Location
Lat 6° 30' 11S Long 155° 12' 37E  Mawaraka is located at an elevation of 32' on the western coast of Bougainville Island. Borders Empress Augusta Bay to the west. Wartime Allied spelling "Mawareka". Also known as Mawataka.

Wartime History
Occupied by the Japanese and used as a supply area. During late 1943 until the middle of 1944 attacked by Allied fighters and bombers.

Allied missions against Mawaraka (Mawareka, Mawataka)
November 30, 1943–January 11, 1945

By early 1945, occupied by the Australian Army who built Vernon Airfield (Vernon Strip) for artillery spotting and message dropping in support of Australian Army soldiers in the area.

CA-13 Boomerang A46-189
Pilot Vernon crashed January 11, 1945 remains recovered

Vernon Airfield (Vernon Strip)
Constructed at this location.

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Last Updated
March 20, 2022