November 1942 (3)

Australian servicemen raise their flag after capturing Kokoda from the enemy

 

2 November – this date marks the point where the Australian forces on New Guinea retook Kokoda as they pushed the Japanese approximately half-way back across the Track.

8-13 November – MacArthur moved his advance headquarters to Port Moresby, [far from any evidence of the harsh conditions under which the men were fighting], and he became impatient with the lack of speed in succeeding against the enemy.  MGen. “Bloody George” Vassey was sent to the 7th Australian Division.  Two days later, Vassey used the enemy’s favorite tactic against them – a flanking movement on the town of Oivi.  This forced 1,200 battered Japanese to cross the raging Kumusi River.  The safety of Port Moresby was now secured.

Impressive and dramatic actual films of the Kokoda Track caught the realties of war….

Gen. Horii, the Japanese commander drowned as his makeshift boat overturned while attempting to cross the river.  A Japanese newsman reported, “The soldiers had eaten anything to appease hunger – young shoots of trees, roots of grass, even cakes of earth… they could no longer digest food.  Many vomited and died.”

14 November – to speed up the Papuan operation, MacArthur flew in the 126th and 128th regiments of the US 32nd Infantry Div., under Gen. E.F. Harding, to assist at Buna.  The Australians concentrated on Gona and the 5th Air Force controlled the skies along the coast for supplies to enter Cape Nelson.  Imperial Gen. Hitoshi Imamura [conqueror of the Dutch East Indies], sent 2,000 troops to Buna to support the 5,000 at the New Guinea ports.

Gen. Sir Thomas Blamey & LtGen. Robert Eichelberger in front of a captured enemy bunker in New Guinea

General Harding would later regret ever stating that Buna would be “easy pickings.”  Neither the Australians or the Americans had the artillery necessary to break through the enemy fortifications.  For their bunkers and tunnels, the enemy used tree trunks, steel and concrete to reinforce their positions.

The 3rd New Zealand Division was on Fiji and the 2nd Div. remained fighting in the Middle East.  The Royal New Zealand Air Force did however send a squadron of Hudsons to Guadalcanal during this month.

Through the periscope, the USS Wahoo views their Japanese target submerge.

17-19 November – the Japanese on the Kokoda Track were forced back to the Buna/Gona area and received reinforcements.  The American attack on Buna was not successful.

24-30 November –  the enemy landed troops at Munda Point, New Georgia.  These 5 islands were originally by-passed by the Japanese in favor of Guadalcanal, 100 miles south.  US Intelligence was aware of the enemy convoy on the 28th, but thought little of the landing.

Col. Edward V. Rickenbacker rescued after being lost at sea since 2 Oct.

Despite any failures on the part of the Japanese during this month, the expertise of the enemy night-flying groups was expertly demonstrated.  This started the US into a serious look into furthering their own techniques and technology.

28 November – the US Army 22nd Construction Battalion reached Sitka, Alaska to begin work on over 155 projects.  They would remain there until 1 May 1943.

Click on images to enlarge.

#################################################################################

Military Humor – 

 

 

 

 

 

#################################################################################

Farewell Salutes – 

Shelva Abbott – Highland Hts., KY; US Army, WWII

Joseph Buzbee – WPalm Beach, FL; US Navy, WWII

Patrick Kelliher – Whangaparaoa, NZ; RNZ Air Force # 452487, WWII, gunner

John Jones – Chicago, IL; US Navy, WWII

Ernest Legge – Jamaica, VT; US Navy, Korea, SeaBee

Richard Murphy Jr. – Washington DC; USMC, WWII, CBI, SSgt.

Walter Oetting – Fort Wayne, IN; US Army, WWII, Korea, Sgt., chief mechanic

Robert Satterthwaite – Lake Worth, FL; USMC, Vietnam, Cpl E-3

John Vicary – AUS; 26 AIF, WWII, Merauke Force, Pvt.

George Williams Jr. – Wilmington, NC; US Navy, Vietnam, sub USS Skipjack

##################################################################################