#OTD January 22, 1943 The Battle of Buna-Gona came to an end. US and Australian forces were able to capture the Japanese beachheads at Buna, Sansananda, and Gona. Repeated attempts by the Japanese to reinforce and resupply the defenders from the base at Rabaul had failed. 1/3

Securing the beachheads pushed the Japanese out of New Guinea altogether...further protecting Port Moresby and the sea lanes to Australia. 2/3

While very successful...the simultaneous operations on New Guinea and in the Solomon Islands would give the Allies their first taste of the tenacious defense and suicidal fighting that would become the trademark of the Japanese. 3/3. #WW2 #NewGuinea