Operation Chronicle

By mid-1943, the fighting in New Guinea was turning in favor of the Allies after a period of hard fighting. The Japanese drive on Port Moresby during mid-1942 and early 1943 had been defeated during the Battle of the Coral Sea and the Kokoda Track campaign,[1] while the Japanese beachhead at Buna–Gona had also been destroyed, albeit with heavy casualties on both sides.[2] Subsequently, the Japanese had been forced to abandon their efforts on Guadalcanal and the Allies had secured the Salamaua region,[3][4] and began planning their advance towards the main Japanese base around Rabaul.[5]

Kiriwina and Woodlark Islands are situated in the Solomon Sea, in a group of islands that lie northeast of the Papuan coast. Kiriwina lies about 125 miles (201 km) from New Britain while Woodlark is 200 miles (320 km) from Bouganville. The location of these islands drew the attention of Allied planners who sought bases closer to Japanese targets in the Solomon Islands and around Rabaul, in order to increase the payloads Allied bombers could carry and to provide these aircraft with fighter escorts.[6]

During the planning stage, the operation was initially designated as "Coronet", but eventually the codename "Chronicle" was adopted.[7] Initial planning for the seizure of Woodlark and Kiriwina was undertaken in May 1943 at General Walter Krueger's Sixth Army headquarters in Brisbane, Australia. General Douglas MacArthur gave command of the landings to Krueger as well as responsibility for the co-ordination of ground, air, and naval planning. Woodlark and Kiriwina were required as future airfield sites to support operations in both New Guinea, New Britain and the Solomon Islands as part of the wider Operation Cartwheel, during which the Allies planned to advance towards the main Japanese base around Rabaul. The invasion was the first amphibious movement undertaken by the Allies in the South West Pacific Area with thorough and comprehensive planning, which became standing operating procedure for future invasions.[8]

The New Guinea and New Britain area, including Woodlark and Kiriwina.

Japanese forces in the New Guinea area were drawn from the 18th Army. This formation was commanded by General Hatazō Adachi, and was headquarters at Madang. This force was focused upon the mainland where it was attempting to defend a broad area between Wewak, Madang, Finschhafen, Salamaua and Lae, while also preparing to carry out offensive operations around Wau, its surrounds and in the Markham and Sepik Valleys. There were no Japanese troops on either Woodlark or Kiriwina at the time of the operation.[9]

In total 16,800 Allied personnel were assigned to the operation, with the majority of ground troops coming from Krueger's Sixth Army, which had been designated as Alamo Force. Naval support was provided by Rear Admiral Victor Crutchley's Task Force 74, which served as the covering force, while Rear Admiral Daniel E. Barbey's Task Force 76 served as the amphibious landing force. While the majority of the ships assigned were supplied by the United States Navy, Crutchley was a Royal Navy officer and his force included four Royal Australian Navy vessels.[7][10] Air support for the operation was split between the United States Army Air Forces V Bomber Command and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) 1st Tactical Air Force and No. 9 Operational Group. The V Bomber Command was to bomb the Japanese airfields at Rabaul, each night from 25 through 30 June and be called upon to support the invasion fleet and provide close infantry support as required. The RAAF was to provide fighter cover as requested.[11]

On 25 June 2,600 troops of Woodlark Force, led by Colonel Julian W. Cunningham, consisting of units of the 112th Cavalry Regiment, the 134th Field Artillery Battalion, the Marine 12th Defense Battalion (Lieutenant Colonel William H. Harrison) and quartermaster, port, ordnance, medical, and engineer units, a naval base unit and a construction battalion departed Townsville, Australia, aboard six LSTs, with one subchaser SC-749 and two destroyers, Bagley and Henley, as escort.[18]

After arriving at Woodlark, the landing began at 21:00 on 30 June. The operation was unopposed and unloading was completed quickly. Prior to embarkation, all equipment had been loaded aboard trucks, which meant that they could be driven straight off the LSTs. This allowed the quick turn around of the transport force, which was able to depart Woodlark before sunrise, thereby avoiding possible air attack.[18]

Meanwhile, Brooks and Humphreys carrying other troops from Milne Bay arrived at 01:00 on 1 July. The process of embarking troops aboard the Landing Craft Infantry (LCI) amphibious assault ships was delayed over an hour, while the run ashore was slowed as the coxswains on the LCIs became disoriented and had trouble locating the correct landing beach. As a result, the two transports remained off shore until 06:00. Further supply echelons subsequently arrived in LCIs and LSTs throughout 1 July.[18]

