31 December 1942

The Japanese defenders at Buna are locked in a tight area around the old Buna Government Station, with the Americans crushing them from the west and the Australians from the east.

All the while the Australians are suffering casualties as the Japanese try to take as many with them as they can as they fight to their last breath.

During the day the Allies break in on both sides and overrun the last Japanese positions. The Jap HQ there is ordered to retreat to Giruwa River.

On New Year’s Eve, the Australians of 2/12^th Battalion are poised to make a final thrust into the heavily-fortified Japanese defences at Giropa Plantation.

30 December 1942

The Australians mop up occasional Japanese defenders on the eastern side of Buna, having overrun and recaptured the old airstrip and moved past Strip Point as they push the remaining defenders back towards Giropa Plantation.

The Americans are closing in from the west, having neutralised the triangle in front of Buna Government Station. The Japanese are trapped in the relentless pincer movement.

29 December 1942

Japanese at Buna are now cornered in a small area around their headquarters at Buna Government Station with their backs to the sea.

The Australians and the Americans attack from the east and the south. In Rabaul, Gen Adachi, whose only son is one of the Buna defenders, orders his navy to try to get supplies through to the doomed defenders at Buna by submarine. The attempt fails. Adachi’s son dies.

28 December 1942

Americans break through to their isolated troops attacking Buna Government Station and resupply and reinforce them.

The re-energised Americans attack with great vigour, push the enemy back to the Entrance Creek and cut off the Japanese previously holding the Triangle area. Later in the day they are ordered to withdraw to back to the main defences along the beach.

Gen Eichelberger, who had been near to collapse, is greatly reinvigorated by the advance.

27 December 1942

Americans attacking the Japanese triangle in front of Buna Government Station find themselves locked in when the defenders counter attack and encircle them.

They fight back grimly, taking heavy casualties, as Gen Eichelberger, himself under deepening pressure from MacArthur, struggles to extricate them.