on 28 June. Led by native guides,
The approach to Rendova Harbor as seen from the deck of an LSD carrying Marines Currin began the approach march
ashore. It sails through the narrow Renard Entrance with Rendova Peak in the background to Viru Harbor. Fighting a stubborn
and the Lei'er Brothers' landing at the right just around the bend. combination of terrain, weather,
Marine Corps Historical Collection
and Japanese patrols, the raiders
were short of their objective on 30
June. Meanwhile, the landing force
arrived on schedule and stood off
the beach after taking fire from
Japanese coastal defense guns.
The raiders launched their attack
at 0900, 1 July, to seize Tetemara
and Tombe Villages. Captain
Walker attacked Tombe with part of
his company, while the remainder
attacked Tetemara with First Lieu-
tenant Raymond L. Luckel's Com-
pany O. After six hours of fighting
and a Japanese counterattack, the
objectives were captured. Sergeant
Anthony P. Coulis' Company P ma-
chine gun squad finished mopping
up and searched for food and
 Individual Combat Clothing and Equipment
1943, the cotton sage-green herringbone twill util-
ity uniform was being issued to the troops in the
By field (although some camouflage clothing was
available) and to new Marines at the recruit depots.
These jackets and trousers were worn with field shoes,
leggings, and the Ml steel helmet. Individual combat
equipment was the distinctive Marine Corps 1941 pat-
tern that derived from earlier Army M1910 designs.
Basic components included the cartridge belt, belt sus-
penders, haversack, and knapsack; supplemented by
poncho, shelter half, entrenching tool, gas mask, and
canteens. Lieutenant Colonel Samuel B. Griffith Il, com-
manding the ist Raider Battalion, recalled that officers
and men landed with a basic allowance of ammunition, a
canteen of water, a battle dressing, and individual first aid
kit on the belt. In the pack were two days K-Rations, one
D-Bar (a highly enriched and very hard chocolate bar), to-
bacco, a change of underwear, three pairs of socks, a pon-
cho, and a pair of tennis shoes. The pack roll was made
from a shelter half, blanket, and "one utility garment." A
4th Raider Battalion Marine noted that at Vangunu they
"learned that one canteen of water was not enough. We
all had been issued a second canteen."

water. The 4th Raider Battalion lost during a typhoon. In the dark it from being the landing force reserve
13 killed and 15 wounded in this ac- was impossible to see the landing to being an assault force designated
tion. The Japanese defenders with- craft from the deck." Despite a con- the Northern Landing Group di-
drew, with an estimated 61 dead fused landing in poor conditions, rected to attack Japanese positions
and 100 wounded. Currin turned by afternoon the Marines and units on New Georgia's northwest coast
the beachhead over to the Army oc- of the Army 2d Battalion, 103d In- at the Dragon's Peninsula.
cupation force and was taken back fantry reached the Kaeruka River Three of the Ist Raider Regi-
on board ship and returned to and attacked the Japanese located ment's four battalions had been
Guadalcanal. The remainder of the there. This position was taken and sent elsewhere. Liversedge's landing
4th Battalion headquarters and two then defended. A member of Com- group consisted of the Marine raider
companies, led by battalion execu- pany Q, John McCormick, recalled regimental headquarters, the Ist
five officer Major James Clark, car- that the attack "was not very pro- Raider Battalion; the 3d Battalion,
ried out separate tasks in accord- ductive," but that a battle went on 145th Infantry; and the 3d Battalion,
ance with plans to secure Wickham all day with the Japanese, who had 148th Infantry Because the operating
Anchorage at Vangunu Island to gotten "quickly organized" and area was too far from the main land-
protect lines of communication fought back with their machine ing force for support, fire support
from the Russells and Guadalcanal guns and mortars. On 2 July, the and supply came from the sea and
for the New Georgia operation. On Japanese tried to land three barges air. Communications were depen-
30 June, Captain Earle O. Snell, Jr.'s with supplies, but were met on the dent upon radio until a land-line
Company N and Captain William beach and shot up. The raiders lost linkup could be made with the rest
L. Flake's Company Q supported 14 killed and 26 wounded securing of the occupation force to the south.
an Army landing force by going Vangunu.The next raider deploy- Liversedge was assigned several
ashore at Oloana Bay, where it ment was like those at Viru and tasks. First he was to land and
joined a scouting party and Coast- Vangunu, a supporting exercise to move against the Japanese forces at
watchers already there. Raider Irvin back the main XIV Corps effort to Enogai Inlet and Bairoko Harbor.
L. Cross later wrote that he and the take Munda Point. Soon after the Then he was to block the so-called
other raiders disembarked from his Rendova landings, Colonel Liv- Bairoko Trail and disrupt Japanese
assault transport "in Higgins Boats ersedge's mission was changed troop and supply movements be-

6
 ion. Captain Thomas A. Mullahey's
Company A was on the left, Cap-
tain John P. Salmon's Company C in
the center, Captain Edwin B.
Wheeler's Company B on the right,
with Company D under Captain
Clay A. Boyd in reserve. Employing
machine guns and grenades, the
battalion advanced toward the
Japanese position unti! halted at
nightfall. The Japanese were well
dug-in and well armed with ma-
chine guns and mortars, but their
heavy-caliber coast defense artillery
Department of Defense Photo (USA) 11 1SC324513 could only be used seaward. Sup-
Soldiers and Marines consolidate their positions and construct barbed wire obstacles on ported by 60mm mortars, the
the Dragons Peninsula after the attack on Bairoko, Their apparent condition, mixture of raiders resumed the attack the
clothing, and the ever-present jungle provide eloquent testimony to the physical de- morning of 10 July, and took Enogai
mantis of the cnlnpaign.
Village. Richard C. Ackerman, a
tween Bairoko Harbor and Munda. Group's supply transport in a re- Marine with Company C, remem-
The enemy, weather, and terrain to- gion without roads. bered "we soon came to a lagoon
gether conspired against this ven- Undeterred by the situation, Liv- which stopped our forward motion.
ture from the beginning and the ersedge moved out on jungle trails Our right flank, though, did over-
raiders found themselves in a pro- in pouring rain to his first objec- run the enemy's warehouse and
tracted frontline fight rather than a tives, leaving two Army companies food storage area." The Japanese
swift strike in the Japanese rear. to secure the rear. In Griffith's lost 300 men at a cost of 47 Marines
One of Liversedge's battalion com- words, they "alternately stumbled killed, another 74 wounded, and 4
manders, Lieutenant Colonel up one side of a hill and slipped men missing. The battalion had
Samuel B. Griffith Il, observed on and slid down the other." The Ist fought for 30 hours without rations
embarking at Guadalcanal that al- Raider Battalion pushed on to reach or water resupply. Army troops car-
though they shot off no fireworks the Giza Giza River by the night of ried up water and K-rations and
on Independence Day, "we con- 5 July with the larger and heavier candy bars received in an air drop.
soled ourselves with the know!- Army battalions following. Here The elimination of the Japanese
edge that there would be plenty of Liversedge split his force. The 3d coast defense artillery at Enogai al-
those later." Battalion, 148th Infantry was sent lowed American destroyers and
On 5 July, the Northern Landing south to block the Bairoko Trail torpedo boats to operate unham-
Group landed at Rice Anchorage and the remaining units went pered in the Kula Gulf, where they
east of Enogai and Bairoko. A nar- north towards the Japanese on the disrupted Japanese barge traffic.
row beach, difficult landing condi- Dragons Peninsula. On the night of Under Japanese air attacks, the
tions, and concerns for an enemy 6 July, the naval Battle of Kula Gulf Ist Marine Raider Regiment consol-
naval attack caused the destroyer- erupted with the resultant loss of idated its gains and blocking posi-
transport force to depart, taking the the cruiser USS J-Ieleia (CL 50). tions, while Colonel Liversedge
raiders' long-range radio with it. This isolated the Northern Landing studied the Bairoko Harbor de-
The landing from eight APDs and Group from even naval support. fenses. Communications, resupply,
destroyers (DDs) was unopposed The villages of Maranusa I and and fire support were problem
and met only by porters and scouts Trin were occupied and patrols areas. The Japanese improved their
(Corry's Boys) under Australian were soon in contact with the own dispositions and continued to
Flight Officer John A. Corrigan. enemy, members of the 6th Special bring in troops and supplies from
Griffith described them as small Naval Landing Force, so-called Kolombangara by sea and then
men, "but their brown bodies were Japanese "marines." moved them overland to Munda
wiry and their arm, leg and back On 9 Jul the Enogai defenses Point. The main Japanese line was
muscles were powerful. They wore were reached and, after an air on a ridge in front of the Ameri-
gaudy cheap cotton lap-lap, or strike, Liversedge launched an im- cans. The enemy fighting positions
lavalavas." These 150 New Geor- mediate attack with Lieutenant were log and coral bunkers that
gians were the Northern Landing Colonel Griffith's ist Raider Batta!- made excellent use of terrain and in-
7
terlocking machine-gun fire sup- the shoreline to the north. One of sight of Bairoko Harbor. B now
ported by heavy mortars. On the Snell's men, Frank Korowitz, re- there was a loss of almost 250
night of 12-13 July, the Navy inter- membered feeling that he wanted to Marines, a 30 percent casualty rate.
cepted a Japanese troop landing at get up and run when Japanese at- The ist Marine Raider Regiment
Kolombangara. Four days later, on tacked by surprise at close range, had 46 killed and another 200 or so
17 July, Liversedge pulled the 3d hut "I also felt that I would rather wounded, and about half the
Battalion, 148th Infantry back to Trin he killed than have anyone know I wounded were litter cases. Liv-
Village for closer mutual support, was scared." Liversedge fed in his ersedge made no further headway
while other Army companies contin- remaining units to cover the gaps and withdrew that night to Enogai.
ued to hold the Rice Anchorage area that developed between the two It required another 150 men to
and communications routes. battalions and no longer had a re- move the casualties back and all
Reinforced on 18 july by the 4th serve. Walker recalled, "without units were in defensive positions by
Raider Battalion, Liversedge planned some kind of fire support (naval 1400, 21 july.
to attack Bairoko on 20 july 1943. gunfire or air) these raiders could By then, the effects of the fighting
The attack was launched on sched- not penetrate the fortified enemy and living conditions had taken a
ule despite the failure of a re- line." McCormick, with Company toll in sickness and exhaustion of
quested airstrike to arrive. Liv- Q, wrote that the Japanese had the Northern Landing Group. Liv-
ersedge sent in Griffith's battalion, plenty of time to prepare and had ersedge was ordered to hold what
followed by Currin's battalion, to "machine gun pits in the natural he had with available forces. Resup-
find an undefended flank or a shelter provided by the roots of ply and casualty evacuation were
breakthrough point. Griffith com- banyan trees and cut fire lanes by air and there was no further re-
mitted Wheeler's Company B and through the underbrush." The com- inforcement, except a 50-man de-
Company C under First Lieutenant bination of machine guns, mortars, tachment under Captain joseph W.
Frank A. Kemp. His other compa- and snipers guaranteed "almost in- Mehring, Jr., of the 11th Defense
nies had been used to bring these stant death" to any Marine caught Battalion that provided needed
two up to strength. Currin's battal- in these fields of fire. 40mm and .50-caliber antiaircraft
ion fielded four companies, but was At 1445, a Japanese mortar bar- guns at Rice Anchorage.
some 200 men understrength. rage was followed with a counter Bairoko Harbor was attacked by
Companies B and C soon stalled on attack in the ist Battalion area. destroyers and torpedo boats, and
the Japanese defenses. Captain After this, another assault at- bombed by B-i 7 Flying Fortresses.
Walker took Company P forward tempted by the Marines of Com- On 2 August, XIV Corps informed
for support, while Snell's Company pany Q lead by Captain Lincoln N. Liversedge that Munda Point was
N tried to find an open flank along Holdzkom bogged down within reached and his force should cut off
retreating Japanese near Zieta. On 9
ist Raider Regiment casualties from the attack on Bairoko had to he treated in August, the Northern Landing
place or evacuated by aircraft. Some 200 casualties were carried from the field,
then taken by rubber boat to Consolidated PBY Catalinas. After this picture was
Group linked up with elements of
taken a Japanese air attack disrupted this effort and damaged one aircraft. the 25th Infantry Division advanc-
Department of Defense Photo (USMC) 152113 ing from Munda Point and assumed
control of the Ist Marine Raider
Regiment. Scattered fighting contin-
ued around Bairoko until 24 August
when it was occupied by the 3d Bat-
talion, 145th Infantry. The Japanese
defenders, the Special Naval Landing
Force men, had pulled out by sea.
Occupying Corrigan's "Christian
Rest and Recreation" camp of
thatched lean-to's, the Marines to-
taled their casualties for this effort;
regimental headquarters had I
killed and 8 wounded, ist Raider
Battalion lost 74 killed and 139
wounded, 4th Raider Battalion had
54 dead and 168 wounded; and all
suffered from the unhealthy condi-
 Department of Defense Photo (USMC) 60483
The dead had to wait until the wounded were taken care of and not until after the Japanese had withdrawn or been solidly
the battlefield was secured to be buried. In some cases it was beaten before burial details could recover the dead Marines.

