By Anthony Bergin and Neil Baird*
In 1942, the Imperial Japanese Navy saw considerable value in Milne Bay, on the eastern tip of what is now PNG, as a maritime and aviation base from which to attack northern Australia.
Milne Bay is noted for the ‘Turning Point’ battle, the title of Michael Veitch’s excellent book, which took place there in August–October 1942. A substantial Japanese naval force landed on the north shore of the bay only to be convincingly defeated.
