Location
Bay located to the south of Kila Drome (3 Mile), east of Port Moresby.

Scone Island
Small island near Local Island.

Local Island (Manubada Island)
Island to the SW of Joyce Bay, Motu for big bird island, due to its birdlike shape.

Ray Fairfield recalls from the 1960-1970s:
"Bombs were dropped seemingly indiscriminately, either for practise or to unload before landing. I was in the SCUBA club, and we had a standing arrangement if we found any ordnance in relatively shallow water or where it might be a problem. If the area could be cleared an [Australian] Army Sergeant would bring a selection of explosives, & we would set a demolition charge and "light the blue touchpapaer". We found bombs of varying sizes on most islands, including Local and Idihi. I still remember the safety radius for a 500-pounder was 2 miles."

P-38 Wreckage
A P-38 ditched off the island. Only a propeller and flap wreckage have been found to date.  The main body of wreckage is yet to be discovered.

P-47D Thunderbolt
Ditched in Joyce Bay

P-38G Lightning Serial Number 43-????
On a test flight, suffered engine failure and cartwheeled into the sea off Local Island

P-38F Lightning Serial Number 42-12637
Ditched or force landed off Local Island returning from a combat mission

Nateara Reef
Ofshore reef streches from Port Moresby to Pyramid Point. Basilisk Passage is located to the west side of the reef, and Sinavi Reef and Fishermans Island further to the west.

SS Pruth
Used for bombing and strafing practice, five aircraft lost attacking

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Last Updated
October 1, 2009