"Operation Chronicle" Topic

"Operation Chronicle, the invasion of Woodlark and Kiriwina Islands, saw Allied troops occupy two undefended islands off the north-eastern corner of New Guinea at the start of the campaign to neutralise the key Japanese base at Rabaul.

The invasions of Woodlark and Kiriwina were part of a much larger series of operations. 30 June was D-Day for Operation Cartwheel, a long series of operations originally intended to prepare for the conquest of Rabaul. Three separate operations were to be carried out on the day. In the Solomon Islands Admiral Halsey's forces landing on New Georgia. On New Guinea itself the Australians landed at Nassau Bay, south of Salamaua, in preparation for the next part of the Elkton plan. Finally Woodlark and Kiriwina were to be occupied to provide sites for new airbases. Woodlark was wanted to support the invasion of Bougainville, a later part of the Elkton plan. These operations were part of Operation I, part of the first phase of the Elkton III plan.

The targets for Operation Chronicle were two of the islands located off the north-eastern tip of New Guinea. Kiriwina was the largest of the Trobriand Islands, and was a long narrow island, running north-south for 25 miles. Woodlark was a larger island, some miles further east. Although neither island had actually been occupied by the Japanese, they were both within range of Japanese aircraft. Woodlark was 220 miles from the Japanese base at Buin on Bougainville, 300 miles from Rabaul and 380 miles from their airfields at Lae on New Guinea. This would also be the first large scale amphibious operation carried out by MacArthur's South-West Pacific command…"
Full text here
link

Amicalement
Armand