tions of the area. By 31 August 1943, of conditions to be found in the Cen- accomplished in 22 days, a feat that
the ist Marine Raider Regiment was tral Solomons. Some Marines from Admiral Halsey complimented.
back on Guadalcanal for reorganiza- the light antiaircraft group were One of the major equipment
tion scheduled in September, offi- withdrawn from gun crews to train changes for the campaign was the
cially noting the presence of "bunks, with the battalion's tank platoon for acquisition of 155mm guns as re-
movies, beer, chow." tank-infantry operations. The great- placements for the older M1918
est challenge in preparing for the French Grande Puissance Filloux
The Munda Drive and the campaign was Lieutenant Colonel (GPF) guns. The battalion ex-
Archie E. O'Neil's conversion of his changed 90mm guns with the Army
Fighting Win tu
seacoast artillery into a field artillery 70th Coast Artillery Battalion, giv-
Elements of four Marine defense unit, at the same time absorbing 145 ing the antiaircraft group new guns.
battalions played an important part new men into the group. This was High-speed and standard dual-
in the Central Solomons campaign. This picture gives a clear view of the beach congestion that plagued the landing of
Attached to the XIV Corps to sup- the artillen group wit/i its 155mm guns. At right is a .50-caliber antiaircraft
port of the attack on Munda Point gun of the Special Weapons Group.
was the 9th Defense Battalion, com- Marine Corps Historical Collection
manded by Lieutenant Colonel
William J. Scheyer. The battalion
was organized with an artillery
group (Batteries A and B), a heavy
antiaircraft group (Batteries C
through F), a light antiaircraft group
(Batteries G through I), and a head-
quarters and service battery The 9th
Defense Battalion's participation in
the Guadalcanal campaign from De-
cember 1942 had provided it needed
experience, as the island was typical

9
 Marine Corps Historical Collection.
The antiaircraft group of the 9th Defense Battalion moves ashore at TD9 tractor would soon prove too light to move through the
Rendova. Here a TD9 tractor pulls a 90mm gun from an LST. The muddy terrain beyond the beach.

mounts for 20mm guns were also augmented by a whole amphibious ted with the best equipment then
obtained. These were adapted by tractor platoon of nine vehicles available to Marine defense battal-
the 9th from 37mm gun mounts, from the 3d Marine Division. ions. In the words of Lieutenant
giving the light antiaircraft group On 27 June 1943, the battalion con- Colonel Scheyer, "the prospect of
greatly increased mobility by re- sisted of a total of 1,459 officers and closing with the enemy was all that
placing the stationary naval single- men, reinforced with additional per- was needed to supply morale."
mounts. The 9th Defense Battalion sonnel from the 3d Marine Division On 29 June, the 9th Defense Bat-
obtained additional .30-caliber and I Marine Amphibious Corps. talion was attached to XIV Corps for
heavy, water-cooled machine guns, Most of these Marines had been on the duration of the New Georgia op-
and trained the battalion band to Guadalcanal for seven months. At eration. The battalion was given the
employ them with Headquarters one time or another, 40 percent of mission assisting in the capture, oc-
and Service Battery. The battalion them had malaria and the debilitat- cupation, and defense of Rendova
acquired three Landing Vehicle ing effects of the tropics had been felt Island, by landing on the beaches
Tracked Alligator amphibious trac- by the entire unit. But the 9th was a south of Renard Channel entrance.
tors for the operation, and then was well-trained, experienced unit, outfit- Here it was to move immediately
into position to provide antiaircraft
The first Japanese aircraft shot down from the beach was credited to this gun crew on its defense. A third mission was to fire
first dni ashore. From the Jeff are lstLt William A. Buckinghamn, PFC Francis W. O'Brien,
Cpi Paul V Duhamnel, and PFC Nemo Hancock, Jr., of tile 9th Defense Battalion.
155mm guns on the enemy installa-
Department of Defense Photo (USMC) 56812
tions, bivouac areas, and the airfield
at Munda. As a fourth task, the tank
platoon would support the attack
on Munda Airfield. Fifth, the battal-
ion would be prepared to repel at-
tack by hostile surface vessels.
When the Japanese forces on New
Georgia Island were overrun, the
battalion would then move as a
whole or in part to Munda to de-
fend the field when Allied air units
moved in and began operating. All
these assigned tasks reflected the
battalion's varied capabilities.

10
 Marine Corps Historical Collection
A 40mm gun and crew look skiwnrd for Japanese aircraft as the run up on the beach in the background, as working parties unload
XIV Corps landing continues. Landing Craft Infantri,# (LCIs) are them by hand.

Lieutenant Colonel Scheyer said forces, meeting only light resistance. and contributed materially to the
on leaving Guadalcanal that the The battalion band soon took out an general success of the battalion on
Japanese "have a mistaken notion enemy machine gun position. Major those first days and the battalion
that they must die for their Em- Robert C. Hiatt's reconnaissance partY was "in their debt." On the first
peror and our job is to help them from the artillery group killed another day of landing, Battery E of the
do that just as fast as we possibly enemy soldier, who was said to have Antiaircraft Group set up on Koko-
cm." At 1600 on 29 June, the 9th's been stripped of souvenirs before hit- rana and was prepared to fire by
Lrst echelon, 28 officers and 641 ting the ground. The defenders with- 1645; all Special Weapons Group
enlisted Marines, combat loaded drew inland to harass the Americans light antiaircraft guns landed and
on board the USS Libra (AK-53) from the hills and swamps. were emplaced along the coast to
and USS Algorab (AK-25), the ves- Throughout the day, enemy air protect the XIV Corps' beachhead;
sels assigned to transport the battal- attacks were turned back by sites were located for the 155mm
ion, and sailed from Guadalcanal. friendly fighters. Allied fighters and the remaining 90mm batter-
At Munda, a Japanese defender ob- over the area on 30 June reportedly ies. Battery demolition crews ven-
served that a "blue signal flare from destroyed over 100 enemy aircraft. tured near and into enemy terri-
Rendova Point went up. I saw four One attack by Japanese float planes tory to blast out fields of fire for
enemy warships . . got through to strike at the naval the gun positions.
this morning,
rain clouds hovered over us. At task force and damaged Admiral Weather and terrain made unload-
Rendova, four cruisers, three de- Turner's flagship, USS McCawley ing and emplacement extremely dif-
stroyers, eight transports and count- (AP 10), so heavily that it had to be ficult for XIV Corps, the 43d Infantry
less numbers of boats appeared." sunk that night by a PT boat. At Division, and the 9th Defense Battal-
At 0635 the morning of 30 June, 1600, a lone Mitsubishi A6M Zeke ion. Torrential rains began on 30 June
the first units of the XIV Corps' as- fighter strafed the beach without and continued almost without cessa-
sault wave began landing on Koko- causing any damage and was dri- tion, rendering what passed for
rana Island and East Beach of ven off by defense battalion ma- roads impassable and causing great
Rendova. They were met by Coast- chine gun fire, without causing congestion on the beaches as men
watcher Flight Lieutenant D. C. Hor- damage. Both the Algorab and Libra and supplies came ashore. Areas be-
ton and guides from the amphibious were unloaded with the assistance lieved suitable for occupation proved
reconnaissance patrols. of the 24th Naval Construction Bat- to be swampy. Steel matting and cor-
Both on Kokorana and on Rendova, talion. The 24th, and other Seabee duroy roads constructed with co-
lead elements of the 9th foi.md them- units, supported the 9th in unload- conut logs were utilized, but even
selves landing ahead of the assault ing cargo and moving equipment these were ineffective. Tanks, guns,

