New Georgia

Introduction to New Georgia Island

The advance in the Solomons under Admiral Halsey's command started from Guadalcanal where air support was based on Henderson Field, and moved toward the Japanese air base at Munda on New Georgia Island about 200 miles north.

Landings on New Georgia began as early as June 20, 1943 when Marines, followed by Army forces the next day, landed at Segi Point and moved overland to take Viru Harbor on July 1. There were various other landings on New Georgia, but the principal effort, with Munda as its objective, began on June 10, 1943 (D-Day for this phase of the operation) with a landing on Rendova Island, just off New Georgia and near Munda.

From Rendova, Marine and Army forces invaded New Georgia and closed on the Japanese base at Munda, which fell after nearly six weeks of hard fighting on August 5, 1943. Another Japanese strong point at Bairoko Harbor, 8 miles north of Munda, fell on August 25. Kolombangara was bypassed with the landing of Army, Marine, and New Zealand troops on Vella Lavella and Arundel Islands.

There was considerable air and naval action, and the Japanese lost heavily in ships and planes as they first reinforced and then evacuated their island positions. It was October before the Allies had fully secured the island group.

New Georgia: Features

Heroes of New Georgia

Fascinating, inspiring stories and details about American heroes of New Georgia who were recognized with the Congressional Medal of Honor.

[The primary source for this text is the U.S. Army Center for Military History. For a more general overview of the war see the Brief History of WWII e-text."]