Location
Milne Bay Province in Papua New Guinea (PNG) includes the eastern end of New Guinea and offshore islands and reefs. Borders Oro Province to the northwest and Central Province to the west. The province includes the southern portion of the Solomon Sea and to the east is the international border with the Solomon Islands. Prewar and during the Pacific War, located in the Eastern District of the Territory of Papua.

Wartime History
During August 1942, Japanese forces landed at Milne Bay but were defeated by defending Australian troops. Afterwards, Milne Bay was developed into a major Allied base area.

Milne Bay Area
Milne Bay  located on the southern tip of New Guinea.
Alotau  provincial capital of Milne Bay Province borders Milne Bay.
Rabi (Rabe)  located between Turnbull Airfield (No. 3 Strip) and Koebule Mission (KB Mission).
Koebule Mission (KB Mission)  located between Rabi (Rabe)
Ladava  located at the western edge of Milne Bay near Gurney Airfield.
Gili Gili (Gill Gill)  borders Milne Bay dock area east of Ladava and Turnbull Airfield
Gamadodo  located on the southeast coast of Milne Bay.
Waigani  located inland from Milne Bay and No. 2 Strip.
Konibirrubirru  located inland from Milne Bay.

Milne Bay Area Airfields
Gurney Airfield (No. 1 Strip, Fall River)  built by the U.S. Army during 1942 still in use today as Gurney Airport.
No. 2 Strip (Unnamed, Waigani Airfield)  located near Waigani the runway suffered drainage problems not used.
Turnbull Airfield (No. 3 Strip)  located near Gil Gili under construction during the Battle of Milne Bay.
Samarai Seaplane Base  located off Samarai Island used as a seaplane operating area.

Milne Bay Off Shore Islands
China Strait  navigable strait off Milne Bay between Samurai and Sariba Islands.
Samarai Island  prewar colonial government station, seaplane base.
Sariba Island  located to the east of Samarai island borders Namoai Bay and Jenkins Bay.
Namoai Bay  borders Sariba Island used by the U.S. Navy as a seaplane operating area
Jenkins Bay  borders Sariba Island used by the U.S. Navy "SeaBees"
Basilisk Island located to the east of Milne Bay.
Uluma Reef located to the southeast of Milne Bay.

Cape Vogel Area
Cape Vogel  borders Goodenough Bay and Ward Hunt Strait.
Ward Hunt Strait  located between Cape Vogel and Goodenough Island.
Moresby Strait  located at the southeast of Goodenough Island.
Goodenough Bay  borders the north coast of New Guinea.
Bogo Bogo  Bogo Bogo is located on the northern tip of Cape Vogel.
Baniara  located on the north coast of New Guinea bordering Goodenough Bay.
Hilimoi  located on the southern edge of Milne Bay site of a U.S. Navy hospital.
Kana Kopa  located on the southern edge of Milne Bay site of PT Boat Advance Base Six (Kana Kopa).
Waga Waga  located on the southern edge of Milne Bay bordering Discovery Bay.
Taupota (Taupota)  located on the southern edge of Milne Bay.

North Coast
Cape Frere  located on the north coast of New Guinea.

East Cape
Nigila  located on the northern arm of Milne Bay.

Fife Bay District
Fife Bay  located on the southern coast of New Guinea.
Mullins Harbor  located on the southern coast of New Guinea.
Orangerie Bay  located on the south coast of New Guinea.

Louisiade Archipelago (Louisiades)
Coral Sea  borders New Guinea and Australia, Battle of the Coral Sea May 4-8, 1942.
Jomard Passage (Jomard Channel, Jomard Entrance)  located to the south of the Louisiade Archipelago.
Rossel Island (Yela)  eastern most island in the Louisiade Archipelago.
Sudest Island (Tagula, Vanatinai)  largest is Louisiade Archipelago.
Misima Island  located to the northeast of the Deboyne Islands.

Deboyne Island Group (Deboyne Islands)
Deboyne Lagoon  located at the center of the Deboyne Islands.
Panapompom Island  large island in the middle of Deboyne Lagoon.
Nivani Island  located in Deboyne Lagoon with prewar copra plantation.
Panaeati Island (Panniet)  located at the northern edge of Deboyne Lagoon.
Panuwaiyayapuna Island  small island in the Deboyne Islands.

D'Entrecasteaux Island Group (D'Entrecasteaux Islands)
Goodenough Island  located in the D'Entrecasteaux Islands, large mountainous island to the northwest.
Fergusson  located in the D'Entrecasteaux Islands at the center.
Normanby Island  located in the D'Entrecasteaux Islands to the southeast.

Amphlett Island Group (Amphlett Islands)
Urasi Island (Gumawana)  located in the Amphlett Islands.

Woodlark Islands
Woodlark Island  largest island in the Woodlark Islands.

Trobriand Island Group (Trobriand Islands)
Kiriwina Island  largest island in the group includes Losuia.
Kaileuna Island  small island to the east of Kiriwina Island.
Kitava Island  small island to the east of Kiriwina Island.
Kawa Island  small circular island to the west of Kiriwina Island.
Lifaba Island (Lebata)  located near Litisa Island (Islet Island) roughly 15 miles west of Kawa Island.
Litisa Island (Islet)  small island in the Trobriand Islands.

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Last Updated
October 27, 2024