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 RNZAF Sept 1945  Justin Taylan 2000  Donald Fetterly 2002 |
Location Observatory Ridge is located on Frisbee Ridge located on the Gazelle Peninsula at the northeastern tip of New Britain. This location overlooks Rabaul and Simpson Harbor to the south. Connected by a road to Tunnel Hill Road. Also known as "Observatory Hill" or "Volcano Observatory'". Between 1884 until September 1914 part of Deutsch Neu Guinea (German New Guinea). Prewar and during the Pacific War part of the New Britain District in the Territory of New Guinea. Today located in East New Britain Province of Papua New Guinea (PNG). Prewar A volcano observatory was established at this location by volcanologist Dr. Fisher. This observatory has been in continuous use to this day. During the Pacific War, it ceased operations in late 1941 until late 1945. Wartime History On December 8, 1941 at the start of the Pacific War, the Australian Army emplaced 'L' Anti-Aircraft Battery with two 3" guns in a line on Frisbee Ridge. On January 4, 1942 the anti-aircraft guns on Observatory Ridge went into action against the first Japanese air raid against Rabaul by Japanese flying boats. On January 20, 1942 the anti-aircraft guns shot down B5N1 Kate pilot Sugihara that crashed into the north side of Mount Kombiu (Mother).This was the first Japanese aircraft shot down over Rabaul and the only confirmed aircraft shot down or damaged by this gun battery. After the Japanese occupied the area, they installed anti-aircraft guns atop the same ridge. Later, Japanese forces and laborers dug tunnels into the eastern side of Observatory Road connecting to Tunnel Hill Road. Today During the 1980s, the Rabaul volcano observatory was reestablished at this location and continues to operate to this day with seismic monitoring equipments. References Volcano Town (1985) describes the Volcano Observatory Lost Lives - A.I.F. Anti Aircraft and Military Landing Craft Defence (Rabaul), Royal Australian Artillery Hell and High Feer pages 4-6 "A.A. Bty., Rabaul" was the flattering title of the two officers and fifty-two other ranks with their two 3-inch guns and obsolete ring-sight telescope, but officially it had been known earler by the quaint name "A.A. & A/M.L.C. Defence Force, Rabaul". It took considerable research to discover the letters A/M.L.C. stood for Anti-Military Landing Craft, and it was this aspect of the title which led to or rather dictated the choice of this unpromising gun position [Frisbee Ridge], silhouetted as it was against both northern and southern skylines. For Rabaul ... lay in what was virtually a gigantic crater; only from this ridge could the guns command anything like the requisite 360 degrees angle of traverse." Contribute
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