Location
Lat 8° 31' 60S Long 150° 18' 0E  Kawa Island is a circular island in the Trobriand Islands. To the east is Kiriwina Island. To the west is Islet Island (Litisa Island) and Lifaba Island.

Wartime History
On July 30, 1942, three Australian Army spotters from the New Guinea Air Warning Wireless Company, including Tom Warne established a radio station on Kawa Island. On August 30, a mail delivery was made to the garrison. On November 17, ANGU Eddie Allan Stanton and Cpl Jones visited Kawa Island. On December 24, their radio was broken. Other spotters stationed on Kawa included I. M. Bowman, M. J. Duffy, Elliott, F. J. Frome, Home, R. A. Hovey, N. T. M, Sumner, R. G. Webb and W. T. Williamson.

On January 1, 1943 B-24D "Crosair" 41-23752 ditched off Kawa Island. The surviving crew were assisted ashore by native people and the spotters radioed for help. The crew were transported aboard motor launch Markek bound for Kiriwina but were rescued off Kaileuna instead.

B-24D "Crosair" Serial Number 41-23752
Pilot Kuhl ditched January 1, 1943 discovered 2002

Beaufort Mark VIII Serial Number A9-217
Pilot Woodgate crashed November 15, 1943 discovered 2000

References
The War Diaries of Eddie Allan Stanton 109-110

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Last Updated
October 23, 2019