Combat· World War II
New Georgia Campaign (Operation TOENAILS)
New Georgia held a Japanese airfield at Munda Point that threatened Allied shipping and the advance north.
Taking it was mainly an Army job, but Marines played sharp supporting roles across the island group. Marine raiders made early landings to seize Viru Harbor and Wickham Anchorage and to guard the flanks. A raider regiment then landed in the north and fought a hard, drawn-out battle to take Enogai and to attack the strong enemy base at Bairoko. Marine defense battalions came ashore at Rendova and on New Georgia, where their big guns shelled Munda and their light tanks led infantry attacks against bunkers. Marine and Allied aircraft pounded the airfield and swept enemy planes from the sky. After weeks of jungle fighting in mud and rain, the Allies captured Munda and drove the enemy off the island.
Podcast episodes on World War II
Record no. 566