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 USAAF Dec 15, 1942  13th AF c1944  42nd BG c1944 |
Location Lat 5° 15' 0S Long 154° 37' 60E Buka is located on the southern coast of Buka island. To the south is the Buka Passage and beyond Bonis on northern Bougainville Island. Also known as "Buka Town". Today, Buka is located in Buka Rural LLG in the Northern Bougainville District in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (AROB) in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Buka is the district capital of Northern Bougainville District. Prewar Buka had a sizable Chinese population that lived in Chinatown at the eastern edge of Buka Town near Buka Airfield. Wartime History During 1941, garrisoned by the Australian Imperial Force, No. 9 Section, C Platoon, under the command of Lieutenant Leverett. At the beginning of October 1941. No. 3 Section of the First Independent Company, Australian Imperial Force were assigned to Buka. During January 1942 Japanese flying boats appeared over Buka. After the Japanese landing at Rabaul, the Australian garrison evacuated to Bonis on Bougainville. Japanese missions against Buka January 3, 1942–January 21, 1942 On March 9, 1942 in the morning, Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) warships entered Queen Carola Harbor on the western side of Buka island. In addition to mine sweeping operations, Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF) land forces on Buka and carry out mopping-up operations the following day. During the Japanese occupation, Buka was developed into a base area to support Japanese operations with Buka Airfield was expanded for military use and developed Buka Passage as an anchorage and seaplane operating area. Nearby built Bonis Airfield at Bonis on northern Bougainville. Starting in late August 1943, attacked by Allied bombers and later fighters. Allied missions against Buka August 23, 1943–June 15, 1944 On November 1, 1943 after the U.S. landing at Torokina on Bougainville, Japanese destroyers landed reinforcements including 700 soldiers from the 17th Army Division and 25 tons of supplies unopposed at Buka on November 6, 1943. After the failed Japanese Army counter attacks against Allied beachhead area, the remaining Japanese forces withdrew to to northern, eastern and southern Bougainville and fortified each area for a protracted defense. On December 10, 1944 the Australian Army 3rd Division took over Bougainville operations until the end of the Pacific War. Buka remained occupied by the Japanese until the official surrender of Japan in September 1945. Buka Airfield Built prior to the war by Australians, occupied by the Japanese until the end of the war. SBD-5 Dauntless Bureau Number 35931 Pilot McIntrye crashed November 10, 1943 wreckage found 2008, remains recovered G4M1 Model 11 Betty Tail K-393 Wreckage scrapped sometime between 1997-1999 References Buka Island, No. 3 Section, ’A’ Platoon, First Independent Company, Australian Imperial Force Contribute
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