:11
 The 'Green Dragon' Landing Ship, Tank
warfare in the Pacific required ships
with ocean-going capabilities that could also be
Amphibious
"beached" in the course of landing operations. This
requirement was met with the design and production of the
Landing Ship, Tank (LST) that was used in combat for the
first time in the Central Solomons, where it earned its nick-
name because of a camouflage paint scheme. There were
1,052 LSTs built during World War II for the U.S. Navy with
minor differences between the various classes.The LSTs had
elevators and deck ramps to connect the main deck and
tank deck, providing for smaller landing craft to be trans-
ported on the main deck, and a conning tower added over
the pilot house. They were armed with 40mm and 20mm
antiaircraft guns in twin and single mounts. The LSTs dis-
placed 1,653 tons, with a length of 328 feet, a beam of 50
feet, and were driven by General Motor diesels.

and vehicles of all types mired down
in the incredible mud and only the
sturdiest tractors or manpower extri-
cated them. The congestion of sup-
plies on the beachhead rendered
them and the troops moving them-
selves and the supplies inland vul-
nerable to enemy air attack.
In many cases, 9th Defense Bat-
talion equipment had to be disman-
tled and carried to assigned areas.
The 9th's motor transport section
performed as best it could with the
resources available and until the
majority of its vehicles burned out tion. All tractors were damaged
from the strain of operating in the eventually in the Japanese air at-
Rendova muck. Their task was tacks that followed.
made easier by the amphibious The 9th Defense Battalion's sec-
tractors, which were the only sure ond echelon arrived on LSTs (Land-
means of transportation and these ing Ships Tank) 395 and 354 and dis-
had troubles of their own as they embarked at Rendova on 1 July as
threw off their tracks on uneven ter- Allied fighter cover continued to turn
rain. "Frances," "Tootsie," and back enemy air attacks. Joseph J. Pratl
"Gladys" were three amphibious with Battery A, which came in on
tractors in the beach area manned LST 354, wrote the ship was "big and
by nine 3d Division Marines who slow moving, loaded with ammuni-
operated continuously keeping sup- tion of every description. Unload-
plies moving from position to posi- ing was done quickly, 155mm guns

12
 Department of Defense Photo (USMC) 60590
Supplies are landed b XIV Corps for CornAir New Georgia. The the dispersal of supplies which soon piled up at an unmanageable
terrain behind the beach did not allow for rapid movement and for rate and became extremely vulnerable to Japanese attack.

and their tractors soon made mud

and made a slime which made
walking around difficult to say the
least." By the end of the day, Cap-
tain Henry H. Reichner's Battery A
was in firing position. A third bat-
talion echelon arrived in LSTs 342
and 398 and disembarked on 2 July.
That morning Captain Walter C.
Well's Battery B was emplaced and
Battery A commenced shelling
enemy positions in the Munda area. Marine cows Historical collection
On 3 July, both batteries of "Long Sailors and soldiers make a corduroy road from coconut logs across an exceptionally
Toms" fired for effect on the Munda muddy spot.
airfield and enemy artillery positions A 155mm Long Tom is dragged through the mud of Rendova en route to a new position
on Baanga Island. At Munda a de- from which it could punish fapanese positions and at the same time defend against Japan-
fender wrote, "They must be firing ese counterattacks.
like the dickens. Sometimes they all Marine Corps Historical Collection
come at once. I don't exactly appreci-
ate this shelling."
The combat experience of the 9th
paid dividends, especially during
the first week ashore. The Marines
knew how to dig in for air attacks
and this saved lives. At 1335, 2 July,
18 Mitsubishi G4M Betty bombers
and Zeke fighter escorts entered the
area from the southwest and pat-
tern-bombed the beachhead, caus-
ing considerable damage and
many casualties. Zero fighters flew
over the beach area at tree-top level,
strafing and bombing the beach and
landing craft. Gasoline storage tanks

13
 Department of Defense Photo (USMC) 60656
Capt Henry H. Reichner's Battery A loads its Long Toms on an moves were staggered to provide continuous artillery support dur-
LCT to move to Pit-u Plantation from Tambusolo Island. These ing this phase and were carried out with speed and efficiency.
and an explosives dump were hit Battery B, was hauling ammunition Four 9th Defense Battalion men
for a Navy 40mm antiaircraft gun were killed, one was missing, and
and several fires were started in the
area. Battery A's Prati recounted, when the "LST was showered in 22 were wounded as a result of the
"we saw the bombers, we assumed water. You could feel the heat from raid. Damage to the battalion in-
them to be American B-25s. We hit the bombs. The noise was deafen- cluded two 155mm guns hit, two
foxholes and the earth shook like a ing." Army and Navy units suf- 40mm guns hit, three amphibious
rubber band as three bombs fell" fered the most from lack of prepara- tractors hit, one TDI8 tractor de-
near his battery tion and the area around the molished, and an unknown amount
On board a beached landing landing beach became known as of supplies and personal gear de-
ship, tank, Francis E. Chadwick, of "Suicide Point." stroyed. One bomb landed between
The Japanese struck back hard at the New Georgia invasion nne positions on Rendova. This area became known as "Suicide
force with bombers and fighters. Allied combat air patrols shot Point" after fuel and explosives dumps were hit during the 2
down many of the enemy, but some got through to damage Ma- July 1943 raid
Marine Cor Historical Collection

14
 Department of Defense Photo (USMC) 60624
Behind a revetment of sandbags and coconut logs, this 9th vigilant watch against Japanese air attacks on positions at the
Defense Battalion crew manning a 90itim antiaircraft gun keeps beach at Rendova.

the trail legs of one 155mm gun in returning from New Georgia who
trying conditions. Besides caring for
Battery A, but failed to detonate. the 9th's casualties at the battalion could not locate their own medical
This put the gun out of action until aid station set up on the exposed detachments.
the bomb was excavated, pulled East Beach of Rendova, battalion Battalion S-4 Major Albert F.
clear, and detonated. That day, the surgeon Lieutenant Commander Lucas was faced with the extremely
battalion bomb disposal teams suc- Miles C. Krepelas treated many difficult task of supplying the
cessfully removed or destroyed a Navy wounded, and Army troops widely dispersed elements of the
total of 9 bombs and 65 unexploded
projectiles of 105mm or larger (Over Casualties zoere treated at the 9th Defense Battalion and 43d Infantrij Division medical
9,000 pieces of smaller enemy or clearing stations. More than 200 Americans were killed or injured during the 2 July raid.
damaged friendly ordnance were Department of Defense Photo (usMc) 56829
recovered by the end of the cam-
paign by these teams). Some light
antiaircraft guns fired at the raiding
planes, but downed none. The dam-
age caused by this attack was due
in part to the lack of working sur-
veillance radar, and friendly fighter
cover had been withdrawn because
of weather. The battalion's SCR27O
and 516 radars had not yet been in-
stalled and the E Battery SCR268
radar had been fueled with diesel
from a drum marked "gasoline,"
putting it out of action at the time
of the attack.
Earning special credit during this
period were the battalion's attached
Navy corpsmen and doctors, who
performed their work in the midst
of enemy raids and under the most
15
 The 'Long Tom' 155mm M1A1 Gun
first defense battalions were equipped with
naval ordnance designed for shipboard mounting
The and modified for use ashore, often requiring ex-
tensive engineering and manhandling to emplace in sta-
tic positions. The war soon required the ordnance to be
mobile, which was accomplished by adapting Army
ordnance material. Obtained first were the standard
M1918 GPF 155mm guns. These were followed by the
MIAI 155mm gun employed by defense and corps ar-
tillery battalions throughout the war. This piece
weighed 30,600 pounds, had a split trail and eight pneu-
matic tires, was moved by a tractor, and was served by a
combined crew of 15 men. It could be pedestal mounted
on the so-called "Panama Mount" for its coast-defense
mission. It remained in the Marine Corps inventory long
after World War II.

battalion. Captain Lynn D. Ervin, morale by providing doughnuts fantry moved by landing craft to
Battery G commander, remembered and other baked goods during New Georgia. followed the next
that after he landed, working par- some of the more difficult periods. day by the 169th Infantry. The
ties from headquarters brought At this same time, XIV Corps Munda drive had begun.
around water and rations to the dis- began its Munda drive by moving The 9th's communications and
persed firing batteries until they from Rendova to New Georgia, radar personnel carried on vital in-
had established their own field supported by the Army 136th Field stallation work and respliced tele-
kitchens. The preparation and de- Artillery Battalion and the 9th De- phone lines as soon as they were
livery of food required a major ef- fense Battalion. Zanana Beach had damaged in the air raids. The air
fort throughout the campaign be- been selected for the 43d Infantry control and reporting system of the
cause the battalion elements were Division's landing. The division defense battalion and Commander
widely spread out in the target area order stated that the 43d, less the Aircraft New Georgia was installed
and the battalion had to feed all 103d Regimental Combat Team, on 4 July when Condition Red was
other units which did not have their would "land on New Georgia Is- sounded again. At 1430, the Japan-
own messing facilities. Hot meals land, capture or destroy all enemy ese attempted a repetition of the 2
were provided once a day and the encountered, and secure the Munda July raid as 16 Betty bombers and
artillery group's pastry cook raised Airfield." On 3 July, the 172d In- their fighter escort broke through
16
 - 4 -e
Department of Defense Photo (USMC) 60616
Vs/hile Marine antiaircraft artillery dealt with air raids, 155mm round-the-clock, in all weather, taking a toll of the defenders.
Long Toms were fired at targets some eight miles or more awai/

the Allied combat air patrol over- tion . . the flight entered a large
. chalked up to Battery E and Special
head and penetrated the area on the cloud. Pieces of planes were noted Weapons Group respectively. That
same course followed before. Zeke falling out of the cloud." This fire day cheers were heard all over Ren-
fighters roared in at tree-top level caught the enemy by surprise and dova "like a Babe Ruth homer in
strafing defenses. As the enemy of the 16 bombers only four got Yankee Stadium." Credit was given
planes came in, several light antiair- their bombs away. Battery E had ex- the operators of the range section,
craft guns opened fire and a few pended 88 rounds of ammunition though Frank LaMountain said if he
seconds later Captain Tracy's E Bat- and a world's record was estab- had not kept the generator going
tery on Kokorana Island began fir- lished. Twelve bombers and a this would not have been the case.
ing. Tracy recalled "bursts were fighter were destroyed by the 9th's The battalion had one officer killed
right on target, requiring no correc- fire, the bombers and the Zeke and three enlisted Marines wounded;
a heavy machine gun and the re-
A fire direction center processed target information from observation posts and air spotters, mote control system of one 40mm
which group commander LtCol Arch je E. O'IVeil and executive officer Maj Robert C. Hiatt gun were destroyed.
translated info firing data on Rendova.
Department of Defense Photo (USMC) 60596
On 5 July, a detachment of 52
men with four 40mm guns and four
.50-caliber machine guns under the
command of First Lieutenant John
R. Wismer moved to Zanana Beach
on New Georgia to provide antiair-
craft and beach defense protection
for the 43d Infantry Division which
had landed in that area.
Major naval surface actions oc-
curred on 12 July as the U.S. Navy
intercepted Japanese destroyers and
cruisers attempting to resupply
forces on Vila and Munda. The
ships' gunfire, sounding like mas-
sive thunder and looking like a
lightning storm, permitting little
sound sleep, was observed from

