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New Guinea pages:   Papua, SE New Guinea      Lae to Madang, NE New Guinea     
Bismarck Archipelago     Western New Guinea     OrBat, New Guinea
​  –––––––––––––––––––– WWII Japan – Orbat, New Guinea ––––––––––––––––––––––

 bigpigeon.us webpage WWII Japan > New Guinea > OrBat, New Guinea, © 2026 by Robert A. Christiansen, updated by RAC 29 Dec 2025
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This webpage provides an organizational context to the US Army and Marine Corps ground war fought against Japan in New Guinea and the Bismarck Archipelago areas of the Southwest Pacific in 1942–44.
Allied operations in the Southwest Pacific Area were under the command of US General Douglas MacArthur, based in Brisbane, Australia. Ground operations by Australian and New Zealand forces are not shown on the heading map and not included in webpage text.
During initial phases of Allied operations in New Guinea, most ground combat was by Australian troops. However, I discuss only US operations.
US Army Forces Australia (rear area, pre-combat)
  • 41st Infantry Division, arrived Melbourne, Australia beginning 6 Apr 1942; moved to Rockhampton north of Brisbane 19 July 1942.
  • 32nd Infantry Division, arrived Australia beginning 14 May 1942; engaged in jungle warfare training near Brisbane; division elements arrived Port Moresby, New Guinea beginning 14 September 1942.
  • 1st Cavalry Division, arrived Australia 26 July 1943.
  • 24th Infantry Division, arrived Australia by 8 September 1943.
               Southeast New Guinea, Papua
I Corps (Eichelberger)
  • 32nd Infantry Division (Harding): division elements entered combat in Buna-Gona area 19 November 1942.  Division began returning to Brisbane area 21 Jan 1943.
  • 41st Infantry Division (Fuller) Division elements first entered combat in Papua 8 Jan 1943, with last element arrived back in Australia 3 October 1943.
               Northeast New Guinea, Lae to Madang
I Corps (Eichelberger)
  • 41st Infantry Division (Fuller): 30 June–October 1943; landed at Nassau Bay and fought in Salamaua area.
  • 503rd Parachute Regiment: parachute landing at Nadzab northwest of Lae 5 September 1943–January 1944.
  • 32nd Infantry Division (Gill): landed at Saidor 40 miles east of Madang 7 January 1944.
New Guinea in World War II
New Guinea in World War II

               The Bismarck Archipelago
Battle of Arawe, Western New Britain Is., 15 December 1943–4 February 1944
  • 112th Cavalry Regimental Combat Team (sep.) (Cunningham): 15 December 1943–8 June 1944
  • 158th Infantry Regiment (sep., elts.): 27 Dec 1943–27 January 1944
  • 40th Infantry Division (elts.): April 1944–
Battle of Cape Gloucester, Western New Britain Is., 26 December 1943–16 January 1944 - Operation Backhander
  • 1st Marine Division (Rupertus): 26 December 1943–23 April 1944
  • 40th Infantry Division (Brush): April 1944–
Commentary: Battle of Cape Gloucester:
  • After the battle officially concluded, combat in the area continued, including an amphibious landing in the Volupai–Talsea area about 100 miles to the east on 6 March 1944.
  • The departure of the 1st Marine Division from Cape Gloucester on 23 April 1944 marked the end of Marine Corps infantry involvement in the Southwest Pacific Area.
The Admiralty Islands: 29 February–18 May 1944 - Operation Brewer
  • 1st Cavalry Division (Swift):

​               Western New Guinea
Battle of Hollandia, I Corps (Eichelberger): 22 April–6 June 1944 - Operation Reckless
  • 24th Infantry Division (Irving): 22 April 1944–
  • 41st Infantry Division (Fuller): 22 April 1944–
Commentary: Battle of Hollandia - Operation Reckless

Invasion of Aitape - first stage of Operation Persecution
  • 41st Infantry Division > 163rd RCT: 22 April 1944–4 May 1944
  • 32nd Infantry Division (Gill): 4 May 1944–
Commentary: Invasion of Aitape - first stage of Operation Persecution

Wadke-Maffin Bay Area
Capture of Wadke Islands:
  • 41st Infantry Division > 163rd RCT: 17–19 May 1944
Perimeter defense and Battle of Lone Tree Hill:​
  • 158th RCT (sep.): 21 May–22  June 1944
  • 6th Infantry Division (Sibert): 5 June–12 July 1944.
Subsequent perimeter defense:
  • 31st Infantry Division (-) (Persons): 14 July–September 1944
  • 33rd Infantry Division > 123rd Infantry Regiment: 1 September 1944–26 January 1945

Geelvink Bay Area
Battle of Biak Island, 27 May–17 August 1944
  • 41st Infantry Division (Fuller, Doe): 27 May 1944–
  • 24th Infantry Division > 34th Infantry Regiment: 18 June 1944–
Battle of Noemfoor Island, 2 July–31 August 1944 - Operation Cyclone
  • 158th RCT (sep.): 2 July 1944– 
  • 503rd Parachute Regiment (sep.): parachute landing 3 July–9 November1944.

Battle of the Driniumor River, 10 July-25 August 1944 - second stage of Operation Persecution
XI Corps (Hall) assumed Aitape area command 27 Jun 1944–
  • 112th Cavalry Regimental Combat Team (sep.) (Cunningham): 10 July 1944–
  • 31st Infantry Division > 124th Infantry: 13 July–11 September 1944

Vogelkop Peninsula Operations, 30 July-31 August 1944
  • 6th Infantry Division (Hurdis)

               Morotai Island, Netherlands East Indies, 15 September-4 October 1944
XI Corps (Hall)
  • 31st Infantry Division (Martin): 15 September 1944–
  • 32nd Infantry Division > 126th Infantry Regiment: 16 September–9 November 1944
  • 93rd Infantry Division (colored) (Johnson): 5 April 1945–
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Sources for Big Pigeon's WWII Japan > New Guinea > OrBat-New Guinea webpage: