bigpigeon.us webpage WWII Japan > South & SW Pacific > NE New Guinea, Lae to Madang, © 2024 by Robert A. Christiansen, updated by RAC 27 Mar 2023.
​
This webpage summarizes the New Guinea component of Operation Cartwheel, the neutralization of the Japanese base at Rabaul. Most Cartwheel combat on New Guinea was by Australian troops.
 Not yet complete. 
 From mid 1943 to April 1944, Allied operations in the South and Southwest Pacific focused on neutralizing the major Japanese base at Rabaul in the Bismarck Archipelago. In New Guinea, this involved driving Japanese forces from the eastern corner of North East New Guinea, as shown on the accompanying map.

At the time, there were very few roads in the area. However, because of prewar mining activity, there were numerous airstrips in the interior. In particular, to get from Wau in the lower middle to the coast, one would have to fly, hike, or ride a suitable four-legged animal.
The Lae-Madang Area Today
Allied Land Operations in North East New Guinea and the Bismarck Archipelago
Battle of the Bismarck Sea, 2-4 March 1943
In early March 1943, Japan attempted to strengthen its defenses in Northeast New Guinea by sending 6,900 troops from Rabaul to Lae in a convoy of eight transport ships supported by four destroyers. Allied intelligence knew of the planned convoy, and in the so-called Battle of the Bismarck Sea US and Australian aircraft attacked without mercy.

Most Japanese ships in the convoy were sunk in the Solomon Sea after passing from the Bismarck Sea through the straits separating New Guinea and New Britain. Thus the Battle of the Bismarck Sea is a misnomer. Considering the lopsided death toll (~3,000 Japanese, 19 Allied airmen) and the fact that many Japanese were intentionally killed in the water after abandoning ship, perhaps Battle is also a misnomer. I suggest The Massacre off Finschhafen as an alternative name for this action.
Battle of the Bismarck Sea
Battle of the Bismarck Sea
Wau and Salamaua - January to September 1943
Two key sites appear on the accompanying map:
  • In the lower-left the inland mining town of Wau, which remained in Australian hands throughout WWII, as did the numerous landing strips noted from Wau northward.
  • In the center-right, the Japanese developed Salamaua as a key strongpoint in the Lae area.

Summarizing 1943 Wau-Salamaua area military activity:
  • In January, the Japanese Army attempted to capture Wau. However, a group of around 40 US transport aircraft arrived in theater and flew sufficient Australian reinforcements to the Wau airstrip to ward off Japanese forces.
  • Subsequently Australian troops began increasing the pressure on Japanese forces west of Salamaua and Mobo, causing the Japanese to commit more resources to the Lae area and particularly to Salamaua.  This pressure increased when Allied reinforcements, including the 162nd Infantry Regiment of the 41st Infantry Division, began landing on Nassau Bay in late June.

Allied landings near Lae began on 4 September 1943. On 11 September, Japanese forces abandoned Salamaua and withdrew to the north.
The Capture of Lae, September 1943
In early September 1943, while Allied forces applied pressure on the large Japanese garrison at Salamaua to the south, Allied forces launched a combined amphibious and airborne attack on the Japanese base at Lae.
  • 4 September, the 9th Australian Division began amphibious landings east of Lae.
  • 5 September: The US 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment siezed an airfield at Nadzab northwest of Lae.
  • 7-10 September: The 7th Australian Division arrived by air at Nazdab.​
​On 12 September, the Japanese abandoned Lae, beginning an arduous trek through the interior of New Guinea.
The Allies Capture Lae
The Allies Capture Lae
The Huon Peninsula Campaign, September 1943 - March 1944
Soon after the capture of Lae, Australian forces began a long two-pronged offensive with the goal of eliminating the Japanese presence in the Huon Peninsula:
  • The 7th Australian Division advanced up the Markham River valley and then down the Ramu River valley. 
  • Elements of the 9th Australian Division landed north of Finschhavn on 22 September. The landing was under resourced, but Australian forces managed to fight off the October 16-24  Japanese counterattack.

​
​
The Huon Peninsula Campaign
The Huon Peninsula Campaign
The Advance on Madang, March - April 1944
On 21 March 1943, the two Australian pincers shown on the previous map joined, and by 25 April Australian forces, with some Americans, had liberated Madang.

The long campaign in northeastern New Guinea was over.

For most of the remainder of 1944, Australian forces rested while MacArthur's 6th Army carried the Allied offensive through western New Guinea and then to the Philippines.
The Advance on Madang
The Advance on Madang
Sources for Big Pigeon's South & SW Pacific > NE New Guinea, Lae to Madang webpage:
Pottawattamie Area WWII Dead - South & SW Pacific > NE New Guinea, Lae to Madang:
  • Taken from the bigpigeon.us WWII Dead module.
​07-04 - South & SW Pacific > NE New Guinea, Lae to Madang: (two dead, updated 7 Jan 2023)
† Porter, John L. Jr., SN 39-125-170, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • 187th Airborne Regt., 11th Airborne Div.; WIA New Guinea ~Jun 1944; DOW 25 Oct 1944, San Mateo Co., CA; South & SW Pacific > NE New Guinea, Lae to Madang.
† Wood, Charles Emmett Jr., SN 17-041-753, US Army, Pott. Co.
  • Hq. & Hq. Co., 836 Engineering Aviation Bn.; KIA 30 Oct 1943 Lae, Huon Gulf, New Guinea; Operation Cartwheel - South & SW Pacific > NE New Guinea, Lae to Madang.