17
Rendova. The next day, a 90mm
battery, three searchlights, and a
light antiaircraft detachment ar-
rived from the 11th Defense Battal-
ion. The 90mm battery was staged
on Kokorana until the 9th Defense
Battalion displaced to New Georgia,
then it went into firing positions.
Light antiaircraft guns were posi-
tioned on both Kokorana and Ren-
dova. Marines from the 11th De-
fense Battalion assisted the 9th in
manning the radars and the lith's
sound locator supported Battery E.
At 0800, 13 July, U.S. Army in-
fantry units landed at Laiana Beach,
about 2V2 miles east of Munda air-
field, and continued the drive to-
wards Munda Point. A detachment
of 22 men with one 40mm gun. one
twin 20mm gun, and two .50-caliber Marine Corps Historical Collection
machine guns from the 9th Defense The Northern Landing Group, built around the Ist Marine Raider Regiment, landed at Rice
Battalion under First Lieutenant Anchorage on 5 Jultj and proceeded cross-country fo fake Enogai on Dragons Peninsula.
Colin J. Reeves, went to Laiana The Marine third from the left hefts a Boys rifle used by the raiders as an antitank weapon.

Camouflaged Japanese 140mm nanil guns with their animunifíoi 2 intact were found and puf out of action at Enogai by the raiders' landward at tack.
Department of Defense Photo (USMC) 127G59009A

Is
-

Field Medicine
care of Marine units in the Central undoubtedly brought on by the combination of hard
Solomons was provided by U.S. Navy med- work under combat conditions, lack of sleep, and
Medical
ical officers and corpsman assigned to these inadequate diet. Besides malaria, there was a consider-
units. Combat casualties were not the only medical able amount of dysentery, diarrhea, minor fevers,
concern because of the primitive conditions that ex- fungus infections, and boils. There were even a few
isted during the campaign. The 9th Defense Battalion cases of psychoneurosis or "combat fatigue."
lost an average of 2.42 men a day, or 65.17 a month, to
causes other than combat injuries. The ist Marine Note:The Kerr Eby charcoal drawings in this pamphlet
Raider Regiment found itself on ii August 1943, with are from the U.S. Nay Combat Art Collection. Kerr Eby
436 men of its 956 Marines fit for duty. Other than studied at the Art Students League in New York and the
those wounded in action, it became necessary to evac- Pratt Institute. He served as a sergeant in the U.S. Army in
uate malaria cases also. Getting casualties to the beach World War I and was accredited as an artist-correspondent
or airfield through the jungle or over the muddy roads for Abbot Laboratories in World War II. In 1943 through
and trails was extremely difficult. After the landings 1944, he went to the Solomons and the Gilberts and pro-
on New Georgia, only the most serious malarial cases duced these and many other drawings, since reproduced
were evacuated. Much of the recurring malaria was widely in this country and abroad.
 APPROACH TO BAI ROKO
-2O July 1943
. AxiS Cf ADwflNC
-- JapflitsE posItto..s
Po,'.x ì,a ,re-a/ 50 /s.'
SSO POCO 500 taus
SSO P50a1000 i.è,o wtrtn

Th

*
Marine Corps Historical Collection
With Wismer 's detachment were Cpi Maier
J. Rothschild, at left, and Pvt John Wan-
tuck, at right. Both earned the Navy Cross
during the fighting at Zanana in defense of
the beachhead. Wan tuck died there.

antiaircraft and field artillery po-

sitions, and ammunition dumps.
Directed by both ground and air
observers, this firing proved very
tRdvJ_ effective. "The artillery shelling's
u
\\\\ \\\ accuracy has become a real thing.
We can never tell when we are to
\ die," wrote a Munda defender. On
15 July, landing craft carried Battery
A to Tambusolo Island where it was
assigned the mission of covering
Beach on New Georgia to defend tions believed highly unsuitable the western approach to Blanche
the landing site. for tank employment. For the first Channel with 155s against the in-
Captain Robert W. Blake's pla- time, the Japanese attacked the
toon of light tanks now played an tanks with magnetic mines and cursion of still dangerous Japanese
important part in the assault and Molotov cocktails, bottles of gaso- ships. On the night of 17 July at
capture of Munda Airfield. The air- Zanana, 9th Defense Battalion
line with lit wicks. On the morning Marines were involved in some
field was defended by various avia- of 15 July, the taiiks broke through
tion personnel, antiaircraft units, the enemy's strong positions after memorable fighting. A few days
and the 229th Infantry Regiment. Army infantry had repeatedly been earlier, Lieutenant Wismer led a pa-
During the next five days, 9th thrown back. The XIV Corps attack trol which killed four members of
Defense Battalion tanks spear- an enemy patrol and captured a
headed the advance, knocking out on Munda was stalled by both the fifth, from whom they learned that
enemy log bunkers, pillboxes, and dogged resistance of the defenders a Japanese force of 150 men was in
other strong points. On a number of and the rugged terrain. the vicinit) A rear command post
occasions during the assault on the The "Murderers Row" of 15.5mm of the 43d Infantry Division with
enemy's final defense positions guns continued shelling the Munda approximately 125 troops, nearly all
north of Ilanana, the tank platoon Airfield, Baanga Island, and other specialists commanded by a legal
operated in the densely wooded outlying islands throughout this officer, was in the beachhead area.
and irregular terrain, under condi- phase. The primarY targets were The Marines under Wismer de-

20
 tar crew out of action. The senior
Army officer present, Major
Charles C. Cox, credited these two
Marines and timely artillery fire
with saving the division rear and
beachhead area. Rothschild and
Wantuck each received a Navy
Cross for their action. In all, Wis-
mer's detachment had repulsed
four different columns, killing 18,
wounding others, and capturing a
prisoner. Over 100 Japanese bodies
were found later on the field by
Army units.
Department of Defense Photo (USMC) 60625 Pharmacist's Mate First Class
Other defense battalion Marines skillfully employed their 90mw gun batteries and Francis G. Peters was with the
their radar-operated fire control systems to keep enemy aircraft high and away from Zanana detachment. While with the
their ground targets. Gun positions were built above the water table as seen here.
unit, he performed as a one-man
clearing station for evacuating the
ployed for ground defense and Pri- each assault. The Marines were at- wounded, mainly Army personnel,
vate John Wantuck and Corporal tacked by a regiment that had "the who were taken from the beach by
Maier J. Rothschild manned two determination of a suicide squad boat. He remembered the attack of
salvaged Army .30-caliber light ma- and under the command of the Reg- 17 July because the Japanese "pene-
chine guns covering trails leading imental Commander they are deter- trated as close as 25 yards and I
to the perimeter of the Zanana area. mined to fight to the last man." could see them shooting at our men
Colonel Satoshi Tomonari's 13th In- The following morning, Wantuck on the AA guns." After the attack,
fantry Regiment attacked with sev- was found dead from gunshot and his work really began, tending to
eral groups during the night, forc- sword wounds. Rothschild was the wounded, including a couple of
ing Lieutenant Wismer's defenders wounded in a hand-to-hand en- Japanese soldiers.
back to their gun pits, while Wan- counter with an enemy officer, While the fighting for New Geor-
tuck and Rothschild remained for- whom he killed. Wantuck and gia was ongoing, there were several
ward of the lines engaging the Rothschild killed 18, wounded 12 changes in the command structure of
Japanese with machine-gun fire on to 15 others, and put a 90mm mor- the campaign. Major General Oscar
W. Griswold relieved General Hester
To keep the pressure on Mundo and to prevent Japanese reinforcement from Bairoko,
as commander of XIV Corps, and
plans were made for the Northern Landing Group to attack on 20 Julii 1943. The corn- Rear Admiral Theodore S. Wilkinson
wanders involved review the plan: left to right, Maj Charles L. Banks, LtCol Samuel B. relieved Admiral Turner as comman-
Griffith 11, LtCol Michael S. Currin, LtCol George G. Freer, and LtCol Delbert E. der of Task Force 31. The buildup of
Shultz, the last two both U.S. Armii. forces on New Georgia continued
U.S. Army. Marine Corps Historical Cotlection
with the arrival of elements of Major
General J. Lawton Collins' 25th In-
fantrv Division on 21 July and the ar-
rival the next day of the remainder of
the 37th Infantry Division. What one
division failed to accomplish would
now be attempted by two, the 43d
and the 37th.
After their initial daytime air
losses, the Japanese relied on air at-
tacks at night with only infrequent
daylight bombings. One was
mounted against the Rendova area
on 20 July by 6 planes, one on 1 Au-
gust by another 6 planes, and an-

21
 Marine Corps Historical Collection
The 9th Defense Battalion's 90mm Group had four gun batteries, system continued in use through the war and into the 1950s. Note
each with its Own range-finder, computer, and radar. This weapons the "kill" flags stencilled on the barrel.

