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 USAAF Nov 18, 1943   Australian Army September 9, 1945 |
Location Lat 6° 47' 0S Long 155° 48' 0" Kahili is located on the southern coast of Bougainville. The village at this location is also spelled as "Kihili" or "Kahilli". Pronounced "Key-lee" by local people. Borders Erventa Harbor (Buin Harbor) to the south and Tonolei Harbor further to the east. To the southwest is Lamuai and beyond Kangua and Moila Point. During World War II, the Japanese referred to the entire southern Bougainville area as "Buin" including this location. Today, Buin (Buin Town) is located further inland. Today, Kahili is located in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (Bougainville Province) in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Prewar Kahili plantation was at this location planted with coconut palms harvesting copra. Wartime History During early 1942, occupied by the Japanese. Japanese code named Buin "RXP". In the middle of 1942 the Japanese constructed Kahili Airfield (Buin) at this location. Kahili area was heavily bombed from the air by American aircraft until late September 1944. American missions against Kahili February 4, 1943–September 27, 1944 Occupied by the Japanese until early September 1945 when Japan officially surrender. On September 9, 1945 Australian Army, 2 Corps led by Major E. C. Taylor "Buin Liaison Group" landed at Kahili to meet with Japanese representatives to arrange the surrender of the Japanese forces in the area. While ashore, they were resupplied by an air drop over Kahili Airfield. Kahili Airfield (Buin Airfield) Prewar plantation airfield built by the Japanese and neutralized from the air by US bombing missions P-38G Lightning pilot Huey Missing In Action (MIA) February 14, 1943 prisoner of war (POW) detained at t Kahili ultimate fate unknown F4U Corsair piloted by Winnia Missing In Action (MIA) July 18, 1943 prisoner of war (POW) ultimate fate unknown Contribute
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