Location
Lat 5° 26' 33S Long 154° 39' 46E  Sohano Island is located at the western end of the Buka Passage in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (Bougainville Province) in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Also known as "Schane". Borders Buka Island to the north and Bonis on the northern tip of Bougainville Island to the south.

Prewar
An Australian government station was established on Sohano Island manned by Ken Bridges the Assistant District Officer (ADO) in charge until November 1941 then was replaced by Jack Read.

Wartime History
During early 1942, occupied by the Japanese. Sohano Island was developed as a base area. The island was used as a seaplane anchorage area for Buka Seaplane Base and barges occasionally anchored in Sohano Channel and Buka Passage near the island.

Allied missions against Sohano
November 16, 1943 - June 10, 1944

Buka Seaplane Base
Channel and island used by the Japanese during the war

Sohano Island Japanese Memorial
Erected in 1984 for the 65,000 Japanese that died in the Bougainville campaign. Nearby, is a F1M2 Pete fuselage, recovered from the Sohano Channel, and fire extinguisher ground unit.

F1M2 Pete Tail 52
Crashed in nearby mangrove swamp, salvaged and displayed on the island

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Last Updated
August 25, 2018