other on 7 August by a formation of

15 aircraft. Nightly harassing raids
were made over the area by differ-
ent planes and pilots all dubbed
"Washing Machine Charlie." Several
larger flights were turned back by
90mm fire. Marines of Battery F, the
searchlight battery, remained at their
posts despite Japanese strafing, and
radar men at their exposed, above
ground posts remained at their sta-
tions throughout the raids, also. At
dawn, after one all-night raid, a Bat-
terv C Marine was at the fuze pot Marine Corps Historical collection
stark naked, "he hadn't had time to The 9th Defense Battalion's tank platoon lead bi,' Capt Robert W Blake supported the in-
dress." A total of 26 enemy planes fantrt,' attack. This vehicle is shown knocked out on top of n position at the Laiana water
were downed by battalion antiair- point. The Japanese bunker is all but indistinguishable from the debris that covered it.
craft fire over Rendova.
On 26 July 1943, the 9th's tanks, A tank crewman examines the damage to his vehicle which put it out of commisSiOn. The
reinforced by six others from the Japanese employed a mix of antitank weapons and individual close-in tactics to counter the
10th Defense Battalion, led the as- light tanks. Recause of tile loss of 9th Battalion tanks in the drive on Munda, tanks of the
btu and 11th Defense Battalions' armored platoons were fed in as replacements.
sault on enemy positions near Lam-
Marine Corps Historical Collection
betti Plantation. Tank operations
were conducted over difficult ter-
rain consisting of steep slopes,
heavy underbrush, and closely
spaced trees. The Japanese were in a
strongly fortified defensive position,
which consisted of a number of
heavy bunkers and pillboxes in a
clearing. In this action, which lasted
approximately five hours, one of the
tanks was disabled by a magnetic
mine, and two men were killed and
four wounded. A second assault on
 manding Battery F, had just in-
spected his Number 3 Searchlight
Section when the attack occurred
and later wrote "some Sunday,
alerts and [Conditioni Reds all last
night and most of the day. At-
tacked by two dive bombers and
Zeros (estimated 50) about 1600.
Two PTs destroyed, another sunk
and beyond salvage." In a footnote
to the campaign, Lieutenant (jg)
John F. Kennedy's PT 109 was
rammed and sunk early the next
morning while operating from the
Rendova base.
Field artillery firing missions
Department of Defense Photo (USMC) 60096 against the New Georgia area con-
Another defense battalion detachment went to Laiana, where this emplaced 40mm gun of tinued to be conducted by Battery B
lstLt Colin J. Reeves' battery merges with the dense jungle growth backdrop. until 3 August. The tank platoon of
the 10th Defense Battalion, rein-
forced by five tanks from the 11th
Defense Battalion and the surviving
tank of the 9th Defense Battalion,
led the assault on Kokengolo and
Bilbilo Hills on 4 and 5 August.
After two days of heavy fighting,
they routed the defending forces.
The Marine tanks then cleared the
way to the principal objective of the
entire New Georgia campaign, the
Munda airfield, which was cap-
tured and occupied by XIV Corps
Department of Defense Photo (USMC) 57564 Army troops on 5 August 1943.
The high ground at Munda airfield fell ou 5 August 1943. This picture is taken at the site Regiments of the 25th Infantry Divi-
of the former mission on Kokengolo Hill looking towards Bibolo Hill to the north. sion pursued the Japanese as they

this position on 28 July by a battal- Wreckage and debris were soon pushed aside in the rapid progress to open the field for
ion of infantry and four Marine American use. The captured airfield included aircraft, in this case a Zero fighter in a co-
conut and coral enclosure, that could not take off after the American landing.
tanks, was successful. Approxi- Marine Corps Historical Collection
mately 40 heavily fortified bunkers
and piliboxes were destroyed and a
large number of Japanese killed or
wounded by tank fire.
On 1 August, a Japanese air raid
hit the torpedo boat mooring basin
at Rendova. Nearby on Tombusolo
was Edwin Jakubowski with 9th
Defense Battalion Special Weapons,
firing at the attacking aircraft. "A
PT Boat was strafed and blew up
next to my little island. Plywood
flying all over me and one of its
torpedoes went by," he recalled.
Captain Theron A, Smith, corn-
23
 DRIVE TOWARDS MUNDA POINT ported largely by various types of
2-14 Joty 1943
- V$3 04 V Sa0,Oo..t
landing craft, which made the dis-
05 P0u.'o. placement a slow, laborious process.
á# 0f3 404 pfl.t.Qs3 «e fl9's.ett
f.,. ene rn/rn, 50 fin'
Captain Well's Battery B of the
'OOO Q 000 3000 VIOlO 155mm Group moved to Kindu
'000 0 31*300 '000 0000*0 '331
Point on New Georgia on 8 August
and was assigned the mission with
its large guns of guarding the west-
,t0000.
ern approaches to Blanche Channel.
On landing, Battery B and an Army
antitank platoon cleared the area of
remaining Japanese stragglers.
¼
0....
)%2e At Munda Airfield, immediately
0
) 3

after the area was cleared of Japan-

ese, construction units moved in to
repair and enlarge the "emergency"
field built by the enemy. By the
evening of 13 August, this work
had progressed sufficiently to per-
mit four Army Curtiss P-40
Warhawks to make an unscheduled
landing and to "christen" the field
with a brief fly-over. This was soon
followed by the arrival of Marine
air units, including VMF-123 and
-124. Other Marine squadrons soon
arrived, including the VMF-214
"Black Sheep" of Major Gregory
Boyington, who became a grudging
admirer of the 9th's antiaircraft
marksmanship and a source of en-
tertainment with his radio transmis-
Department of Defense Photo (USMC) 60460
sions while flying over Munda.
Tite engineering effort pushed forward and built upon the Japanese construction that re-
mained. The work was completed withín 10 dai1s after the airfield was captured.
Instead of attacking the main
Japanese force on Kolombangara at
withdrew north from Munda Point. Senhees clear a Japanese tunnel at the base of Kokengolo Hill for use in the face of the still pre-
On the night of 6 August a naval sent Japanese menace. This titrent made tite discomfort of the cave, filled with refuse and
battle was fought in Vella Gulf, corpses, seem a small price to pay for the security of overhead cover from artillery and air attack.
where Japanese destroyers and Marine Corps Historical Collection
barges bringing in supplies and re-
inforcements were turned back.
The battle for Munda airfield
over, the Zanana Beach and Laiana
Beach detachments moved on 6 Au-
gust to participate in the Munda de-
fenses. The detachments destroyed
12 enemy planes while at these lo-
cations. A day later, the 9th Defense
Battalion began moving to the
Munda area. The moves were so or-
ganized that there was no more
than a quarter of the battalion's
weapons out of action at any one
time. The battalion was trans-
 CAPTURE 0F MONDA POINT
22 Jut,- 4 Auuit 19-43 tenant Colonel Harold S. Fassett,
ILS SatIrio. 0t*l 0.:a'I o defended the beachhead against 121
TØ.* fç,fl S o.#ift.7 ØQt.hon .
i Wfl? fl/n' attacks and downed 42 Japanese
00 O SOO 00M planes. The Allied occupation of
too o sp..... WO wirft.
these positions and pressure from
Arundel and New Georgia put Vila
on Kolombangara in a precarious
t t
- _._ __--.'._ ,- position. In many ways, this was a
[_tLt_ " - - - - -' prelude to the Marine Bougainville
Jt4S
;---
/
°° .. -f- campaign as it brought I Marine
;i.'°'
:- ,
-- O Amphibious Corps and new units
not involved in the fighting into the
New Georgia area. American
fighter cover came from the Mund a
---....--- 7 1

jI/I and Segi Airfields.

By 15 August, the 9th Defense
Battalion was set up and emplaced
in new dispersed positions. Three
days later, another major naval sur-
face action occurred off Vella
Lavella as the U.S. Navy combatants
intercepted destioyers and barges
attempting to evacuate Japanese
troops. From 16 through 19 August,
Japanese artillery on Baanga Island
shelled Munda Airfield and Kindu
Point causing several casualties and
some minor damage. Friendly air-
craft and artillery operated against
these elusive cannon and finally si-
lenced them. The battalion suffered
no casualties from this shelling,
Department of Defense Photo (USMC) 71745 though one gun crew's tent was de-
Commander Aircraft New Georgia, BGen Francis P. Mulcahy, expanded airfield operations molished by a direct hit and there
on Mundt? with the construction of more secure shelters than those the Japanese left be- were several hits on other positions.
hind. A heavily sandbagged sickbay is on the left and the personnel office is in the center. The 9th's antiaircraft guns were
The frame of a prefabricated Quonset hut is being assembled to the right rear. now fully placed to protect the air-

Vila, the American force isolated The first fighter plane to land on Munda was a VMF-215 Corsair flown by Maj Robert G.
the enemy by landings on nearby Owens, Jr., on 14 August 1943. Flight operations began immediately to cover the Vello
Vella Lavella on 15 August. Admi- Lancho landings.
Department of Defense Photo (USMC) 60270
ral Halsey did not want another
slugging match like Munda. A
landing force was built around the
uncommitted Army 35th Regimen-
tal Combat Team, commanded by
the 25th Infantry Division's assis-
tant commander, Brigadier General
Robert B. McLure, and supported
by the Marine 4th Defense Battal-
ion. The Japanese resisted in the air
and sea, but enemy ground forces
were too busy withdrawing to put
up a determined resistance. The 4th
Defense Battalion, led by Lieu-
25
 ,.-'. 1E.u.* THE BYPASS

Syongo
pyn

03Q
o,
aAUR

NEW
3000Go

,. tOLfl
30 oL0oET0S

j,.\
Marine Corps Historical Collection
23 Ay
)
The Munda drive moved into a final phase
fi
with attacks on 4 and 5 August 1943, again
using Marine tanks in the lead. Tank com-
mander Capt Robert W. Blake examines
21
/Ç
some of the improvised antitank weapons
faced b his unita Molotov cocktail and a
/
magnetic mine. A RUN OC L
3'

field. Enemy air attacks on the

Munda area, carried out at night or J 's
- J iTh i'
in the early morning, continued
throughout the rest of the month.
Captain Ervin's three Battery G j
40mm positions seaward of the air-
field were straddled by a string of NO

Japanese bombs that managed to

just miss everyone.
The landing and occupation of THE CLEANUP
5-27 Auçut 194
Arundel Island, on 27 August, fur- - 000 Q LS 0000000
ther tightened the noose around MOorItøno /020P,005 QflCj' ron.
(00f r(ltf'no/ 00 ff00
Kolombangara. Army troops were 2000000o
000 MElERO

An essential element in the defensive air war was the use of radar bi the Americans for supported by Captain Blake and
surveillance, target acquisition, and ground-controlled intercepts. This is one of the 9th tanks from the 9th, 10th, and 11th
Defense Battalion's SCR268s installed on New Georgia. Defense Battalions. Major General
Collins, commanding the 25th In-
fantry Division carrying out this
assignment, commended the
Marines "for the whole-hearted co-
operation and assistance rendered
this division" during the opera-
tions against the Japanese in the
Arundel Island campaign. They
performed all assigned tasks "in a
splendid manner in support of the
27th Infantr in its action . . .

