Kiriwina Island - Kiriwina PT Boat Base

Kiriwina Island, in the Trobriand group of islands, is part of Papua New Guinea, off the southeast coast.

During World War II, the Allies recaptured the islands during Operation "Chronicle" on June 30, 1943, and established an airstrip on the main island (in the general vicinity of the current airport, pictured above with its market stalls).

Later the United States Navy established a small wharf (few traces remain) on the north shore of Kiriwina, which was used to base a squadron of PT boats, one of which, PT 131, was commanded by Lieutenant (jg.) Joseph R. Ellicott, USN.

Often the squadron would search for enemy shipping off the southern coast of New Britain, which lies to the north of Kiriwina, across the Bismarck Sea. (For a while all these islands were part of Kaiser-Wilhelmsland, a German colony.)

In a notable engagement in December 1943, Lieutenant (jg.) Ellicott was awarded the Silver Star Medal, for shooting down an enemy aircraft.

One account of this actions reads:

Results from Kiriwina were, on the whole, disappointing. During nearly 5 months of operation, the PT's claimed only 1 lugger and 2 barges sunk or destroyed, 1 barge probably destroyed, and 3 barges damaged. On three occasions they attacked submarines with undetermined results. To a greater extent than anywhere else in the New Guinea campaign, the PT's were harassed by enemy planes, which twice dropped bombs close enough to wound men on the boats. Lt. (jg.) Joseph R. Ellicott, USNR, in PT 131 and Lt. (jg.) Robert R. Read, USNR, in PT 133 evened the score on the night of December 15/16 when they shot down an enemy four-engine seaplane off Gasmata.

The (very general) citation for this action reads:

"For gallantry in action as Commanding Officer of a Motor Torpedo Boat during combat patrols in New Britain from March through December 1943. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service."

An excellent account of the PT boats in the South Pacific can be found in At Close Quarters: PT Boats in the United States Navy by Robert J. Bulkley.

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Source

• Text: Matthew Stevenson
• Photos: Matthew Stevenson