Episode 29: Thermopylae on Matanikau

As the battle for Guadalcanal raged, another, equally ferocious, battle was taking place about 800 miles to the west on the island of New Guinea. The marines had been tasked with taking Guadalcanal to begin the climb up the Solomon's chain but the Army had been tasked with securing the northern coast of New Guinea. When the Japanese landed at the village of Buna on the northeastern coast of New Guinea on July 21st 1942 the Battle for Guadalcanal was still three weeks away and american troops wouldn’t arrive on the world's 2nd largest island for months to come. For now, the Australians were manning the guns.

Dauntless Dive Bomber

Kate Torpedo Bomber

Japanese Val