Captain Reichner's Battery A

moved to Piru Plantation on 29 Au-
gust and two days later began
shelling the Vila area of Kolomban-
gara. The move was made by land-
ing craft and foot. Recalled Captain
 sea. At Vila, a Japanese commander
reported, "it had become very diffi-
cult to fire the antiaircraft guns as
the enemy places their artillery
upon our position immediately
after we commence firing upon the
aircraft." At Piru, Japanese counter-
battery fire hit the artillery group
throughout September and the first
two days of October. A number of
the enemy artillery projectiles failed
to detonate and there were no casu-
alties from the shelling.
On 15 September, General Sasaki
was ordered to evacuate his remain-
Marine Corps Historical Collection
ing 12,400 men from Kolombangara.
Close-in air defense around the airfield was accomplished by regrouping defense battalion
The next month on 3 October, while
assets from Rendova, Laiana, and Zanana. This "Twin-Twenty" is at Mundo, and is on
one of several types of mobile mounts at New Georgia.
flying his assigned air spotter mis-
sions, Lieutenant Sandager reported
William T. Box, with the artillery The artillery group used the ser- Vila evacuated; the Japanese had
group's advance party, "we hiked pulled out. Lieutenant Colonel
vices of spotter aircraft, but because
up from Munda using a native of enemy gunfire, switched from Scheyer was pleased to state that for
guide. I remember we hiked the light observation planes to the "first time in this war the enemy'
through jungle most of the way. I Grumman TBFs because their had been driven from his base by
remember I was scared. I remember armor plating gave the pilots
Other lapa nese defenses mcl uded tim is
I was glad to see that open area greater protection. First Lieutenant 25mm automatic dual-purpose twin -bar-
Donald V. Sandager and Sergeant
%'ith the suppiy parachutes" left by relled gun in position on the airfield ap-
the Arm Soon afterwards, Battery Herschel J. Cooper flew these mis- proaches. These proved to he deadly against
B moved to Piru and on 2 September sions over Kolombangara. "We both both American air and ground forces.
participated in the shelling of Vila. A volunteered to a request from Major Department of Defense Photo (USMC) 69975
Japanese defender there with the 8th Hiatt. When we reported to Munda
Combined Special Naval Landing Force Airfield we had no parachutes and
wrote in his diary, with "the situa- were told each flier had to have his
tion as it is, one just can't help hut own," recalled Sandager. "The pi-
distrust the operational plans of the lots were inexperienced and flew
Imperial Headquarters." up from Guadalcanal each morn-
ing and we had to direct them to
Dead al his post, this Japanese soldier lies find the battery and Kolomban-
bi1 O smashed 37mm antitank gun near the gara. Radio communication with
airfield. As the tanks broke through, tile in- the battery was bad." Admiral
fantrii followed and the fighting continued Halsey noted the artillery group
until the positions were overrun or buried and Lieutenant Colonel O'Neil's
in the rubble. ability to "utilize air spotting and
Marine Corps Historical Collection
the accuracy of their fire which
stood out above other more experi-
enced groups."
The peak of enemy air activity
over Munda Airfield occurred the
night of 14-15 September when
enemy planes kept gun crews at
battle stations all night. The 90mm
group expended 3,378 rounds,
downing one plane and causing
most of the enemy planes to jettison
their bombs over the jungle or the
27
 Department of Defense Photo (USMC) 58411
This 1 August 1943 bombing attack struck Marine positions on Rendoui, only wounding one Marine, but destroying a height finder with fit/ing coral.

bombing and artillery fire." He an hour before dawn and an hour battalion, with the exception of
concluded that at Kiska it was after sunset, had occurred daily for one radar crew and two search-
bombing and ship's gunfire, at all gun crews. In early November, light sections, was relieved of the
Kolombangara it was naval gun- Battery A moved to Nusalavata Is- Munda Airfield defenses by the
fire, bombing, and artillery fire that land and Battery B to Roviana Is-
Army 77th AAA Group. The 9th
turned the tide. The final action of land where the 155mm guns cov- Defense Battalion spent several
the campaign was a sea battle on ered Munda Bar and the eastern weeks in camp in the Munda area
6-7 October when U.S. Navy de- approach to Blanche Channel re- waiting for transportation. These
stroyers intercepted Japanese evac- spectively. Lieutenant Colonel weeks were not idle as central
uation ships during the Battle of Scheyer remained in command of camps for the several groups had
Vella Lavella. the 9th until 3 November, when he to be set up and improved. Train-
The Japanese air effort slackened was assigned to I Marine Amphibi- ing schedules, begun in the later
considerably in October, and came ous Corps and the command was stages of the campaign, were car-
to an abrupt halt in November turned over to Lieutenant Colonel ried out. Transport ships were
1943. While at Munda Airfield, the Archie E. O'Neil. available for the trip to the Russell
9th Dfense Battalion accounted for On 22 November, the 9th De- Islands beginning on 13 January
eight more enemy planes. Numer- fense Battalion was attached to VI 1944 and continued until the en-
ous alerts, conditions red, and gen- Corps Island Command for occu- tire battalion move was com-
eral quarters stand-tos that began pation duties. On 31 December, the pleted on 25 February.

28
 The fighting by the 9th Defense
Battalion contributed considerably
to the victory of the land forces on Flight Clothing and Equipment
New Georgia, and demonstrated
the value of advance base defense.
The 9th was in action against ight clothing was considered
Japanese aircraft on 59 different naval aviation equipment
rather than a purely Marine
days, for a total of 159 fire missions Corps uniform and was strictly func-
and 249 alerts, with 46 enemy tional. Basic items included leather
planes downed. Not counted in boots, leather gloves, goggles, a
these statistics were aircraft dam- cloth helmet that contained head-
aged or diverted from their in- phones, and a one-piece cotton
tended targets and forced to under- khaki flying suit. Captain John M.
Foster, flying from Munda, stated he
take less accurate nighttime wore a flying suit and then slung a
bombing missions. The fire of "leather shoulder holster containing
155mm guns destroyed a number my 45-caliber automatic over my
of enemy artillery positions and neck and buckled the belt, strung
troops on Munda, Baanga, and with my hunting knife, first-aid kit,
Kolombangara. Numerous pill- extra cartridges and canteen,
boxes and machine gun positions around my waist." He also wore a
were destroyed and enemy troops baseball cap and carried his flying
helmet, goggles, and gloves. In ad-
killed by the tank platoon on New dition, the pilots carried 65 pounds
Georgia Island. Although the firing of parachute, rubber raft, and
batteries and tanks were the most jungle pack."
active elements of the battalion,
other components of the battalion
were deeply involved in the fight-efforts to establish an airfield at Munda was a rung on the ladder that
ing also. The battalion also de- Munda Point in December 1942. ended at Rabaul.
stroyed a machine gun position Thus began a routine air and sea The air war for the Central
and killed three Japanese on Ren- pounding of the Munda Airfield Solomons was a series of sorties-
dova and killed another 22 enemy until ground forces could capture fighter sweeps and bombing runs.
and captured two prisoners at it for Allied use. For aviation units, the operating
Zanana. For Marine flyers, these missions area was divided into the combat
Battalion losses throughout the evoked "a parade of impressions- area, the forward area, and the rear
campaign were remarkably few: 13 long over-water flights; jungle hills area. These zones shifted as the
dead, I missing, over 50 wounded slipping by below; the sight of the campaigns moved north towards
in action, and other non-battle casu- targetairfield, ship, or town, some- the Rabaul area. While the ist and
alties. Malaria caused a number of times all three; the attack and the vio- 2d Marine Aircraft Wings were pre-
the Marines to be evacuated. Gen- lent defense; and then the seemingly sent in the Southern Pacific,
eral Griswold summarized the bat- longer, weary return . . " The role
. . Marines flew under a joint air com-
talion's performance by concluding of land-based aviation h the Central mand, Commander Aircraft
that every "officer and man of the Solomons Campaign was critical, be- Solomons (ComAirSols). Rear Ad-
organization has reason to feel cause the Japanese air effort had to miral Marc A. Mitscher's ComAir-
proud of its accomplishment." The I be neutralized before Allied air and Sols was comprised of three subor-
Marine Amphibious Corps com- ground forces could climb up the dinate segments: Bomber, Fighter,
mander, Lieutenant General Solomons ladder towards Rabaul. and Strike Commands. Strike Com-
Alexander A. Vandegrift, said "how
Unless the Allies could capture suit- mand was led by Colonel Christian
proud I am to belong to the same able airfields closer to the Japanese E Schilt, who had been awarded a
outfit as they do."
base areas at Rabaul and Bougain- Medal of Honor for heroism in
ville, the air war would be limited in Nicaragua in 1928, and Fighter
Milk Runs and Black Sheep range and effect. The Guadalcanal Command was under Colonel Ed-
The first Marines to fight at airfields were 650 miles from Rabaul, ward L. Pugh; both veteran Marine
New Georgia were the aircrews Munda Point was a somewhat-closer aviators in a structure where experi-
who were sent to blunt Japanese 440 miles. For Marines aviators, ence, "not rank, seniority, or ser-
29
 The Douglas R4D 'Skytrain'
ot ali aircraft in the Central Solomons were fighters
or bombers. The Douglas DC-3 Skytrain or Dakota
(C-47 in the Navy version) was designed in 1933,
and became the standard American transport of the war.
The plane was an all-metal monoplane with twin engines
and retractable landing gear. lt was powered by two Pratt &
Whitney radial engines of 1,200 horsepower each. lt carried
a crew of three, 28 passengers or 18 stretchers, and three
medical attendants. lt could also carry up to 6,000 pounds
of cargo at average speeds of 185 miles-per-hour. The U.S.
Navy and Marines had some 600 Skytrains, designated as
R4Ds. In the Central Solomons they were used for air re-
supply and medical evacuation. The Marines were still
using the C117, a variation of the R4D into the 1970's.

