About this item
Highlights
- In late January 1944 a force of New Zealand soldiers and Allied specialists undertook a daring behind the lines reconnaissance of the Japanese-held Green Islands of Papua New Guinea.
- About the Author: Reg Newell has a doctoral degree from Massey University, Palmerston North (with a dissertation on New Zealand's Third Division in the Pacific) and continues researching the Pacific War.
- 221 Pages
- History, Military
Description
About the Book
"In late January 1944 a force of New Zealand soldiers and Allied specialists undertook a daring, behind the lines reconnaissance of the Japanese-held Green Islands of Papua New Guinea. The New Zealand Army's largest amphibious operation of World War II followed two weeks later"--Book Synopsis
In late January 1944 a force of New Zealand soldiers and Allied specialists undertook a daring behind the lines reconnaissance of the Japanese-held Green Islands of Papua New Guinea. The New Zealand Army's largest amphibious operation of World War II followed two weeks later. The Japanese contested the invasion with air power and inflicted heavy damage on the American cruiser USS St. Louis. After landing, the New Zealanders pushed inland and encountered fanatical Japanese defenders entrenched in thick jungle.
Allied engineers--including the famed Seabees--then built airfields, roads and shipping facilities. The seizure of the Green Islands completed the encirclement of the main Japanese base in the South Pacific at Rabaul. A memorable but overlooked action of the Pacific War, "Operation Squarepeg" involved a diverse force of Allied sailors, soldiers and airmen that included Charles Lindbergh and future U.S. president Richard Nixon.
Review Quotes
"Very well written and greatly informative.... This book details, not only what happened during the operation, but it shows the big picture of the operation and great importance it had in the Island Hopping Campaign, and the isolation of the Japanese strongholds of Rabaul and Truk. I highly recommend this book."-USS St. Louis CL-49 'Hubble-Bubble'.
About the Author
Reg Newell has a doctoral degree from Massey University, Palmerston North (with a dissertation on New Zealand's Third Division in the Pacific) and continues researching the Pacific War. He lives in Upper Hutt, New Zealand.