Word: munda
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This most recent Imperial recognition for a great Japanese "victory" was described in the popular Japanese press and over the radio. Not described was the fall of Buna to Allied troops. Not mentioned was the daily bombing of the Munda airport by U.S. planes. Not even whispered was the possibility that Allied forces might be gathering for new offensive moves. Reason: the Japanese were gathering...
Concentration in the Air. Most ominous sign of Japanese preparations was their sudden increase of air power in the whole area. Reconnaissance uncovered the fact that the much-bombed Munda field was stronger than originally thought and consisted of several runways, not just one. The Japs had kept coconut treetops suspended on camouflage nets while grading runways underneath. This field nested a new sting. On one occasion 25 Zeros reared up, spread out like the head of a cobra and struck...
...reason for the failure of all Jap attempts to reinforce Guadalcanal strongly has been the lack of an intermediary airfield between the Bougainville group and Guadal, from which the Japs could send land-based fighters to protect convoys moving down "The Slot." At Munda, in the New Georgias, the Japs have desperately been trying to build such a field in the face of repeated U.S. air attacks...
...dive-bombers found them and in two attacks sank four. They also found quite a few landing barges by which the Japs sneak-land and sank five. At week's end SBDs sank two destroyers off the New Georgia group - which may have been headed for either Munda or Wickham...
Defensively the New Georgia group is not much yet. The Navy showed its scorn by sending great, vulnerable PBYs, which are ordinarily reserved for reconnaissance, to attack Munda Field. But if the Japs succeed in building up their strength, the New Georgia group may prove a thorn in the flank of any U.S. attack farther up the line. The Japs might even put in enough strength to oblige the U.S. forces to take it first. And if U.S. forces cannot skip a few islands now & then, the road to Tokyo will be long indeed...