vice," was paramount. The Marine evacuating wounded without Marine squadrons available for the
squadrons flew Grumman F4F fighter escorts such as the bombing New Georgia campaign. The Cor-
Wildcats, Grumman F6F Helicats, missions had. Some 40 other sair, along with the new F6F Hell-
and Chance-Vought F4U Corsa irs in squadrons were in rearward bases, cat fighter, dominated the air-to-air
Fighter Command; and Grumman making a total of 669 aircraft avail- battle to sweep the skies of the Japan-
or General Motors TBF Avenger tor- able for the Central Solomons cam- ese. This superiority was enhanced
pedo bombers and Douglas SBD paign. They were opposed in the air by Army Air Corps aircraft, the Lock-
Dauntless dive bombers in Strike by the Japanese Eleventh Air Fleet heed P-38 Lightning, for example.
Command. Also operating in the and Japanese Army air units de- Once introduced, each new aircraft
theater was Marine Aircraft Group fending New Guinea. version could do a little more than
25, the South Pacific Combat Air The Corsair, known as the the basic models; it could fly higher,
Transport Command (SCAT), which "Whistling Death" to the Japanese fly longer, and carry more armament
flew unarmed transport planes, and the "Bent Wing Widow Maker" than its predecessor. Advances in
Douglas R4D Skytrains, bringing in to the Marines, was delivered in radio detection and ranging (radar)
supplies and replacements and March 1943 in time to have eight and communications continued as
well to ensure the control systems transporting Admiral Isoroku Ya- ComAirSols planes intercepted and
kept pace with the aircraft. mamoto, who had planned the at- virtually destroyed 100 Japanese
One Marine with Fighter Com- tack on Pearl Harbor. Allied intelli- aircraft before they reached their
mand, Major John R Condon, re- gence agencies learned that the target, the New Georgia invasion
called that ComAirSols routinely admiral and his staff would fly to fleet. By the end of the month, the
struck the airfields of southern Kahili on 18 April 1943. Admiral Allied forces were landing on New
Bougainvifie "with escorted bombers, Mitscher ordered Fighter Com- Georgia and the Japanese lost the
night attacks by Navy and Marine mand to intercept Yamamoto's air- battle to disrupt the offensive. The
Corps TBFs, and some mining at craft. Planning for this mission fell Japanese responded with repeated
night of the harbors." He went on to the Fighter Command's deputy, raids against shipping and landing
to observe that the shorter-range Lieutenant Colonel Luther S. areas, but the balance of air power
SBDs were "invariably escorted in Moore, who scheduled Army long- was decidedly with Commander
their routine reduction efforts range P-38 Lightnings fitted with Aircraft Solomons. A Marine air-
against the fields in New Georgia." Navy navigational equipment for man wrote that the Japanese were
Routine did not mean safe, as the the task. The flight plan was pre- creating an ever-growing number of
Japanese just as routinely made pared by the command operations Marine, Army, and Navy fighter
their fighter presence known. Naval officer, Major Condon. Yama moto's aces in the process.
officer and novelist James A. Mich- plane was intercepted and shot By June, Marine Aircraft Group
ener heard a pilot observe that he down, ending the life of one of (MAG) 21 was pounding away at
was "damned glad to be the guy Japan's major combat leaders. Munda, hut not without losses. Fly-
that draws the milk runs." But, "if At the end of April 1943, the ing from Guadalcanal and Russell
you get bumped off on one of them, Japanese Eleventh Air Fleet launched Islands, ComAirSols fighter and
why you're just as dead as if you a series of determined, but unsuc- strike aircraft covered the Toenails
were over Tokyo in a kite." cessful, attacks to disrupt the Allied landings and subsequent operations
One incident occurred that sym- buildup on Guadalcanal and in the ashore. From 30 June 1943 through
bolized the joint nature of the air ef- Russell Islands. These continued July, there were only two days that
fort, the destruction of the aircraft through the month, and on 16 June, did not have "Condition Red" and

The first Marines to fight in the Central Solomons campaign were and elsewhere on New Georgia prior to the landings. In 1943, the
the airmen based on Guadalcanal and the Russell Islands. They flew planes were painted, from top to bottom, sea blue, intermediate blue,
the Douglas SBD Dauntless dive-bombers that struck at Mundo and semi-gloss sea blue, with insignia white undersurface.
Department of Defense Photo (USMC) 81420

31
dogfights with Japanese aircraft gets and accurate assessment of the June 1943. From Rendova, he began
over the objective area by Allied results of air strikes. to integrate the air defense and sup-
combat air patrols. At the same For efficient air control for the port system to provide XIV Corps
time, Japanese naval forces were lo- New Georgia operation, Admiral with direct air support. On 11 July,
cated arid attacked, thus forcing the Mitscher set up a new command, Commander Aircraft Segi under
Japanese to move at night by cir- Commander Aircraft New Georgia Lieutenant Colonel Perry O.
cuitous routes with landing barges (ComAir New Georgia), as part of Parmelee was established under
alone. Bomber and Strike Com- the landing force and under Marine Mulcahy's direct command. The
mand aircraft ranged as far north as Brigadier General Francis P. Mu!- ground forces were ashore on New
Ballale, Bui Kahili, and the Short- cahy, who commanded the 2d Ma- Georgia and pushed ahead at
lands in concert with Fifth Air Force rine Aircraft Wing. ComAir New Zanana and Laiana and were poised
strikes at the same locations. Georgia had no aircraft of his own, at the edge of Munda Airfield at the
Despite this pressure, the Japan- but controlled everything in the air end of July. Mulcahy provided air
ese continued to attack Allied forces above or launched from a New support to the infantry advance at
from the air. ComAirSols planes Georgia airfield. Mulcahy and his Munda Point and against other
were not able to operate effectively staff ensured command, control, Japanese-held areas on New Geor-
at night within range of Allied anti- arid coordination of direct support gia. By the end of the campaign,
aircraft artillery that could not tell air for the New Georgia Occupation Mulcahy had ordered over 1,800
friendly from enemy aircraft. An- Force after it had landed. preplanned sorties mainly flown by
other obstacle to total Allied success ComAir New Georgia established SBDs and TBFs against targets at
was the dense jungle-covered ter- its command on Rendova after the Viru, Wickham, Munda, Enogai,
rain that hindered identification tar- assault waves landed on D-Day, 30 and Bairoko.

The Vought F4U Corsair, such as these on the Russell Islands, pro- thetj taxi out from revetments onto the air strip to meet Japanese
vided much of the air support in the New Georgia campaign. Here planes coming down The Slot from Bougainville and Rabaul.
Department of Defense Photo (USMC) 61335e

32
 Depìrtment of Defense Photo (USMC) 39989
BGen Francis P. Mulcahy, Commander Air Solomons, at right, at Fiske Marshall and Ist Lt Dorotliij Shikoski, an Army nurse who
Ins headquarters at Munda, On the left is Army Air Force Col flew with Marine transport squadrons during medical evacuations.

In addition, there were some 44 close to the frontlines "proved to be lowed by an 84-plane strike on anti-
close air support strikes using ad impractical" with accuracy. aircraft artillery positions at Biblio
hoc forward air control and tactical The R4D Skytrains of MAC-25 de- Hill. This was coordinated with the
air control parties from Mulcahy's livered 100,000 pounds of food, final drive to take the campaign's
command. This was a significant water, ammunition, and medicine main objective, Munda airstrip. The
step in the evolution of the air con- that was the Northern Landing Japanese continued to delay the 43d
trol system that eventually formed Group's only source of supply at Infantry Division and another strike
the air-ground team for the times. This support prompted one followed on 1 August by a 36-plane
Marines. Close air support mis- Marine raider to ask that the air drop attack of SBDs and TBFs, protected
sions were planned in detail the containers be combat, or spread, by some 30 fighters.
day prior to execution. The re- loaded as on one occasion they re- After the capture of Munda
covered 19 of a 20-container load Point, General Mulcahy moved his
quested missions went to Mulcahy
and, if he approved, they then drop and "only later discovered the command from Rendova to Munda
were forwarded to Guadalcanal, missing drop contained medicinal airfield to set up strike and fighter
the Russells, or Segi Point for brandy." Air drops of supplies went control at Kokengolo Hill. In a
scheduling. The next day these air- to the other ground forces as well, Japanese-built tunnel that Navy
craft reported to a rendezvous throughout a campaign fought in Seabees had cleared of debris and
point and contacted an air support difficult, trackless, terrain. dead, Mulcahy was able to conduct
party on the ground which used On 25 July, a massive strike con- round-the-clock operations. The
radio, lights, smoke, or air panels to sisting of 66 B-17 and B-24 bombers first fighters assigned to Munda
direct the strike. General Mulcahy in concert with naval gunfire ships landed at 1500 on 14 August.
commented that the use of aircraft struck at Lambetti Plantation, fol- While safe, the Seabee-cleared shel-

33
ter was also hot and smelled of its Field with 20mm holes in the scene of intense activity as planes
former dead occupants. On 15 Au- wings, several hydraulic lines cut, landed and took off to strike at
gust, Mulcahy sent VMF-123 and a holed vertical stabilizer, and a Rabaul and Japanese shipping
-124 fighters from Munda and Segi flat tire. which were first trying to supply,
fields to cover the Vella Lavella From 16 through 19 August and then evacuate, ground forces.
landings, during which they 1943, the Japanese shelled the air- Many barges were destroyed in
claimed 26 Japanese aircraft field in the day and bombed it at the withdrawal that took some
downed. On this day, VMF-124's night. The artillery threat was 9,400 Japanese off Kolombangara.
First Lieutenant Kenneth A. Walsh eliminated with the capture of Admiral Halsey believed that
began a streak that would eventu- Baanga Island, but the air raids 3,000 to 4,000 other Japanese were
ally earn him the Medal of Honor continued with intermittent bomb- killed du ring these evacuations.
for shooting down 21 Japanese air- ing and strafing through the fall. Captain John M. Foster, an F4U
craft. After accounting for three From then, until the establishment pilot, wrote about flying during this
aircraft over Vella Lavella, he of airfields on Bougainville three time and his first mission from
brought his Corsair back to Munda months later, Munda Field was the Munda. "Never had I attempted to

