Green Island Airfield

[Dave Homewood]

Here is an article about the airfield constructed on Green Island (aka Nissan Island) where RNZAF P-40's, Corsairs and Venturas operated from.

AIRSTRIP ON NISSAN

CUT OUT OF THE JUNGLE

NEW ZEALAND SQUADRON

(Official War Correspondent. N.Z.E.F.) N.Z. PACIFIC HQRS., March 9

One million square feet of glaring coral airstrip has grown out of the jungle on Nissan Island since the Allied occupation, enabling the establishment of a new base for offensive air sweeps well beyond the previous span of South Pacific aircraft. Due to the magnificent work of American Seabees in converting the vast area to one of the finest strips in the Pacific this base is operating in record time for a field of this size.

The construction work began four days after the landing and was pushed ahead 24 hours a day as bulldozers flattened the jungle and coconuts for the army of mechanised vehicles following with endless loads of coral from a nearby pit. Cheekily using brilliant lighting every night the Seabees defied enemy bombers to interfere with their job. Not one bomb was dropped on the area during the construction period.

Before the end of February 5000 feet of Nissan’s plateau was cleared, and the coral levelled and rolled on a 200 feet width, enabling fighters, light and medium bombers, and even passenger and cargo planes to land with plenty of room to spare.

To establish record combined efforts three Seabee battalions brought at least 12,000 tons of equipment to the island, pouring great cargoes of giant mechanisation from successive ships. Half a million pounds worth of equipment were utilised to complete the task.

New Zealand Base
It is hoped that New Zealand fighter squadrons will be based on Nissan shortly, which will be the first occasion in a forward combat area that Dominion ground troops and air crews headquarters are in the same locality. For the greater part of their amazing task the Seabees had to contend with unfavourable weather and the day set down for the landing of the first squadron was preceded by such heavy rain overnight that the landing was put back one day.

However, Lieutenant J. G. Killifer, United States navy airman, had engine trouble and with emergency landing was the first man to drop a plane on to Nissan. He made a perfect landing on March 5. The next day large numbers of planes of various types used the strip and since then, full operation has continued.

On March 6 fighter planes were over Kavieng for the first time as a result of the opening of the Nissan airfield. Thus within three weeks of our deepest land penetration into enemy territory more blows were being struck even deeper into the Japanese defences. The new strip, 250 miles from Kavieng, is the latest link of a chain extending up through and now out of the Solomons. The greatest significance, though, is the speed with which this advance has been put to use.

WAIKATO TIMES, 11 MARCH 1944

[davidd]

Good little summary of the importance of the strips on Nissan there Dave. Incidentally one of the first operations flown by our No. 30 Squadron's TBFs (Avengers) was against Kavieng, but they were operating from Piva North (Bougainville) rather than Nissan, so obviously had the legs for the job . Also what is NOT mentioned in the article is that TWO strips were being built on Nissan, one for fighters, other for bombers. These strips (and their accompanying extensive facilities) were named Lagoon field and Ocean field, and the speed of construction was remarkable, but can be explained by the huge resources that the United States armed forces was prepared to invest in this project, despite the obvious difficulties and dangers. The almost complete withdrawal of all remaining Japanese aircraft from the theatre in the last days of February was a bit of a bonus too; this would have been due to the extreme pressure they had been under for many months previously.

[Dave Homewood]

Of the Lagoon Field and the Ocean Field, which was used by bombers and which the fighters?

[McFly]

Sept 10, 2021 9:42:40 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

Of the Lagoon Field and the Ocean Field, which was used by bombers and which the fighters?

"Aerial oblique view of airstrips on Green Island. Lagoon field for fighters (left) and ocean field for bombers (right)." March 1945 (PR5301).

(Air Force Museum Collection)

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks.

[davidd]

Was beaten to the draw by McFly's excellent view above, but further information here at least!

In the photo above, the Lagoon (fighter) strip (5,000 feet, 38 ft AMSL) is furthest from the camera, the Ocean (Bomber) strip (7,300 feet, 50 ft AMSL) is in foreground, so 12 feet height difference between strips! In the background can be seen most of Pinipel lagoon. Reasons for the airfield names is fairly obvious, as that is part of the lagoon enclosure across middle of the view, with open ocean (and appropriate surf) across lower part of picture. An interesting observation is made in a note included in the official description of these airfields (USAAF Air Pilot July 1945): "Pilots should not approach island at less than 1,000 feet when possible, as the atoll is difficult to locate at low altitudes." Incidentally, the bomber strip still looks shorter then the fighter strip to me in the photograph, but could be the old problem of "overrun areas" appearing to be part of the official runway! Much of the atoll is surrounded by low cliffs, which is not particularly obvious in the photo, but nevertheless they are there.

