Day-by-Day Timeline of Events
Sunday, March 8th, 1942
Japanese forces, numbering two battalions strong, land at Lae and Salamaua in New Guinea.
Tuesday, July 21st, 1942
Japanese Major General Horii and his 18th Army land near Buna.
Wednesday, July 22nd, 1942
Major General Horii and his 18th Army march towards Port Moresby.
Wednesday, July 22nd, 1942
The Japanese Army gain ground on the US, Australian and Papuan Infantry Regiment defenders.
Friday, August 14th, 1942
The Japanese Army gains vital territory leading up and into the Owen Stanley Range.
Friday, August 14th, 1942
The Japanese Army takes control of the village of Kokoda.
Friday, August 14th, 1942
The Japanese Army reaches Isurava just outside of Port Moresby.
Tuesday, August 25th, 1942
The Japanese Navy completes an amphibious landing at Milne Bay to establish a beachhead and open a second front on New Guinea.
Wednesday, August 26th, 1942
The 18th Australian Brigade, utilizing valuable intelligence reports, meet the arriving Japanese amphibious forces head-on and hold the Japanese beachhead at Milne Bay.
Saturday, August 29th, 1942
A further 600 Japanese Army soldiers are landed at Milne Bay to help strengthen the beachhead.
Sunday, August 30th, 1942
American General Douglas MacArthur employs his superiors for additional firepower and troop strength to help hold Papua.
Friday, September 4th, 1942
With the Allied resistance holding off further advance, the Japanese Army begins a formal withdrawal of the island.
Friday, September 4th, 1942
Japanese casualties at Milne Bay amount to 1,000 killed amidst the fighting.
Saturday, September 26th, 1942
Despite gains along the Kokoda Trail, the Japanese supply line begins to run thin and halt any further advance.
Saturday, September 26th, 1942
Australian Army forces hold fast to territory near Toribaiwa.
Saturday, September 26th, 1942
The Japanese Army slowly begins to retreat back through the Kokoda Trail, finally realizing its perilous stuation.
Thursday, October 15th, 1942
American soldiers of the 32nd US Division complete an amphibious assault near Pongani and Wanigela on Papua.
Sunday, November 1st, 1942
Japanese Army troops have taken to reinforcing their existing defenses at Buna, Gona and Sanananda.
Sunday, November 15th, 1942
US forces continue their march from the south against Japanese-held areas.
Sunday, November 15th, 1942
Australian forces continue their march from the west against Japanese-held areas.
Wednesday, December 9th, 1942
The Australian Army liberates the village of Gona from the hold of the Japanese Amry.
Monday, December 14th, 1942
Allied Australian and US forces continued their maches against the Japanese, taking territory through fierce firefights.
Sunday, January 3rd, 1943
American forces lay claim to Buna.
Sunday, January 31st, 1943
Sananada is officially in Allied hands.
Sunday, January 31st, 1943
The Kokoda Trail is firmly in Allied hands by this date.