Wanigela, Papua New Guinea
Encyclopedia
Wanigela is a village
along Collingwood Bay
, Papua New Guinea
. The village is served by Wanigela Airport
.
forward staging base during World War II
. Troops staged at Wanigela before troops moving to Pongani
to strike the Imperial Japanese during the Battle of Buna-Gona
.
Between 5 October & 6 October 1942, the Australian 2/10th Battalion
of the 18th Brigade
together with US Army engineers and anti-aircraft gunners were flown from Milne Bay
to Wanigela Airfield
by C-47 Dakotas of United States Army Air Force's, 21st Troop Carrier Squadron
and 22nd Troop Carrier Squadron
of the 374th Transport Group
.
On 14 October 1942, the US Army 128th Infantry Regiment
of the 32nd Infantry Division and the Australian 2/6th Independent Company were flown from 14-Mile Drome
to Wanigela Airfield.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
along Collingwood Bay
Collingwood Bay (Papua New Guinea)
-References:*...
, Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
. The village is served by Wanigela Airport
Wanigela Airport
Wanigela Airport is an airport in Wanigela, Oro Province, Papua New Guinea .-History:Built by Australia New Guinea Administrative Unit authorities in July 1942 during World War II. Consisting of a single grassed runway. The airfield was used primarily for transport flights.-Airlines and destinations:...
.
History
Wanigela became an AlliedAllies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
forward staging base during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Troops staged at Wanigela before troops moving to Pongani
Pongani, Papua New Guinea
-History:During World War II, the area around the village was used as a staging area for allied forces for the Battle of Buna-Gona. The United States 126th Infantry Regiment and 128th Infantry Regiment of the 32nd Infantry Division together with Australian 2/6th Independent Company staged in...
to strike the Imperial Japanese during the Battle of Buna-Gona
Battle of Buna-Gona
The Battle of Buna–Gona was a battle in the New Guinea campaign, a major part of the Pacific campaign of World War II. On 16 November 1942, Australian and United States forces attacked the main Japanese beachheads in New Guinea, at Buna, Sanananda and Gona. Both forces were riddled by disease and...
.
Between 5 October & 6 October 1942, the Australian 2/10th Battalion
2/10th Australian Infantry Battalion
The 2/10th Battalion was a battalion of the Australian Army was raised at Wayville Showgrounds, Adelaide, on 13 October 1939, as part of the 18th Brigade of the 6th Australian Division for World War II...
of the 18th Brigade
18th Brigade (Australia)
The 18th Brigade was an infantry brigade of the Australian Army, which served during the Second World War. The brigade was raised on 13 October 1939 and was one of the first three infantry brigades of the Second Australian Imperial Force to be formed. Initially commanded by Brigadier Leslie...
together with US Army engineers and anti-aircraft gunners were flown from Milne Bay
Milne Bay
Milne Bay is a large bay in Milne Bay Province, southeastern Papua New Guinea. The bay is named after Sir Alexander Milne.The area was a site of the Battle of Milne Bay in 1942....
to Wanigela Airfield
Wanigela Airport
Wanigela Airport is an airport in Wanigela, Oro Province, Papua New Guinea .-History:Built by Australia New Guinea Administrative Unit authorities in July 1942 during World War II. Consisting of a single grassed runway. The airfield was used primarily for transport flights.-Airlines and destinations:...
by C-47 Dakotas of United States Army Air Force's, 21st Troop Carrier Squadron
21st Airlift Squadron
The 21st Airlift Squadron is part of the 60th Air Mobility Wing at Travis Air Force Base, California. It operates C-17 Globemaster III aircraft supporting the United States Air Force global reach mission world wide.-Mission:...
and 22nd Troop Carrier Squadron
22d Airlift Squadron
The 22d Airlift Squadron is part of the 60th Air Mobility Wing at Travis Air Force Base, California. It operates C-5 Galaxy aircraft supporting the United States Air Force global reach mission world wide.-Mission:...
of the 374th Transport Group
374th Airlift Wing
The 374th Airlift Wing is a unit of the United States Air Force assigned to Fifth Air Force. It is stationed at Yokota Air Base, Japan. It is part of Pacific Air Forces ....
.
On 14 October 1942, the US Army 128th Infantry Regiment
128th Infantry Regiment (United States)
The 128th Infantry Regiment is a United States military unit of the Wisconsin National Guard. The 128th has served as part of the American Civil War, Spanish-American War, Mexican Civil War, World War I, World War II and the Iraq War....
of the 32nd Infantry Division and the Australian 2/6th Independent Company were flown from 14-Mile Drome
Schwimmer Airfield
Schwimmer Airfield is a former World War II airfield near Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. It was part of a multiple-airfield complex in the Port Moresby area, located north of the Laloki River....
to Wanigela Airfield.