David D

[McFly]

A view of Nissan Island today taken from Google Earth (2021)- link

[Dave Homewood]

Sept 10, 2021 11:26:53 GMT 12 davidd said:

Much of the atoll is surrounded by low cliffs, which is not particularly obvious in the photo, but nevertheless they are there.

David D

There is mention of the cliffs here, which I found last night:

ACTS OF BRAVERY

NEW ZEALAND TROOPS

TANK ACTION ON NISSAN

NO SIGNS OF FEAR

(Official War Correspondent. N.Z.E.F.) S. PACIFIC BASE, March 13

For the first time in their history the Tank Squadron of the Third New Zealand Division went into action on Nissan Island, supporting infantry units, which destroyed the last remaining nest of Japanese on the atoll.

This action began unexpectedly and with startling suddenness, as so often happens in the jungle, where every man must be constantly alert. When night fell over sixty Japanese lay dead in a grove of pandanus trees and along the shore, mowed down by our grenades, machine-guns and rifle-fire.

Individual acts of bravery marked the whole action. Well tested in the action on Vella Lavella our men moved to the attack with courage and precision, outwitting the Japanese by their superior skill and jungle tactics. As one officer remarked to me after the action. “The hard lessons we learned on Vella Lavella and Treasury were invaluable. We now know how to handle the Japanese. There was not the slightest signs of fear among the men. My difficulty was to hold them back for the final assault. Every man was determined to be in the show.”

Beginning of Action
The action began on the outskirts of the tiny native village of Tanakeran, about 150 yards from the low coral cliffs which border the southwest coast of Nissan. All round the area were dense thickets and large trees, where a man may remain concealed five yards away. This area, like all others on the island, had been patrolled and was thought, to be clear. Senior officers of the division, including Brigadier Potter, passed through it the previous day and on the morning of the action, unaware that any Japanese were in the neighbourhood.

Until the action actually began jeeps bumped through the area over a rough track which had been gouged out of the jungle by engineers. But that is one of the traps of jungle warfare. No one is ever certain where the enemy may be lurking.

About 11.30 a.m. on February 20 Captain J. F. B. Stronach, a Christchurch officer commanding a Bren-carrier platoon, was making a reconnaissance of the area with the object of establishing headquarters there. As it was lunch time he rested his men and decided to go for a swim. A few minutes later one of his men walked across the edge of the cliff. Suddenly a rifle cracked in the green gloom. A Japanese had fired on him from behind a tree.

Withering Rifle Fire
Two sergeants immediately collected fifteen men to search the area, thinking that one or two Japanese stragglers had escaped our patrols. They were met by withering bursts of rifle and machine-gun fire and two of their men fell wounded. The firing brought Captain Stronach to the scene at the double. These were no stragglers. He knew that the Japanese were there in considerable numbers. They were either hidden in caves along the shore or up in the trees, and thus escaped our patrols.

In all he had 28 men assembled quickly from various units. With this small force he formed a perimeter, boxing the Japanese in along the coast, with the object of holding them there until reinforcements arrived. It was impossible to estimate the enemy’s number. Not one could be seen. Only fluttering leaves and twigs torn off by bullets told of an enemy hidden and defiant.

At first an attempt was made to rescue Corporal Roy Stannard (Waerernga), of the carrier platoon, who lay wounded in the field of fire. Although Captain Stronach and some of his men crawled to within ten feet of him they could not effect a rescue, as the Japanese riddled the area with rifle and mortar fire. Corporal Stannard had a miraculous escape. Falling leaves and branches covered him, and he was afterwards rescued by a tank.

It was now mid-day. Lieutenant E. H. Ryan (Hawera) who was also making a reconnaissance of the area with a platoon of the M.M.G. company, arrived and went into action on the right flank, spraying the area from knee-high to the tops of the trees. Because of the noise it was impossible to pick up snipers hidden in the branches. So severe was the Japanese mortar-fire that Lieutenant Ryan’s machine-gunners were pinned in along the coast and a signal was sent for reinforcements. Soon afterwards he was wounded.

