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 USAAF 1943 |
Location Lat -8.283333 Long 157.216660 Mbanga Island is a flat and narrow island roughly 6,500 yards in length located in the New Georgia Island Group (New Georgia Islands) in the central Solomon Islands. Wartime Allied spelling Baanga. Also known as Baanga Island or Baga Island. To the southeast is Munda Point on southern New Georgia. To the south is the western side of Munda Harbor (Munda Bay). To the west are many small islands including Lola Island and beyond Vonavona Island (Parara, Wanawana). Prewar and during the Pacific War part of the British Solomon Islands Protectorate (BSIP). Today located in Western Province in the Solomon Islands. Wartime History On August 5, 1943 Japanese Army General Sasaki decided that he could no longer defend New Georgia and ordered the surviving Japanese personnel to withdraw to nearby islands with the 229th Infantry, 3d Battalion, 230th Infantry, and 3d Battalion, 23d Infantry withdrew from the Munda Point area to Baanga and were to defend the island and a pair of 120mm Naval Guns where ordered to shell Munda Airfield. Meanwhile, the U.S. Army occupied Munda Airfield and Munda. By August 7, 1943 General Sasaki moved his headquarters to Baanga but the next day withdrew to Kolombangara. The Japanese were to defend Baanga and pair of 120mm Naval Guns where ordered to shell Munda Airfield. On August 11, 1943 U.S. Army 43rd Division amphibious patrol finds evidence that Japanese forces are holding Mbanga and the Americans plan to capture the island to protect their flank. On August 12, 1943 U.S. Army 43rd Division, 169th Infantry Regiment, L Company lands on Baanga to establish beachhead but meets heavy opposition and is forced to withdraw, leaving 34 soldiers stranded ashore. On August 14, 1943 U.S. Army 43rd Division, 169th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Battalion lands on southeast Baanga and established a beachhead held by three companies. Ashore, Co L tries to rescue the 34 men stranded two days earlier but are encircled by the Japanese and suffers heavy casualties and are so depleted in strength they are withdrawn to Munda. On August 16, 1943 the 43rd Division Commanding Officer (C.O.) General Barker personally directs operations on Baanga and commits the 172nd Infantry Regiment (less a battalion) and 169th Infantry Regiment (less a battalion) plus artillery support. Despite the number of soldiers committed, progress remains slow. Meanwhile, Japanese artillery on Baanga began intermittently shelling the Munda area over the next three days. On August 18, 1943 another battalion from the 172nd Infantry Regiment is committed to the battle on Baanga. By August 19, 1943 the Japanese artillery on Mbanga are captured, ending the threat of artillery targeting the Munda area. On August 20, 1943 the U.S. completes the occupation of Mbanga and seals off the southern peninsula. The remaining Japanese defenders withdraw southward to other nearby islands. In total, the fighting cost the U.S. Army 52 Killed In Action (KIA) and 110 Wounded In Action (WIA). References U.S. Army in World War II Cartwheel: The Reduction of Rabaul Chapter X pages 166 (map), 167, 171-172 Contribute
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 Map 1944 |
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