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 38th BG c1942-1943  USAAF 1943  USAAF 1944 |
Location Lat 8° 19' 0S Long 157° 15' 0E Munda is located at Munda Point an elevation of 13' / 3m on the southern coast of New Georgia in the New Georgia Island Group (New Georgia Islands) in the central Solomon Islands. Also known as Munda Point for the feature. Prewar and during the Pacific War part of the British Solomon Islands Protectorate (BSIP). Today located in Western Province in the Solomon Islands. Munda Point is the southwest of New Georgia and to the east was Lambeti Plantation (Lambete) and beyond Laiana (Ilangana, Olsen's Landing). To the north is Kokengola Hill (Kokenggolol). Often "Munda" refers to this entire area. Borders Munda Harbor (Munda Bay) to the west and to the south and beyond a fringing coral reef and beyond B Bay and Rendova Island. To the west borders Munda Harbor (Munda Bay) and beyond Munda Bar. To the east is the entrance to Roviana Lagoon. Prewar The area to the east of Munda Point was developed into Lambeti Plantation (Lambete) planted with coconut palms harvesting copra. A Methodist mission was also established at this location. Wartime History On November 13, 1942 destroyer Hakaze landed three companies of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) 6th Sasebo Special Naval Landing Force (6th Sasebo SNLF) at Munda Point. On November 21, 1942 Japanese construction units arrived and began construction of Munda Airfield that was completed by December 17, 1942. Later, these forces were reinforced by elements of the Imperial Japanese Army 229nd Infantry Regiment and 13th Regiment commanded by Colonel Genjiro Hirata. When the Japanese presence at Munda was detected, American aircraft began bombing the area and airfield. American missions against Munda December 2, 1942–August 1, 1943 Capturing Munda was the principal objective of Central Solomons campaign. On June 30, 1943 in the early morning, U.S. forces landed on northern Rendova Island. From Munda, Japanese artillery at Munda fired on the US Navy ships, but were quickly silenced. On July 2-3, 1943 US Army forces landed to the east at Zanana (Laiana) and advanced westward towards Munda. Munda Airfield itself became a battlefield and was captured by the U.S. Army XIV Corps after twelve days of continuous and fierce fighting in the area. On August 5, 1943 the high ground above the airfield including Kokengola Hill (Kokenggolol) was captured. Immediately, American forces repaired, improved and expanded the airfield. The US Army 24th Infantry, 3rd Battalion (Negro) was assigned to Munda to operate the ration dump and perform labor tasks. On September 11, 1943 VMF-212 War Diary pages 5-6 notes the condition of Munda Airfield: "Munda, very clearly, shows the effects of our six months pounded by bombs and shells. Only stumps or overturned roots show where many coconut trees once stood. Craters, wrecked planes and other vehicles and other debree [sic debris] of all kind cover the landscape. It is hard to see how anyone could survive such a world of destruction." Munda Airfield (Munda Point Airfield) Built by the Japanese, captured by the US Army, still in use today G3M Nell Pilot Kondo ditched December 28, 1942 off Munda Point, since the 1970s known SCUBA dive site F6F Hellcat Ditched off Munda F4U Corsair Ditched off Munda. Located in 52m off Munda R4D Dakota Serial Number ? Tail Number J 90 Crashed near Munda U.S. Cemetery at Munda American cemetery at Munda for American war dead at Munda and air crews. Also known as USAF Cemetery at Munda for the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) section. By late 1945 all the graves were exhumed and transported to other cemeteries for consolidation. U.S. Pontoon Barge Located to the east of Munda. Kia Located near Munda. A pile of war materials known locally as "The American Dump" , beyond the eastern tip of Kiambe. Aircraft parts, bulldozers, landing craft, Japanese guns and other war debris. Quonset Huts are located on the shore, used for drying copra. AMTRAC Sunk offshore of the dump area, in roughly 2m. Pontoon Barges Four barges remain half submerged along Kia. Zanana Beach Located on southern New Georgia site of U.S. landings on July 2-3, 1943 and start of the Munda Trail. Laiana (Ilangana, Olsen's Landing) Located on southern New Georgia to the east of Munda Kaimbe Island (Kiaba) One of the small islands off the southern coast of New Georgia located off Kia. References NARA VMF-212 War Diary September 1943 pages 5-6 WWII Diary Of A Fallen Japanese Soldier 1943 Japanese Navy medical orderly at Munda in early May 1943 Contribute
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