First Tanks in Action
At two o’clock in the afternoon Major R. J. Rutherford (New Plymouth) got his first tanks into action. Visibility was limited and the great spreading roots of the trees hampered the tank movements, but the trees were plastered with shrapnel from the tanks’ Hokitzers. (sic) Lieutenant T. K. Evans (Hawera) was commander of one tank and Sergeant R. H. H. Beetham (Masterton) another.

Sergeant Beetham’s tank located Corporal Stannard and went in under a hail of bullets to rescue him. Although the Japanese were only fifteen to twenty yards away our men could not locate them accurately. All they aimed for was space. Japanese snipers picked off a tiny periscope on one tank and fired at an observation aperture no larger than a bullet. Their accuracy was disturbing, as was evidenced by the bullet marks on the heavy metal.

Two more tanks were now brought into action, one commanded by Lieutenant D. Holden (Onga Onga) and the other by Corporal H. E. Johns (New Plymouth, the Taranaki footballer). Once more the area was plastered with shrapnel, bringing down showers of leaves and shattered branches. As the tanks were now too close for the safety of our men they were withdrawn.

Meanwhile Captain Stronach was still holding the perimeter, the men firing into the area where the Japanese were pinned. Rough lumps of harsh coral rock and massive boles of trees gave cover to both attackers and attacked. It was difficult country.

Heroes of Jungle Fighting
By 3.30 p.m.. Major A. B. Bullens (an Auckland officer commanding D Company) arrived with two platoons, and infantry. The real heroes of the jungle fighting, prepared for the final assault. Even now the strength of the enemy was not known, although the quantity of lead coming from the trees indicated considerable strength and also that the Japanese were plentifully supplied with large quantities of rifle, machine-gun and mortar ammunition. Major Bullens took full command of the operation, moving his 14th platoon to the right flank and placing his 15th platoon on the left. By now the Japanese were well trapped and as our men moved forward the action developed into a perfect exhibition of grenade throwing. All those laborious hours of training and learning how to throw grenades among trees into foxholes, firing from cover, etc., were proving their necessity and efficiency.

Remembering Vella Lavella and Treasury the men moved forward slowly but wisely. Major Bullen was shouting his orders, making his voice heard above the wicked crack of rifles, the stutter of machine-guns, and the explosion of mortars. And every one of those orders was obeyed implicitly as his men closed in on the Japanese now hemmed into a small area, with a cliff behind them. Every shouted order brought a storm of lead in Major Bullen’s direction as the Japanese sought to find him. Japanese grenades came showering from the undergrowth.

Coolness of Men
Night was coming on. A final clearing up had to be completed before darkness. Major Bullen had the whole situation under control and was elated by the conduct and coolness of his men. Word reached him that eight Japanese had been killed while trying to escape along the rugged coast.

Corporal L. G. Ratcliffe (Kerepeehi), in charge of a picket, accounted for six with a Tommy-gun. Two others were despatched as they rounded some rocks.

Meanwhile the net closed in. With only about a quarter of an hour of daylight left Major Bullen gave orders for the final assault to his impatient men. First there was a shower of grenades every man hurling them vigorously and with telling effect. Then the final dash, the men firing as they stumbled and ran over the jagged coral, avoiding the splaying roots of the pandanus. Just before that final dash Captain P. R. W. Adams (Blenheim) fell dead, shot by a sniper. Victory was complete and our losses remarkably light, thanks to the skilful handling of the whole situation by Major Bullen. and before his arrival by Captain Stronach.

They counted the dead- 51 of them lying in groups among the rocks and tree roots. One wounded Japanese, as our men approached him, placed a hand grenade on his stomach and committed suicide. Only a few of the enemy escaped. They were accounted for next day.

WAIKATO TIMES, 14 MARCH 1944

[McFly]

Sept 10, 2021 12:45:23 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

Sept 10, 2021 11:26:53 GMT 12 davidd said:

Much of the atoll is surrounded by low cliffs, which is not particularly obvious in the photo, but nevertheless they are there.

David D

There is mention of the cliffs here, which I found last night:

ACTS OF BRAVERY

NEW ZEALAND TROOPS

TANK ACTION ON NISSAN

NO SIGNS OF FEAR

(Official War Correspondent. N.Z.E.F.) S. PACIFIC BASE, March 13

About 11.30 a.m. on February 20 Captain J. F. B. Stronach, a Christchurch officer commanding a Bren-carrier platoon, was making a reconnaissance of the area with the object of establishing headquarters there. As it was lunch time he rested his men and decided to go for a swim. A few minutes later one of his men walked across the edge of the cliff. Suddenly a rifle cracked in the green gloom. A Japanese had fired on him from behind a tree...

