Ghost Mountain
Encyclopedia
Ghost Mountain is the name given by US Army servicemen in 1942 to a mountain in the Owen Stanley Range
in the South East of Papua New Guinea
, also known locally as 'Suwemalla' or more officially as 'Mt. Obree'. Ghost Mountain rises to 3080 metres (10,105 ft).
In October 1942, the US Army's first offensive operation in the Pacific Campaign
of the Second World War was across the Kapa Kapa Trail
. Members of the US Army's 2nd Battalion, 126th Regiment, 32nd Red Arrow Division were ordered to flank the Japanese in a 130 miles (209 km) march on foot across the Owen Stanley Range, including crossing near Ghost Mountain. The Kapa Kapa trail across the Owen Stanley divide was a 'dank and eerie place, rougher and more precipitous' than the Kokoda Track
on which the Australians and Japanese were then fighting.
Ghost Mountain earned its name from the eerie phosphorescent glow given off at night by moss-covered trees in the forests on its slopes. The mountain also claimed the lives of a number of US 5th Air Force air crews during the conflict, and a civilian aircraft since then.
Owen Stanley Range
Owen Stanley Range is the south-eastern part of the central mountain-chain in Papua New Guinea. It was seen in 1849 by Captain Owen Stanley while surveying the south coast of Papua and named after him. Strictly, the eastern extremity of the range is Mount Victoria , which was climbed by Sir William...
in the South East 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...
, also known locally as 'Suwemalla' or more officially as 'Mt. Obree'. Ghost Mountain rises to 3080 metres (10,105 ft).
In October 1942, the US Army's first offensive operation in the Pacific Campaign
South West Pacific theatre of World War II
The South West Pacific Theatre, technically the South West Pacific Area, between 1942 and 1945, was one of two designated area commands and war theatres enumerated by the Combined Chiefs of Staff of World War II in the Pacific region....
of the Second World War was across the Kapa Kapa Trail
Kapa Kapa Trail
The Kapa Kapa Trail is a steep, little-used, mountain trail that stretches from the Kapa Kapa village on the south coast of Papua New Guinea, across the extremely rugged Owen Stanley Range, to the vicinity of Jaure on the north side of the Peninsula...
. Members of the US Army's 2nd Battalion, 126th Regiment, 32nd Red Arrow Division were ordered to flank the Japanese in a 130 miles (209 km) march on foot across the Owen Stanley Range, including crossing near Ghost Mountain. The Kapa Kapa trail across the Owen Stanley divide was a 'dank and eerie place, rougher and more precipitous' than the Kokoda Track
Kokoda Track
The Kokoda Trail or Track is a single-file foot thoroughfare that runs overland — in a straight line — through the Owen Stanley Range in Papua New Guinea...
on which the Australians and Japanese were then fighting.
Ghost Mountain earned its name from the eerie phosphorescent glow given off at night by moss-covered trees in the forests on its slopes. The mountain also claimed the lives of a number of US 5th Air Force air crews during the conflict, and a civilian aircraft since then.
See also
- Kokoda Track CampaignKokoda Track campaignThe Kokoda Track campaign or Kokoda Trail campaign was part of the Pacific War of World War II. The campaign consisted of a series of battles fought between July and November 1942 between Japanese and Allied—primarily Australian—forces in what was then the Australian territory of Papua...
- 32nd Infantry Division