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 Hodgkinson 1942  Australian Army March 28, 1943  Halmarick July 21, 1943  USAAF c1943  Justin Taylan 2003 |
Location Lat 8° 53' 41" S Long 148° 29' 25" E Oro Bay is located on the north coast of New Guinea. To the west connects to the Solomon Sea. To the north further up the coast is Cape Sudest. To the southeast is Cape Sinclair and Harvey Bay. Prewar and during the Pacific War part of the in the Northern District in the Territory of Papua. Today location in Oro Bay Rural LLG of Ijivitari District in Oro Province in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Wartime History Starting in November 1942, Allied personnel used Oro Bay as a staging area during the campaign against the Japanese defenders at Buna, Gona and Sanananda. By November 14, 1942 U.S. Army soldiers had consolidated into the Oro Bay area and developed it into a aging area and anchorage for Allied small ships. During December 1942 Operation Lilliput began as convoys of small ships and barges to move supplies from Milne Bay northwest to Oro Bay. Within six months, the convoys had delivered 60,000 tons of supplies and 3,802 personnel. Corvettes provided the majority of the escorts. US Army Base B (Oro Bay) In early 1943, Oro Bay was further developed by the U.S. Army into a major base area. Designated "Base B" by U.S. Army Letter Base designation. Shore facilities were expanded to include Liberty Ship Wharves on the south side of Oro Bay, plus an engineering depot at the center of the bay. On the northern side was headquarters Base B, fuel jetty and bulk petroleum storage. Further inland was a hospital and radio transmitter. Later, the area was further developed, including a detention center to rehabilitating soldiers with combat neurosis. During 1943, Oro Bay was the target of many Japanese air raids against shipping that sank several vessels. Air combat was frequent over the area as defending U.S. planes intercepted the Japanese formations. Japanese missions against Oro Bay January 23, 1943–October 17, 1943 During May 1944, a gallows was constructed at Oro Bay and used to hang six U.S. Army Negro (African-American) soldiers who were found guilty of rape allegedly committed in Milne Bay at their court martial. American units based at Oro Bay USMC 7th Marines Melbourne September 1943–December 26, 1943 Cape Gloucester 31st Infantry Division (amphibious training) April 24 , 1944–June 25, 1944 Aitape 491st Port Battalion arrives July 17, 1943, C Company departs Lae 1944, HQ company and A, B & D until 1945 Today A new wharf is built atop the location of the wartime wharf. Oro Bay bay is used by a passenger ferry providing service from Oro Bay to Lae and other locations in PNG. There are many smaller bits of wreckage from the war in the vicinity. Unused bomb casings litter the area, used as foundations for huts, guard rails or abandoned in the bush. Kaeve Located inland from Oro Bay, near the mission school. Oro Bay Airfield Wartime emergency airfield near Oro Bay. Hudson Mark I Serial Number A16-3 Pilot Hemsorth ditched December 26, 1942 crew and passengers rescued, two KIA / BNR. SS Masaya Sunk March 28, 1943 by D3A Val dive bombers. SS Bantam Sunk March 28, 1943 by D3A Val dive bombers. Later salvaged and towed to Sydney. Contribute
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