On 30 June, 2,250 troops of Kiriwina Force, led by Colonel J. Prugh Herndon, consisting of the 158th Infantry Regiment (less the 2d Battalion) the 148th Field Artillery Battalion with other artillery, engineer, ordnance, medical, antiaircraft, and quartermaster troops departed Milne Bay aboard twelve LCIs. They were escorted by two destroyers and two small coastal transports. Arriving at Red Beach near Losuia, Kiriwina, the landing commenced around dawn. Although the landing was unopposed, as it was on Woodlark, the unloading process proved slow. The LCIs coming ashore became grounded several hundred yards short of the beach, and only one of the LCTs was able to pass over the sandbar that lay offshore. Heavy rain and a low tide also hampered the movement of vehicles, stores and equipment ashore. Subsequent waves were diverted to the northern shore, where a coral causeway had been constructed by the advance party to aid the unloading of vehicles. A supply echelon arrived on 30 June consisting of twelve LCTs and seven LCMs, having laid up overnight at Goodenough Island, and having been screened by other four destroyers and the Australian survey ship Benalla.[20][19]

Except for reconnaissance flights and two small bombing attacks against Woodlark, the Japanese took no further action in relation to the occupation of the islands.[21] According to historian Samuel Eliot Morison, this was due to the operation being timed to coincide with other operations in New Guinea and New Georgia.[19] An air raid conducted by two Japanese aircraft on 2 August resulted in four members of the 112th Cavalry Regiment being wounded; these were the regiment's first combat casualties.[22] Due to the modest scale of the Japanese air attacks, the three Australian fighter squadrons at Goodenough Island were not required, much to the surprise of their pilots.[23]

On Woodlark, the construction of Woodlark Airfield was begun by 20th and 60th U.S. Naval Construction Battalions on 2 July and by 14 July the airfield consisted of single 3,000-by-150-foot (910 by 50 m) runway which could accommodate Douglas C-47 Skytrains. By 21 July the runway was expanded to 5,200 feet (1,580 m) of runway and a coral surface with the 67th Fighter Squadron arriving on 23 July. The airfield was ultimately extended to 6,500 by 225 feet (1,980 by 70 m) with a parallel runway of 6,000 by 60 feet (1,830 by 20 m) with 110 hardstands. The airfield was used as a stopover point and refueling point.[24] Defensive positions were set up around Woodlark with antiaircraft and coastal artillery pieces of the 12th Defense Battalion being installed, and machine gun and 37 mm beach positions established. A PT boat and landing craft repair base was also constructed at Guasopa Bay and the island was also used as a supply base.[25] The 112th Cavalry Regiment remained at Woodlark until late November 1943; during this time it received additional amphibious training.[26] Little other training was conducted, however, and most of the regiment's troopers did not fire their rifles while they were on the island.[27]

Clearing on Kiriwina for an airfield

On Kiriwina, due to the difficulty of landing heavy engineering equipment the construction of Kiriwina airfield was delayed. With heavy rains hindering construction, Krueger became unhappy with the progress of the works and replaced Herndon in command of Kiriwina Force with Colonel John T. Murray. By 20 July a single 1,500-by-150-foot (460 by 50 m) runway was cleared and roughly graded. By the end of July the runway was 5,000 feet (1,500 m) long and ready to be surfaced with coral. No. 79 Squadron of the RAAF began operations on 18 August.[21] A seaplane base was also constructed at Losuia, consisting of an anchorage and jetty. A PT boat base was also constructed at Louisa in October 1943, but was closed in February 1944. The island was also used as a supply base.[13]

Ultimately, the progress of the Allied advance in the Pacific, with the fighting moving further west, meant that none of these bases played a significant role in the Allied war effort. Nevertheless, Morison argues that the landings were successfully undertaken and served the purpose of providing the Allied amphibious forces with the opportunity to test theories and gain experience that would prove vital later in the war.[19] Australian official historian G. Hermon Gill reached a similar conclusion.[28] In contrast, American historian James Scott Powell has noted that Operation Chronicle had mixed effects on the 112th Cavalry Regiment: while the operation improved its ability to conduct amphibious landings and operate in jungle terrain, the demands of landing on and garrisoning Woodlark limited the opportunities its men had to conduct other forms of training before entering combat.[29]