Finschhafen falls

Equipment on the beach ready for embarkation. Bulldozers guns etc loading on to Landing Ship Tank (LST). Dawn shots arrival at beach North of Finschhafen with destroyer escorts. Troops and supplies unload at first light. Bulldozers out on road for the 25 pounder guns which were brought into action soon after landing. Boomerang aircraft directs fire by radio but comes low to drop a tactical reconnaissance report. Bombing and strafing by U.S. Boston aircraft and dive bombing by RAAF. Lieutenant Peter Turner and Gunner Norm Wilson on the phone at Observation Post and Lieutenant John Richard with binoculars and compass; this post was under machine gun fire from Japanese and we had to rely on our bombing and shelling to keep the Japanese heads down while the bombing pictures were taken. Lieutenant Colonel G. Colvin DSO on phone. Lieutenant Colonel Colvin commanded the troops which first entered Finschhafen. Wounded were carried down from the mountain positions and food and ammunition were passed up over mountain trails. Men swim high up in the Bumi river where the first crossing was made. Troops with souvenirs of the battle including two chickens which survived the battle. Longshot looking up the coast from Finschhafen.