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 38th BG c1942-1943  USAAF 1943  USAAF 1944   D Letourneau 1999 |
Location Lat 8° 20' 14S Long 157° 17' 11E Zanana Beach is located at sea level on the southern coast of New Georgia in the New Georgia Island Group (New Georgia Islands) in the central Solomon Islands. Also known as simply Zanana. Borders Roviana Lagoon to the east and south and beyond offshore islands including Sasavele Island (Dume) to the southeast and Roviana Island to the south. At this location began the Munda Trail a footpath westward to Munda. Prewar and during the Pacific War part of the British Solomon Islands Protectorate (BSIP). Today located in Western Province in the Solomon Islands. Wartime History By early July 1943, the Zanana Beach area was not defended by the Japanese and was selected as a landing site location for a portion of the U. S. "Western Landing Force" to seize a beachhead area on southern New Georgia. On July 2, 1943 the U. S. Army 43rd Infantry Division, 172nd Infantry Regiment and 169th Infantry Regiment landed at Zanana with supporting fire from 155mm artillery and 90mm anti-aircraft guns emplaced on northern Rendova Island. On July 3, 1943 the landings continued including U. S. Marine Corps (USMC) M3 Stuart light tanks from the 9th, 10th and 11th Defense Battalions. By July 6, 1943 both regiments were fully ashore and were attacking westward. Afterwards, the Zanana beach area became a beachhead area support the advanced of U. S. troops westward on the Munda Trail towards Munda. Later, expanded by the The 118th Engineer Battalion into a jeep trail. Today The beach area is still littered with debris from the war including the rusted metal rims of 55 gallon drums. References The U.S. Army Campaigns of World War II Northern Solomons pages 15, 16, 19 Condition Red: Marine Defense Battalions in World War II - Into the Central and Northern Solomons Contribute
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