The 'Captain J. F. B. Stronach' mentioned was also the author of a series of articles 'Pacific Adventure - A Special Series For The Press 1945' covered previously on this forum - here

[30sqnatc]

See pdf at this link www.307bg.net/pdf/airbases_SWpacific.pdf History, photos and map of those airfields still active 1944. Green Island pages 17-19

[Dave Homewood]

Cool. I am enjoying finding the old articles and discovering how rough it really was for the 3rd Div guys in combat. I had talked with a few 3rd Div guys who reckoned their war was easy and was mostly garrison duty, and a lot of the 2nd Div guys I knew had that impression of the 3rd Div too. But they definitely saw some tough scraps regardless if the newspaper reports are accurate. The one I posted above sort of reminded me a little of the Battle of Long Tan.

[tbf2504]

Dave, I have two books "2NZEF IP Stepping Stones to the Solomons (unofficial history of 29 Battalion)" and "@nzef IP Base Wallahs" both of which deal with the establishment of what became 3 Div
Both give great details of the buildup and deployment to the SWPA.
There was one landing in the SWPA area which was a whole NZ thing. The landing in the Treasury Islands (Mono and Stirling) This was the first opposed landing by New Zealand forces since Gallipoli,
and involved 3 Div (Army), RNZN and RNZAF units.

[Mustang51]

I had an original annotated copy of that guide until a 'friend' borrowed it without my knowledge and then just disappeared. Not Happy Jan !

[Dave Homewood]

Here is a bit more about the Kiwi liberation of Green Island from the WAIKATO TIMES, 14 APRIL 1944:

PACIFIC AWARDS

GREEN ISLAND ATTACK

MAJOR RECEIVES D.S.O.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Thursday

The Governor-General, Sir Cyril Newall, has announced that the King has approved the following immediate operational awards to personnel of the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force in recognition of gallant and distinguished service during operations in the South Pacific area:

Distinguished Service Order
Major Arthur Beecher Bullen, of Auckland.

Distinguished Conduct Medal
Sergeant Gilbert Henry Ressby and Corporal Philip Anzac Davidson.

Military Medal Private
John Herbert Jefferis, of Huntly, and Private William Thomas Augustus Aylward, of Auckland.

The citation to Major Bullen’s award states that at Green Island on February 20 he was in command of a company during at attack on a position in the vicinity of Tanaheran village. In spite of heavy fire from machine-guns, mortars and grenades, he led his company to within striking distance of the position and deployed his platoons in such a way that the enemy was forced into a small pocket on the coast. As there was then little daylight left, Major Bullen decided to assault the position in order to prevent the enemy escaping in the darkness. Having brought his platoons to within 30 yards of the position, at a given signal he personally led the attack, which succeeded in destroying 60 of the enemy.

Private Shows Courage
Following is a description of the act of bravery which won for Private Jefferis the Military Medal at Green Island:—

On January 31, 1944, Private Jefferis was a member of a barge reconnaissance party. On approaching within 30 yards of a beach south of the Pokonian plantation the barge came suddenly under heavy machine-gun fire, which killed the platoon commander and the coxswain. Without hesitation and with complete disregard for his own safety, Private Jefferis immediately stood up and engaged the enemy with a Bren gun, which silenced the fire This prompt act enabled the barge to be cleared from the danger area and prevented the enemy from inflicting further casualties.

Private Jefferis in civil life was a farmer at Huntly. His father is Mr W. J. Jefferis, of Waerenga.

Attack By Dive-bombers
The citation in respect of the award of the Military Medal to Private Aylward is as follows: “At Green Island on January 31, 1944, Private Aylward was one of a party in a barge giving covering fire by rifle and grenade to a platoon which was making a flank attack on an enemy position on a beach. In spite of heavy machine-gun fire at close range, he continued bombing with such good effect that the enemy fire was silenced. The barge was then attacked by six enemy dive-bombers, which killed a gunner and splintered the barge in several places. Private Aylward, without hesitation, manned a machine-gun and, regardless of his own safety, continued to engage enemy aircraft until they dispersed.”