Book - Battle for Milne Bay

ABOUT THE BOOK

Hawks attack an Japanese target indicated by a white flare.

Only 160 pages lots of black and white photos, maps and some sketches.

The author is a medical specialist who came very close to entering

Duntroon Military College after school cadets and a life long interest in Military History.

TOPICS OF INTERESTS ARE:

Code breaker warnings, placing the Australians at an advantage
Determined and Excellent officers, men who planned and executed the killing field
The novice Militia who held Japanese soldiers to a slow advance down the North Shore of Milne Bay.
RAAF close co-operation and their denial of the Bay to the Japanese navy by day
USA support for construction and USAF
Australian artillery fire support
Native peoples support
The problems faced were:
More rains than ever before or since in Milne Bay.
Infectious disease, especially Malaria and Dengue Fever.
Poor allied Navy support during Battle due largely to the threat of the Japanese I class submarines.
No maps of area.
Uncertainty of the location where the first and subsequent invasions would take place.
No communication between HQ and the front line, as radios didn't work in the humidity.
Lack of assistance such as spitfires or return of all our soldiers from Middle east.
Interference from Brisbane GHQ.
Complete freedom of entry to the bay by Japanese Navy at night.
from UK Nothing. From US engineers and equipment, fighters and bombers.

"Battle For Milne Bay must be told."

Peter Fitzsimons