Balalae
Papua New Guinea /
North Solomons /
Buin /
World
/ Papua New Guinea
/ North Solomons
/ Buin
World / Papua New Guinea / North Solomons
island, interesting place
Balalae Island (or Ballale/ Ballali) is an island of the Shortland Islands Group in the Western Province of the Solomon Islands. Site of pre-war copra plantation.
Occupied by Japanese forces early 1942. The island was the scene of a Japanese atrocity during the Second World War. A work party of 517 British prisoners of war from various artillery regiments captured after the Battle of Singapore were transported to the island under the command of Lt.Col. John Bassett to build an airfield. When the airfield was completed the prisoners, including their commander Bassett, were executed. The mass graves were discovered after the war.
Primarily known as final intended destination of Admiral Isoruku Yamamoto during an inspection tour April 18, 1943. Aircraft the admiral and his staff were riding in were intercepted and shot down by USAAF P-38 fighters at around 0935 that morning while making their initial approach to the airfield on this island.
During the post-war era the island was known for the presence of a large number of relatively intact Japanese aircraft wrecks. A number of these were salvaged/looted under dubious circumstances until Solomon Island authorities stepped in and declared the area off limits.
Occupied by Japanese forces early 1942. The island was the scene of a Japanese atrocity during the Second World War. A work party of 517 British prisoners of war from various artillery regiments captured after the Battle of Singapore were transported to the island under the command of Lt.Col. John Bassett to build an airfield. When the airfield was completed the prisoners, including their commander Bassett, were executed. The mass graves were discovered after the war.
Primarily known as final intended destination of Admiral Isoruku Yamamoto during an inspection tour April 18, 1943. Aircraft the admiral and his staff were riding in were intercepted and shot down by USAAF P-38 fighters at around 0935 that morning while making their initial approach to the airfield on this island.
During the post-war era the island was known for the presence of a large number of relatively intact Japanese aircraft wrecks. A number of these were salvaged/looted under dubious circumstances until Solomon Island authorities stepped in and declared the area off limits.
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balalae
Nearby cities:
Coordinates: 6°59'31"S 155°53'1"E
- Shortland Island 25 km
- Fauro 27 km
- Mono 56 km
- Choiseul 71 km
- Vella Lavella 93 km
- Ranongga 125 km
- Kolombangara 150 km
- Vonavona 181 km
- Kohinggo 185 km
- Bougainville 222 km
- Takuan Volcano Complex 65 km
- Bougainville Copper Mine 87 km
- Jaba River 88 km
- Empress Augusta Bay 104 km
- Bagana volcano 122 km
- Billy Mitchell Volcano 124 km
- Mt. U/N 133 km
- Balbi Volcano (2715 m) 155 km
- Mt. Tore (2180 m) 167 km
- Autonomous Region of Bougainville 180 km
Comments