‘On their seemingly inexorable advance south in 1942, the Japanese had occupied Aitape in northern New Guinea on their advance south. Allied offensives to halt the Japanese advance began in 1943 and in April 1944 units of the United States Army, especially the 163rd Regimental Combat Team from the 41st Infantry Division landed at Aitape and retook parts of the area (centred on the Wewak airstrip).

This was to reduce Japanese strength on the Island of New Britain, tying down troops on New Guinea, and to secure the allied flank and act as a base for the upcoming Philippines campaign. Aitape did, indeed, become a base for US forces. Fighting was limited despite there being 30-35,000 Japanese troops from the 18th Army in the area. Responsibility for the defence of the region was passed to the Australians and from early October 1944 elements of the Australian 6th Division began arriving. Under the command of Major-General Jack Stevens, the Australians immediately took on the task of recapturing the entire region…’

This episode was written by Murray Dahm.

Murray is an ancient and medieval military historian from New Zealand, living in Australia. He has written more than 100 articles on various aspects of ancient and medieval military history and other historical topics from all periods. He is the author of Macedonian Phalangite vs Persian Warrior, Athenian Hoplite vs Spartan Hoplite and Leuctra 371 BC all from Osprey publishing. He is a regular on the Ancient Warfare Podcast.