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    Thursday Island (Waiben) Queensland Australia
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RAAF Dec 23, 1943

Location
Thursday Island is part of the Torres Strait Islands (Torres Straits) in the Torres Strait off the Cape York Peninsula and Horn Island in Queensland in Australia. Located to the north is Hammond Island. Also known by simply the abbreviation "TI" for Thursday Island. The Aboriginal name for the island is Waiben.

Wartime History
On October 5, 1942, the U.S. Army established administrative headquarters under the commanded of Col. Langford inside the court house on Thursday Island. The island was supposed to be defended by white soldiers, with Torres Straights Infantry company as a reserve force. If the Japanese attempted to occupy the island, the defenders were to destroy all boats.

During June 1943 until August 1943, Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 19 (MTBS 19) under command of Lt. Comdr. Robert J. Bulkley, Jr. operated from Thursday Island with PT-127, PT-128, PT-129, PT-130, PT-131 and PT-132.

Allied units based at Thursday Island
HQ Torres Straits Force
Coastal Defense Artillery (Turtle, Goods, Milman, Endeavour, King)
Anti-aircraft batteries 34, 35, 157
17th Australian Field Company
Torres Straights Infantry Company

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Last Updated
October 4, 2021

 

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