Landing on Long Island

Landing on Long Island
Part of World War II, Pacific War
Date 26 December 1943 Location Long Island, Territory of New Guinea 5°21′S 147°7′E / 5.350°S 147.117°E / -5.350; 147.117 Result Unopposed
Belligerents
United States  Australia	Japan
Commanders and leaders
Leonard Kaplan
Strength
220
Casualties and losses
none

The Landing on Long Island in the Territory of New Guinea was part of the Huon Peninsula campaign, a series of operations that made up Operation Cartwheel, General Douglas MacArthur's campaign to encircle the major Japanese base at Rabaul. Located at the northern end of the Vitiaz Strait, Long Island was an important staging point for Japanese barges moving between Rabaul and Wewak until 26 December 1943, when a force of 220 Australian and American soldiers landed on the island. It was not occupied by the Japanese at the time, and there was no fighting. At the time, it represented the furthest Allied advance into Japanese-held territory. It was developed into a radar station.