Editing Battle of Milne Bay (section)

==Background==

===Geography===
[[Milne Bay]] is a sheltered {{convert|97|sqmi|sqkm|adj=on}} bay at the eastern tip of the [[Territory of Papua]] (now part of [[Papua New Guinea]]). It is {{convert|22|mi|km}} long and {{convert|10|mi|km}} wide, and is deep enough for large ships to enter. The coastal area is flat with good aerial approaches, and therefore suitable for airstrips, although it is intercut by many tributaries of rivers and mangrove swamps. Owing to the swampy lands and high rainfall, about {{convert|200|in|mm}} per year, the area is prone to [[malaria]] and flooding.{{sfn|Brune|2004|p=266}}{{sfn|Department of the Navy, Bureau of Yards and Docks|1947|p=286}} After floods, the coastal plains become "virtually impassable quagmires of glutinous mud",{{sfn|Keogh|1965|p=185}} and the ground is not suited for development. The bay is bounded to its north and south by the Stirling Ranges, which at points rise to {{convert|3000|-|5000|ft|m}} and are covered in [[Kunai grass]] and dense [[scrubland]].{{sfn|Keogh|1965|p=185}}{{sfn|Brune|2004|p=264}} The main area of firm ground suitable for construction and development is found directly at the head of the bay. In 1942 this area was occupied by plantations of palm oil, coconuts and cocoa,{{sfn|Keogh|1965|p=186}} as well as a number of jetties and villages, connected by what was described by Major Sydney Elliott-Smith of the [[Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit]] (ANGAU) as a "modest 'road' system"{{sfn|Brune|2004|p=266}} that was, in actuality, only a dirt track {{convert|10|-|12|m|ft}} wide.{{sfn|Brune|2004|p=264}}{{sfn|McCarthy|1959|p=155}} The area was sparsely populated, although there were a number of villages along the track. Ahioma was situated the farthest east, and together with [[Gili Gili]] in the west, it bounded Lilihoa, Waga Waga, Goroni, KB Mission, Rabi and Kilarbo.{{sfn|Thompson|2008|p=338}}{{sfn|Brune|2004|p=284}}

===Military situation===
The Japanese thrust into the Pacific region had begun in early December 1941 with attacks against British and Commonwealth forces in the [[Battle of Hong Kong]] and the [[Malayan campaign]], and against the [[US Pacific Fleet]], much of which was caught at anchor in [[attack on Pearl Harbor|Pearl Harbor]].{{sfn|Keogh|1965|pp=127–128}} They rapidly advanced south, overwhelming resistance in Malaya, capturing Singapore in February 1942, and successfully occupying [[Timor]], [[Rabaul]] and the [[Dutch East Indies]]. While a Japanese naval operation aimed at capturing [[Port Moresby]] was defeated in the [[Battle of the Coral Sea]] in May, elsewhere American forces in the Philippines capitulated, and Japanese forces advanced towards India through Burma.{{sfn|Keogh|1965|pp=127–132}}

Although the Japanese had been defeated in the Coral Sea, another attempt at capturing Port Moresby was anticipated. The Allied Supreme Commander of the South West Pacific Area, [[General (United States)|General]] [[Douglas MacArthur]], decided to establish airbases to protect Port Moresby. To the west, he authorised the construction of an airbase at [[Merauke]] in [[Netherlands New Guinea]]. Another, codenamed "Boston", was authorised to the east in the largely unexplored [[Abau District|Abau]]–[[Mullins Harbour]] area on 20 May. Any Japanese force approaching Port Moresby by sea would have to sail past these bases, allowing them to be detected and attacked earlier; but the base in the east had other advantages too. Bombers flying missions to Rabaul and other Japanese bases to the north from there would not have to overfly the [[Owen Stanley Range]], and would not be subject to the vagaries of the weather and air turbulence over the mountains. For that reason, an airstrip suitable for heavy bombers was desired so that they could stage there from Port Moresby and bases in northern Australia.{{sfn|Milner|1957|pp=39–42}}

The Commander in Chief of Allied Land Forces, [[General (Australia)|General]] Sir [[Thomas Blamey]], selected a garrison for Boston on 24 May. The troops were informed that their mission was only to defend against Japanese raids, and in the event of a major attack they would destroy everything of value and withdraw. The Boston project fell through, as a [[reconnaissance]] of the area gave an unfavourable report and Elliott-Smith suggested Milne Bay as a more suitable alternative site.{{sfn|Brune|2004|p=266}}{{sfn|McCarthy|1959|pp=43, 112}} A party of twelve Americans and Australians set out to explore Milne Bay in a [[Consolidated PBY Catalina]] [[flying boat]] on 8 June. They were impressed by the flat areas, the roads and the jetties, all of which would ease airbase construction. On receipt of a favourable report from the party, MacArthur's General Headquarters (GHQ) cancelled Boston on 11 June and substituted Milne Bay.{{sfn|Milner|1957|pp=39–42}} Milne Bay was given the codename "Fall River".{{sfn|Milner|1957|p=76}} The use of place names as code names proved to be unwise, as some supplies were mistakenly sent to the real [[Fall River, Massachusetts|Fall River]], in [[Massachusetts]].{{sfn|Morison|1950|p=76}}