Emirau Island
Encyclopedia
Bismarck Archipelago
The Bismarck Archipelago is a group of islands off the northeastern coast of New Guinea in the western Pacific Ocean and is part of the Islands Region of Papua New Guinea.-History:...
located at 1°38.5′S 149°58.5′E. It is currently part of the New Ireland Province of Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
. The local language is a dialect of the Mussau-Emira language
Mussau-Emira language
The Mussau-Emira language is spoken on the islands of Mussau and Emirau in the St. Matthias Islands in the Bismarck Archipelago.-Consonants:Mussau-Emira distinguishes the following consonants.-Vowels:-Stress:...
. Early explorers named it Squally Island, a name still found in some early records.
Early in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
this tiny island became international news when over 500 prisoners from various ships (including RMS Rangitane) sunk by German surface raiders were released and subsequently rescued by the Australian authorities. US Marines
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
landed on Emirau
Landing on Emirau
The Landing on Emirau was the last of the series of operations that made up Operation Cartwheel, General Douglas MacArthur's strategy for the encirclement of the major Japanese base at Rabaul. A force of nearly 4,000 United States Marines landed on the island of Emirau on 20 March 1944. The island...
in March 1944. The island was used as an American airbase. Several Marine Corps and Royal New Zealand Air Force
Royal New Zealand Air Force
The Royal New Zealand Air Force is the air arm of the New Zealand Defence Force...
bomber squadrons were based here including VMB 413, VMB 433
VMB 433
Marine Bombing Squadron 433 was a United States Marine Corps medium bomber squadron during World War II. The squadron flew PBJ medium bombers which were the naval version of the B-25 Mitchell.-History:...
, VMB443 VMB 611, and No. 3 Squadron RNZAF
No. 3 Squadron RNZAF
3 Squadron is a unit of the RNZAF. It remains on active duty.-History:No. 3 Squadron RNZAF formed as a Territorial unit of the New Zealand Permanent Air Force based at Christchurch in 1930....
, No. 8 Squadron RNZAF
No. 8 Squadron RNZAF
No. 8 Squadron RNZAF was a New Zealand Bomber Reconnaissance squadron in the South Pacific during World War II.-History:In response to Japan's entry into World War II, the Squadron was formed in March 1942 for the defence of New Zealand using obsolescent Vickers Vincent and Vickers Vildebeest...
, No. 9 Squadron RNZAF
No. 9 Squadron RNZAF
No. 9 Squadron RNZAF was a New Zealand bomber reconnaissance squadron in the Pacific Theatre of World War II.-History:The squadron formed as No. 9 General Reconnaissance Squadron on Lockheed Hudson aircraft in New Caledonia, during July 1942, remaining on the island until March 1943, when it moved...
, No. 1 Squadron RNZAF
No. 1 Squadron RNZAF
No. 1 Squadron RNZAF was a New Zealand reconnaissance and patrol bomber squadron operating in the Pacific Theatre during World War II; post war the squadron served in the transport and VIP role.-History:...
and No. 4 Squadron RNZAF
No. 4 Squadron RNZAF
No. 4 Squadron RNZAF was a New Zealand patrol bomber unit in the South Pacific during World War II.-History:Due to activity by German surface raiders, the squadron was hurriedly formed in October 1940, initially equipped with a range of hurriedly converted civilian airliners, the twin engined de...
. The Royal New Zealand Air Force
Royal New Zealand Air Force
The Royal New Zealand Air Force is the air arm of the New Zealand Defence Force...
fighter squadrons based here were No. 19 Squadron RNZAF
No. 19 Squadron RNZAF
No. 19 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. Formed on 10 December 1941, during World War II at RNZAF Station Ohakea from members of No. 3 Squadron equipped with P-40 Kittyhawk and later with the Chance-Vought F4U-1 Corsair fighter bombers....
, No. 22 Squadron RNZAF
No. 22 Squadron RNZAF
No. 22 Squadron RNZAF was a squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. Formed in August 1942, during World War II, at RNZF Station Onerahi equipped with the Hawker Hind, co-ordinating with New Zealand Army units providing training for air liaison officers. Reformed on 19 June 1944 at RNZAF...
, No. 23 Squadron RNZAF, No. 25 Squadron RNZAF
No. 25 Squadron RNZAF
No. 25 Squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force was formed at Seagrove, Auckland in July 1943 with Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers and served in the Southern Pacific based at the Piva Airstrip on Bougainville, flying missions against Japanese forces on Bougainville and at Rabaul. It was...
and No. 14 Squadron RNZAF
No. 14 Squadron RNZAF
14 Squadron RNZAF was a squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force.- New Zealand fighters before 1941 :Until World War II, New Zealand's air force concentrated on training, transport and maritime attack. The vast distance of the Pacific Ocean seemed a defence against attack by air...
. There was also one Australian unit located on the island - the 474 Heavy Anti-aircraft Troop. Emirau was the staging point for attacks on the Japanese stronghold at Rabaul
Rabaul
Rabaul is a township in East New Britain province, Papua New Guinea. The town was the provincial capital and most important settlement in the province until it was destroyed in 1994 by falling ash of a volcanic eruption. During the eruption, ash was sent thousands of metres into the air and the...
.