Battle of the Green Islands

Battle of the Green Islands
Part of the Pacific Theater of World War II
Troops from New Zealand disembark from U.S. Landing Craft Infantry ship LCI-444 to occupy Green Island on 16 February 1944.
Date 29 January – 27 February 1944 Location Green Islands in the South Pacific Result Allied victory
Belligerents
New Zealand  United States	Japan
Commanders and leaders
H.E. Barrowclough	Hitoshi Imamura
Strength
5,806	120–150
Casualties and losses
13 killed 26 wounded	120 killed, 12 aircraft destroyed

The Battle of the Green Islands or Operation Squarepeg was fought from 29 January–27 February 1944, between Imperial Japan and Allied forces from the New Zealand 3rd Division and the United States. The Green Islands—located between Bougainville and New Ireland—were part of the Australian Territory of New Guinea.

The Allied forces invaded several islands and recaptured them from heavily outnumbered Japanese forces. The main New Zealand combat elements came from the 14th Brigade, and American LSTs landed the brigades's M3 Stuart tanks on 15 February.

Once secured, the Green Islands became a forward base for the U.S. South Pacific Combat Air Transport Command (SCAT), which supplied material and mail to combat soldiers and evacuated the wounded. It also became home to United States Marine Corps fighters and bombers which participated in the allied effort to isolate the Japanese bases on Rabaul and Kavieng. The base's first commander was Lt. Richard M. Nixon, later President of the United States.

Coordinates: 4°30′S 154°10′E / 4.500°S 154.167°E / -4.500; 154.167

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