Milne Bay
| Milne Bay | |
|---|---|
 Location of Milne Bay | |
| Location | Milne Bay Province |
| Coordinates | 10°22′00″S 150°30′00″E / 10.3666667°S 150.5°E |
| Type | Bay |
| Ocean/sea sources | Solomon Sea |
| Basin countries | Papua New Guinea |
| Max. length | 35 km (22 mi) |
| Max. width | 15 km (9.3 mi) |
| Surface area | 202.7 square miles (525 km2) |
| Settlements | Alotau |
Milne Bay is a large bay in Milne Bay Province, south-eastern Papua New Guinea. More than 35 kilometers long and over 15 kilometers wide, Milne Bay is a sheltered deep-water harbour, surrounded by the heavily wooded Stirling Range to the north and south, and on the northern shore, a narrow coastal strip, soggy with sago and mangrove swamps.[1] The bay is named after Sir Alexander Milne.
History
- Surveyed by Luis Vaez de Torres in July 1606.[2]
- Surveyed by Captain Owen Stanley, R.N. F.R.S. in 1850.[3]
World War II
During World War II, the area was the site of the Battle of Milne Bay in 1942 and by late 1943 it became the major support base for the New Guinea campaign through the development of Finschhafen as an advanced base after that area was secured in the Huon Peninsula campaign. By January 1944 about 140 vessels were in harbor due to congestion at the facilities. Congestion was relieved by opening of a port at Finschhafen and extensive improvements at Milne Bay.[4] Malaria was a major problem in New Guinea and Milne Bay was particularly hard hit with incidents of the disease hitting at a rate of 4,000 cases per 1,000 troops per year and estimated 12,000 man-days a month lost time.[5]
There were three planes ditched off the island in 1943, a P-38H Lightning, a P-38F Lightning, and a B-24D Liberator "The Leila Belle" (MIA).[6]
See also
Gallery
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Milne Bay seen from space.
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Milne Bay from Alotau.
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Treehouse, in 1884-1885
References
- ↑ James, Karl. "General Clowes of Milne Bay". Retrieved 4 September 2012.
- ↑ Royal Geographical Society. Supplementary Papers. 1886. p 270
- ↑ Hydrographic Map of Papua or New Guinea Sheet 7, Southeast coast, Orangerie Bay to Bramble Haven, 1852-1888
- ↑ Leighton & Coakley 1955-68, pp. 450—451, v.2.
- ↑ Condon-Rall 1998, p. 137.
- ↑ Basilisk Island Pacific Wrecks
- Condon-Rall, Mary Ellen; Cowdrey, Albert E. (1998). The Technical Services—The Medical Department: Medical Service In The War Against Japan. United States Army In World War II. Washington, DC: Center Of Military History, United States Army. LCCN 97022644.
- Leighton, Richard M; Coakley, Robert W (1999). The War Department — Global Logistics And Strategy 1943–1945. United States Army In World War II 2. Washington, DC: Center Of Military History, United States Army. LCCN 55060001.