Munda Airfield was an essential element in supporting Allied air Augusta Bait on Bougainville in November 1943, Munda was the
support in the battles for Vella Lavella, Bougainville, and New scene of intense aviation activity.
Britain that followed. Until air fields were established at Empress
Marine Corps Historical Collection

34
 Marine Corps Historical Collection
Here Batteries A and B set up at Pïru Plantation to shell Vila. fantry Division add graffiti to a shell to be sent as a Message
The counterbattery exchanges with the Japanese on Kolorn han- from FDR at the campaigns end.
gara gave the battle a personal note. Soldiers from the 25th In-

land a plane on a field as narrow "Success in the air is a lot of little work, described as "one of the
and short as the Munda strip," he things," observed VMF-2 14's com- greatest single-handed feats" of the
recalled. Rolling onto the taxiway, mander and Medal of Honor recipi- Pacific War.
he was thankful for the 2,000 horse- ent, Major Gregory (Pappy) Boying- During this time, Lieutenant
power of engine to "plow through ton, and most of them "can be taken Colonel Frank H. Schwable's
the mud." The crews lived in tents care of before takeoff." With the VMF(N)-531 arrived in the Russells
and messed in a screened framed Japanese air bases now within closer to begin night-fighter operations
building chow-hall which the range of Allied aircraft, Boyington along with a similar Navy unit.
Seabees built. The air units provided and others conducted fighter sweeps Using ground-controlled radar in-
dawn to dusk coverage, with the of 36 to 48 planes that were classics tercept vectors, the squadron's
night spent in rest and recovery. The of their kind. Throughout this, es- Lockheed PV-i Venturas then
night's sleep was often disrupted by corted bomber and strafing attacks closed for the kill using the air-
the appearance of a single Japanese continued. The capture and use of craft's on-board radar. This began
bomber variously called "Washing the Marines' ability to deny the
Munda Field was now felt by the
Machine Charlie," "Louie the Japanese "in spades" observed Japanese the cover of darkness over
Louse," "Maytag Charlie," or "other Fighter Command's Condon, as dive Vella Lavella and elsewhere.
names less printable." bombing and strafing attacks against Air support during the Central
On 24 August, ComAir New the enemy were daily routine. Solomons campaign was considered
Georgia at Munda was relieved On 28 August, First Lieutenant of high quality by all commanders.
by Commander Aircraft Solomon's Alvin j. Jensen of VMF-214 was lost Aviation historian and veteran Pa-
Fighter Command, at which time, in a rainstorm over Kahili and cific War correspondent Robert
General Mulcahy turned over his when he broke through the clouds Sherrod estimated that of the 358
responsibilities to Colonel William he found himself inverted over the aircraft the Japanese lost during this
O. Brice. Mulcahy's staff continued Japanese field. Turning wings level, campaign, 187 were destroyed by
to coordinate liaison and spotter he proceeded to shoot up the flight- Marine air. More significant were
aircraft and strike missions launch- line and accounted for 24 enemy the resultant deaths of highly
ing from Munda Field until re- aircraft on the ground. Photographs trained and experienced pilots and
lieved of these responsibilities by confirmed the damage and Jensen crews whom the Japanese could not
ComAirSols on 24 September. earned the Navy Cross for this replace. Marine aviation unit casual-
35
ties for operations in the Centra] however, this poorly armed dition than might have been other-
Solomons were 34 of the 97 Allied force of ours has not been wise expected. Morale during the pe-
aircraft lost. As a postscript to New overcome and we are still riods of greatest danger had been
Georgia operations, on 20 October guarding this island high. In the last two months of the
1943, Commander Aircraft Solo- In his postwar memoirs, Admi- campaign with enemy activity virtu-
mons moved to Munda to use the ral Halsey commented on how the ally nonexistent, the effects of the
airfield as his headquarters from smell of burnt reputations in the rough conditions showed to a certain
which he would fight the New New Georgia campaign still filled extent, but at no time, was there any
Britain and Bougainville campaigns. his nostrils. The smoking reputa- slackening in the performance of
tions Halsey referred to carne as dut For most of the campaign, shel-
A Joint Pattern for Victori the result of outright reliefs and ter and sanitation were absent and
transfers of senior officers and they the food, though usually of sufficient
The last Japanese air attacks on were not limited to any one ser- quantity, was seldom appetizing.
New Georgia carne the nights of 16 vice. Numerous changes were It was felt after the Solornons cam-
and 17 January 1944, but by then made in the command structure paign that "struggle for control of the
the campaign was finished and the until he got the commanders Solomon Islands was a critical turn-
final score taken. Army historian needed to produce results. The ing point in the war against Japan.
John Miller quoted a senior officer payoff to the New Georgia opera- These campaigns can best be appre-
as concluding that the heavily out- tion resulted in the Vella Lavella ciated as a sequence of interacting
numbered Japanese stood off nearly landings that bypassed Kolornban- naval, land, and air operations." The
four Allied divisions in the course gara and successful Bougainville contribution to the ability to conduct
of the action, and successfully with- and New Britain campaigns that joint operations was measured in the
drew to fight again. One Japanese demonstrated the pattern for suc- differences between the fighting on
noted at the time that the: cessful joint operations there and New Georgia in the summer 1943
Japanese Army is still throughout the Pacific War. and the success realized at
depending on the hand-to- The Army had 1,094 men killed Bougainville and Cape Gloucester
hand fighting of the Meiji Era and 3,873 wounded in the fighting later in the year. Here was a pattern
while the enemy is using for New Georgia, while the Marines for joint operations, and, as coast-
highly developed scientific suffered 650 casualties in all. The watcher D.C. Horton phrased it, it
weapons. Thinking it over, Marines came through in better con- was a "pattern for victory."

Even though the 9th Defense Battalion Artillery Group posi- at assigned targets. Here elements of Battery A smolders after
tions at Munda Airfield were bombed, they continued to fire an air raid. Department of Defense Photo (USMC) Photo 56830

36
 Sources
The basic sources for this pam-
phlet were the second volume in the
series Historii of U.S. MarioL' Corps
Operations in World War Ii, Isolation
of Raben!, written by Henry I. Shaw,
Jr. and Maj Douglas T. Kane, USMC
(Washington: Historical Branch, G-3
Division, HQMC, 1963), and Maj
John T. Rentz, USMCR, Marines in
the Ceo tra! Solonious (Washington:
Historical Branch, HQMC, 1952).
Other books used in this narrative
were: Adm William F Halsey and J.
Bryan III, Admiral Halsey's Storti
(New York, McGraw Hill, 1947);
Saburo Hayashi and Alvin D. Coox,
Kogun, The Japanese Army in the Pa-
cific (Quantico: Marine Corps Asso-
ciation, 1959); RAdrn Samuel E.
Morison, Breaking the Bismarcks Bar-
rier: Historij of U.S. Naval Operations
in World War li, vol VI (Boston: Lit-
tle Brown and Company, 1950);
Robert L. Sherrod, History of U.S.
Marine Corps Operations in World
War II (Washington: Combat Forces
Press, 1952); Charles A. Updegraph,
Jr., U.S. Merme Corps Special Llnits of
World War li (Washington: History
and Museums Division, HQMC,
1972); Col Joseph E. Zimmer, The
1-listory of the 43d Infantry Division
(Baton Rouge, LA: Army and Navy
Publishing Co., 1947); John Miller,
Jr., Cartwheel: The Reduction of Rebind
(Washington: Office of the Chief of
Military History, Department of the
Army, 1959). In addition, in the Ma-
rine Corps Historical Center, Wash-
ington Navy Yard, Washington,
D.C., are the Marine Corps
Archives, which contain much pri-
mary source material produced by
the Marine Corps units in the fight-
ingin the Central Solomons. Also in
the Center are the Oral History and
Personal Papers Collections, con-
taining many first-hand accounts
of the operation.
The author wishes to thank mem-
bers of the raider, aviation, and de-
fense battalion reunion groups and
associations which provided letters,
manuscripts, and recollections to
aid in the writing of this history.
About the Author
Charles D. Melson, USMC (Retired)
Major
is originally from the San Fransciso Bay
area. He is married to Janet Ann Pope, a former
Navy Nurse.
Major Melson completed graduate education
at St, Johns College in Annapolis. He is a
coauthor of The War that Would Not End, a
volume in the official history of Marine Corps
operations in Vietnam, and is the author of
Vietnam Marines. He served as a historian in the Marine Corps Historical Center,
Washington Navy Yard, for six years and continues to deal with the past as the
director of The Queen Anne's Museum of Eastern Shore Life in Maryland. Major
Melson was a Marine for 25 years, 1967 to 1992, and served in Vietnam in a varie-
ty of Fleet Marine Force positions. He was a history instructor at the United States
Naval Academy, and served also at Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps.
p945
WORLD WAR II
THIS PAMPHLET HISTORY, one in a series devoted to U.S. Marines in the
World War II era, is published for the education and training of Marines by
the History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps..
Washington, D.C., as a part of the U.S. Department of Defense observance
of the 50th anniversary of victory in that war.
Printing costs for this pamphlet have been defrayed in part by the Defense
Department World War II Commemoration Committee. Editorial costs of
preparing this pamphlet have been defrayed in part by a bequest from the
estate of Eniilie H. Watts, in memory of her late husband, Thomas M. Watts,
who served as a Marine and was the recipient of a Purple Heart.
WORLD WAR II COMMEMORATIVE SERIES
V/RECTOR OF MARINE CORPS HISTORY AND MUSEUMS
Brigadier General Edwin H. Simmons, USMC (Ret)
GENERAL EDITOR.
WORLD WARII COMMEMORATIVE SERIES
Benis M. Frank
CARTOGRAPHIC CONSULTANT
George C. MacGillivray
EDiTING AND DESiGN SECTION, HISTORY AND MUSEUMS DiVISION
Robert E. Struder, Senior Editor; W. Stephen Hill, Visual Information
Specialist; Catherine A. Kerns, Composition Services Technician
Marine Corps Historical Center
Building 58, Washington Navy Yard
Washington. D.C. 20374-0580
1993
PCN 190 003121 00