Location
Lat 4° 25' 60S Long 152° 20' 60E  Kabanga village and Kabanga Point are located on the eastern coast of the Gazelle Peninsula of New Britain. Pronounced "Kar-bunga". Borders Kabanga Bay and St. Georges Channel to the east. To the south is Warangoi Bay and further to the northwest is Rabaul. Today located in East New Britain Province in Papua New Guinea (PNG).

Prewar
Rondahls Plantation was established near this location planted with coconut palms harvesting copra. Also known as Makurapau Plantation (not to be confused with Makurapau near Wide Bay).

Wartime History
In late January 1942, occupied by the Japanese who emplaced anti-aircraft guns at this location. On January 20, 1944 20mm anti-aircraft guns at this location fired at a pair of F4U Corsairs leaving the target area damaging both and causing F4U Corsair 55835 pilot 1st Lt. Robert W. Marshall to crash into St. Georges Channel. Occupied by the Japanese until the official surrender of Japan in early September 1945.

B-17E Flying Fortress 41-2643
Pilot Grundmann crashed August 9, 1942 at Rondahls Plantation

B-25D "We Dood It" 41-30376
Pilot Miller crashed October 24, 1943 at Kabanga Point and into the sea

References
NARA "Marine Fighter Squadron 321 (VMF-321) War Diary January 1944" page 28
(Page 28) "Narrative Account: ...After scisoring once, Lt. See lost sight of Lts. Brindos, and Marshall, the other section... Capt. Mc Cown, and Lts. Brindos and Marshall failed to return from the mission... 1st Lt C. I. Cobb, of VMF-211, joined on Lt. Marshall in plane 900, on the way out from target. As they passed over Makurapou Plantation they drew 20 mm fire. Lt. Cobb's plane was hit as well as Lt. Marshall's. Lt. Cobb could see oil spraying all over the inside of Marshall's canopy. Lt. Marshall made a water landing"

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Last Updated
October 23, 2019