Lat 7° 5' 60S Long 155° 49' 0E Located to the south of Bougainville, near Shortland Island.

Maleai (Malai)
Wartime Allied spelling 'Malai'. Largest village on the island, located on the eastern tip, bordering the Tuha Channel and Poporang. A prewar Catholic Mission church was established here.

American Missions Against Maleai
November 30 - December 17, 1943

November 30, 1943
(13th AF) 17 B-25's bomb Malai

December 1, 1943
(13th AF) 18 B-25's and 8 P-38's attack Malai

December 2, 1943
(13th AF) 20+ B-25's hit Malai

December 17, 1943
(13th AF) 18 B-25's bomb Maleai. Damaged by anti-aircraft fire is B-25D-20 41-30661 that crashes on flight back to base.

 

F1M2 Pete Manufacture Number 5269 Tail Code PO-2
Crashed on the island, salvaged after 2005 and removed by Craig Turner 2007