"Invasion of Cape Gloucester, New Britain, 24 Dec. 1943. Crammed with men and material for the invasion, this Coast Guard- manned LST nears the Japanese held shore. Troops shown in the picture are Marines." Photograph by Don C. Hansen. Click here to enlarge.
The invasion of Cape Gloucester, New Britain, occurred in December, 1943, as part of the Allied campaign in the Pacific during World War II. U.S. Marines, supported by Australian forces and naval bombardments, landed on the western tip of New Britain to capture a strategic Japanese airfield. The operation, known as Operation Backhander, aimed to neutralize the Japanese base and improve Allied control over the region. Despite facing difficult terrain and fierce resistance, the Marines secured the airfield by late January 1944. The successful invasion disrupted Japanese supply lines and contributed to the Allies' island-hopping strategy, advancing their position in the Pacific.
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