Commandos at Kaiapit PTO (id:#66501)

(ASL Journal #14 ID: J237)   [next]   [previous]

Kaiapit, New Guinea 1943-09-20 (2 others)

Overview:

Kaiapit was the next airstrip to be secured in the Australian advance up the Markham valley during the campaign to occupy the vital Huon peninsula on New Guinea's north coast. After dislodging the small Japanese garrison from part of the village the previous day, the next task for Captain Gordon King's 2/6th Independent Company was to clear the surrounding area and prepare the airfield for the arrival by air of the lead elements of the 21st Australian Infantry Brigade. Despite having no contact with the 7th Division headquarters and running low on ammunition, King decided to continue with this task since intelligence indicated that only small groups of Japanese were likely to be met. He therefore ordered C Platoon at 0615 to sweep the area while the rest of the company held the perimeter. Just as C Platoon was about to move off, a large Japanese force made a surprise advance towards the company.

Defender: Japanese (III Battalion, 78th Regiment, Yonekura Force)  

Errata (source)