The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-12-15


 ing the Japanese from the Philip pines and the Ryukyus-already on the home stretch Co Japan
 Following the completion Of the extremely difficult Buna campaign late in June l943. difficult because of the paucity of facilities and the character Of the terrain, two regi- mental combat teams landed on Woodlark and Kiriwina Islands off the eastern tip of New Guinea. The operation was small but 1t was typical Of the general method of the offensive in the Southwest Pacific. Deceived by feints, the Japanese were taken by surprise Airfields were quickly established on these two islands, from which effective support could be pro- vided for the operations which were to follow, and which per- mitted the rapid transit of fighter aircraft, if necessary. between the Solomons and New Guinea.
 The capture of New Georgia Island with its important Munda airfield was accomplished by Maj Gen. Oscar w. Griswold's XIV Corps. The first landing in force was made 30 June on nearby Ren- dova Island Japanese ground re- action was slight, but in the air the enemy tried hard to disrupt the landing. The next day Marine 155-mm guns on Rendova were shelling Munda airdrome six miles across the water. Elements of 37th and 43rd Divisions then landed on New Georgia enveloping the west ern end of the island. After our forces were reinforced by troops of the 18th Division, Munda was cap- tured on August Bypassing the strongly held island of Kolomban- gara, the XIV Corps had captured Vella Lavella by g October.
 Salamaua
 General Macarthur reduced Salamaua with an Australian force which advanced overland from the west and an American regimental combat team which made an am- phibious landing south of the town. On September, while the Japanese were still resisting at Salamaua, an Australian force landed few miles east of Lac. The next day supported by air and screened by smoke, U, s. parachute regiment dropped to seize the airdrome at Nadzab, 19 miles northwest of the town. This daring move permitted the air. borne movement to Nadzab of an Australian division, which then participated with their forces to the east in a concentric attack on Lac After difficult fighting the town was occupied on 16 Setember.
 Salamaua had fallen five days previously. General Macarthur then moved quickly toward Fin schhafen. Employing mostly Aus tralian forces, he occupied the town on 9 October. By February 1944 the Huon Peninsula was completely in our hands. During these operations and those which followed extensive air attacks were maintained against the en- my's supply lines, barges, and airfelds, contributing materially to the success Of the ground opera tions.
 Meantime New Zealand troops occupied two islands in the Treas ury Group of the northern Solo, mons late in October. Preceded by diversionary landings in northwest Choiseul, the 3rd Marine Division of It. Gen. A. A. Vandergrift's I Marine Amphibious Corps landed on l November at Empress Au- gusta Bay in western Bougainville This permitted the establishment of a Naval base and three airfields within fighter range of the enemy concentrations at Rabaul, 235 miles distant. From these airfields the remaining Japanese installa- tions in the Solomons could more extensively be neutralized by Maj Gen. Nathan F. Twining's Thir- teenth Air Force, thus obviating the immediate necessity of con- ducting a campaign to annihilate the enemy or to complete the cap- ture of the islands. On II Novem. Der elements of the 37th Division entered the line, and on IS De- cember command of the beach, head passed to our XIV Corps, which had been reinforced. by the Americal Division. Meanwhile a naval task force under Admiral Halsey had smothered Japanese air and naval power at Rabaul.
 Training Centers Established
 Tn the Central Pacific Area the primary mission of the Army command under It. Gen. Robert c. Richardson, Jr., was the train. ing of units en route to the com bat zones further south and west Amphibious and jungle training centers were established under battle-tested instructors in the Hawaiian Islands. The effective ness of this training was demon- strated in every area of the Pacific Ocean.
 Tn the fall of 1943 a series of operations was initiated which less than year later, had given us mastery of the Pacific. Attacks di- ranfad a0attef fta at,nt,o,, .faVo