Marsh Is.#302 Japanese Land on New Guinea - 1992 Imperforate Mint Issue

March 8, 1942 With the increased enemy threat of an invasion of Australia, control of the island of Papua, New Guinea - located 300 miles north of Australia - became critical. The Japanese launched an amphibious landing on the morning of March 8, seizing the airfields at Salamaua and Lae. The Allies retaliated with a surprise air attack from a carrier task force in the Coral Sea. Nearly 100 planes navigated over the mountainous terrain of Papua and converged on the enemy landing fleet. Significant losses were inflicted with 23 ships sunk or damaged - the enemy's greatest loss since the start of the war. On July 21, the Japanese landed troops at Gona and Buna, both located on the northeast coast of Papua. As the enemy ventured inland toward Port Moresby, the capital, fierce jungle fighting ensued. In January of 1943 the Japanese were finally forced from Papua, making Port Moresby and Australia safe. The casualties were high with 12,000 enemy and 2,850 Allied soldiers lost in the campaign.

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