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Solomon Islands - The Solomon Islands campaign began with Japanese landings and occupation of several areas in the British Solomon Islands and Bougainville, in the Territory of New
Guinea, during the first six months of 1942. The Japanese occupied these locations and began the construction of several naval and air bases with the goals of protecting the flank of the
Japanese offensive in New Guinea, establishing a security barrier for the major Japanese base at Rabaul on New Britain, and providing bases for interdicting supply lines between the
Allied powers of the United States and Australia and New Zealand.
The Allies, to defend their communication and supply lines in the South Pacific, supported a counteroffensive in New Guinea, isolated the Japanese base at Rabaul, and counterattacked
the Japanese in the Solomons with landings on Guadalcanal and small neighboring islands on 7 August 1942. In a campaign of attrition fought on land, on sea, and in the air, the Allies
wore the Japanese down, inflicting irreplaceable losses on Japanese military assets. The Allies retook some of the Solomon Islands (although resistance continued until the end of the war),
and they also isolated and neutralized some Japanese positions, which were then bypassed. The Solomon Islands campaign then converged with the New Guinea campaign. (Wikipedia)
Photo - Landing operations on Rendova Island, Solomon Islands, 30 June 1943. Attacking at the break of day in a heavy rainstorm, the first Americans ashore huddle behind tree
trunks and any other cover they can find. (Navy) NARA File #: 080-G-52573---War & Conflict Book #: 1176
Map - Solomon Islands Campaign map showing the Allied advance during 1943 and key air and naval bases (U.S. Marine Corps)
| Tommy Trampp |
