Unloading at Cape Gloucester A jeep from a Coast-Guard-manned LST is pushed ashore through the surf at Cape Gloucester, ...

Unloading at Cape Gloucester A jeep from a Coast-Guard-manned LST is pushed ashore through the surf at Cape Gloucester, New Britain, by Coast Guard and Marines, December 26, 1932, the day after the Marine landing was made on New Britain's western tip. Low-flying B-25 and B-26 medium bombers cleared the way for the Marine's assault with a heavy pounding of Jap positions, climaxing a month's bombing in which 4,000 tons were loosed on enemy positions. Sixth Army troops had gone ashore December 15 at Arawe on the other side. Junction of the two advancing forces was made two months later. Marines found themselves up against a Jap division which had fought at Bataan. Landing was easy but after that the going - again rain, mud and Japs- was rough - even for jungle veterans. Two strategic airfields were seized af Cape Gloucester, from which bombers could operate against Rabaul, some 270 miles away.