Location
Lat 5° 26' 33S Long 154° 39' 46E Sohano Island is
located at the western end of the Buka Passage. Also known as "Schane". To the north is the Buka Passage and beyond Buka Island. To the south is the Sohana Channel and beyond Bonis on the northwest end of Bougainville. Today located in Kunua Rural LLG of Northern Bougainville District in Autonomous Region of Bougainville in Papua New Guinea (PNG).
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 Sohano Island was occupied by the Japanese and developed as a base area. The coastline of Sohano Island was used as a seaplane anchorage area for Buka Seaplane Base and barges occasionally anchored in the nearby Sohano Channel and Buka Passage.
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
Contribute
Information
Do you have photos or additional information to add?
Last Updated
October 23, 2019
|