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| Location Lat 8° 40' 0S Long 150° 55' 0E Kiriwina Island is the largest Island in the Trobriand Island Group (Trobriand Islands) in the Solomon Sea. The island is 25 miles long and 6 miles wide. Located 360 miles south of Rabaul. To the east is Kitava Island. To the west is Kaileuna Island. Prewar and during the Pacific War located in the Territory of Papua. Today located in the Milne Bay Province in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Wartime History Kiriwina Island was never occupied by the Japanese forces. During early March 1943, a group of eighteen Japanese in a lifeboat drifted ashore on Kiriwina after their ship sank in the Battle of the Bismarck Sea and reported to the Allies. On March 10, 1943 they were captured by PT-114 and taken to Milne Bay. On June 23, 1943 during the night, U.S. Army 158th Regimental Combat Team (158th RCT) lands at Kiriwina and Woodlark without opposition. Within a month, Kiriwina Airfield becomes operational. Losuia Located at the center southern coast of Kiriwina Island. To the north is Kiriwina Airfield (South Drome, Losuia). Kiriwina Airfield (South Drome, Losuia) Built by Americans, based RAAF and USAAF aircraft Kiriwina Airfield (North Drome, Crash Strip) Located to the north of the island Kiriwina Cub Strip (Cub Strip) Located near the eastern coast of the island for light aircraft Kiriwina Seaplane Base Located on the south coast at Losuia B-26 Marauder Serial Number 40-1426 Pilot Hastings crashed May 2, 1942 upside down in swampy ground Yayoi Sunk by Allied air attack September 11, 1942 Seagull V Serial Number A2-19 Pilot Bonython MIA September 11, 1943 B-24D Liberator Serial Number 42-40934 Pilot Bonner crashed October 13, 1943 last seen roughly 40 miles off Kiriwina B-24D Liberator Serial Number 42-72800 Pilot Carlson MIA October 25, 1943 last seen roughly 40 miles north of Kiriwina B-25D "Notre Dame De Victoire" 41-30316 Pilot Henebry ditched November 2, 1943 off Kiriwina, crew rescued B-25D Mitchell Serial Number 41-30240 Pilot Hastings ditched November 2, 1943 roughly 50 miles off Kiriwina Contribute
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