Bougainville/Solomons close to Australia

[RobertN]

I just finished reading a book on the Chance Vought F4U, my favorite plane. I have always found it fascinating, even more than the other WWII fighters, whether US or those of other countries. I found it very interesting that it remained in production till 1955, long after most other US fighters of WWII origin.

While reading, they talked of flights around Bougainville and other parts of the Solomons. I have read about parts of the WWII, and the many islands that were fought on. But, I have never really been any good with Pacific geography.

I did not realize that advancing Japanese forces during WWII were practically right on top of Australia. The Solomons are very close to Australia. I read of F4U fighter sqaudrons from New Zealand and Australia flying sorties in the Solomons. Now I understand why; it is right at thier front door.

 

[texbaylea]

RobertN

I know what you mean about the F4U. I was an adolescent during WWII and fell in love with that plane.

Vernon

 

[dmccarty]

The Japense where getting very close to Australia. The battle of Coral Sea stopped the advance but it cost us a large carrier. Everyone, well everyone used to have heard of the battle of Guadacanal. The other major battle very few people have ever heard about was Buna.

Buna is on the east side of New Guenia. MacArthur found a bloody short battle there about the same time as Guadacanal. The Japanese where trying to march over the mountains to get to the west coast. If they had done so they would be able to have an air base very close to Australia. The battle of Buna was much shorter than what happened in the Solomons but had about the same number of casualties. The Japanese where stopped but at great cost. The reason people have not heard about it is that the battle was a Cluster.... and MacArthur's PR people kept it quiet.

The F4U is one great plane. Which I could have one. As well as a bunch more!

If you like the F4U you need to read Pappy Boynton's book.

Later,
Dan

 

[RobertN]

The Japense where getting very close to Australia. The battle of Coral Sea stopped the advance but it cost us a large carrier.

The Lexington went down in the Coral sea. Definitely heard about Guadacanal. Will look up Buna.

The F4U is one great plane. Which I could have one. As well as a bunch more!

If you like the F4U you need to read Pappy Boynton's book.

I like others too, but the F4U took the cake Interesting, while reading about it, it was described that the F4U was pitted against a P51, captured Zero, and captured FW109 in late '44/early '45. The f4U not only held up well in mock combat tests, but also exceeded the other planes. Not by a whole bunch, but enough. Funny though, the P51 made it in to the Pacific, but the the F4U didn't get over to Europe. Did get on Royal Navy carriers, but that asppears to be all(had to shorten wings to make them fit). The English used them on carriers before the US did.

Greg Boyingtons book was an interesting read. Pretty interesting character.

 

[MossRoad]

I did not realize that advancing Japanese forces during WWII were practically right on top of Australia.

My dad was in WWII. He was first based in Australia. They were there building landing craft to invade New Guinea. He got to be company photographer as well as a welding inspector. After they invaded New Guinea he still got to be a photographer but was also a demolishions officer. Then he got sent to the Phillipines from there to blow up left over ordinance. He always told me that the Japanese were very close to invading Australia. Not many people realize just how close.

 

[jinman]

Robert, the Corsair didn't have an ejection seat. Here's a video a friend sent me a link to just this week that shows a pilot bailing out of a burning Corsair during an air race.

Corsair Bail Out

 

[intekular]

Hi All,

My first post to this forum so a big HELLO!

Anyway I spend a lot of time in that part of the world and find the local history to be very fascinating. The Solomons has a great War Memorial for the US that is very well taken care of. For the adventurous you can head over to Gizo (remote island from Honiara) and take a "bush" tour that will take you out into the jungle to see some WII planes hanging in the trees.

In PNG there does not seem to be much left of the WII history other than a memorial in one of the bays off of Ela Beach.

Both great places to visit but always safer out of the main centres.

 

[RobertN]

I still occasionally email with Deadong(Vin). He sent me a link about an event marking the WWII bombing of Darwin http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems...2/s1850814.htm

The Japanese forces were close enough, they were knocking at the front door...

 

[RobertN]

Hi All,

My first post to this forum so a big HELLO!

Welcome!

Anyway I spend a lot of time in that part of the world and find the local history to be very fascinating. The Solomons has a great War Memorial for the US that is very well taken care of. For the adventurous you can head over to Gizo (remote island from Honiara) and take a "bush" tour that will take you out into the jungle to see some WII planes hanging in the trees.

In PNG there does not seem to be much left of the WII history other than a memorial in one of the bays off of Ela Beach.

Both great places to visit but always safer out of the main centres.

There's suppossed to be good diving too, with access to wrecks in relatively shallow water(considering some, like the USS Yorktown, are 3 miles down)

 

[mjarrels]

Also, an interesting area in that part of the world called "iron bottom sound".
Had the previlage about ten years ago to take part in VJ 50 year celebration aboard USS Carl Vinson... we took more than a dozen WWII aircraft aboard including corsairs and deck launched them for a fly-by in Hawaii. Looked like slow motion compaired to modern jet aircraft using catapults.

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