| Opening a concerted offensive in the South Pacific, Allied forces captured Rendova Island (July 2), while Australian troops linked up with American troops at Salamaua (July 3). The Japanese base and airfield at Munda on New Georgia Island fell on Aug. 7. In September a Japanese force of 20,000 was encircled near Lae (Sept. 6–7), the airfield at Salamaua was captured (Sept. 13), and Finschhafen occupied (Oct. 3). Allied forces disembarked on Bougainville Island (Oct. 31). Landing on the Gilbert Islands (Nov. 22), U.S. forces crushed Japanese resistance in three days' fighting, and marines captured the important air base at Cape Gloucester on Dec. 31. | 2 |
