Oct. 6, 1944
Kay Darling :
We arrived at Manus Island, the largest island in the Admiralty Island Group. At Manus, we received an Admiral on board and our ship was privileged with being the Flag Ship of the Force to Be.
During World War II the archipelago on Manus was occupied by the Japanese who established a small base in April 1942 near the village of Rossun on Manus Island. They also built the first landing strip entirely by manpower at the eastern Point of Los Negros Island in Momote.
On February 29, 1944 during World War II, the Admiralty Islands were invaded in Operation Brewer led by American General Douglas MacArthur. The Americans quickly built a big base at Seeadler Harbor, including harbour, wharves and an airbase, which became an important base for the further war operations in New Guinea as well as on the Philippines. The base is today used by the PNG Defence Force.
Here at Manus Island, we were destined to wait for 5 days before our newly organized task force was ready to start out on our assignment.
Loading Cargo at Seeadler Harbor, Manus Island
Action Aheadl!
I shall take up from our departure from Manus Island, in my diary because the events before that were all travel. To record or read of them would be boring and a waste of time.
Well Darling, I guess it will not be long now.
I love you, Dale
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