-
Japanese launch surprise attack on US naval fleet at Pearl Harbor. This attack led to the USA entering the war. 188 U.S. aircraft were destroyed; 2,402 Americans were killed and 1,282 wounded were wounded.
-
USA enters the war and declares war on Japan after the Pearl Harbor attack.
-
Australia declares war on Japan. Prime Minister John Curtin makes his speech about ‘looking to America’
-
Australian troops arrive in Papua New Guinea.
-
Japanese invade Rabaul, East New Britain, PNG; and slaughter captured Australian soldiers
-
Japan captures Singapore; 130 000 Allied soldiers surrender to Japanese, 14 000 Australians captured.
-
Japanese first attempt to seize Port Moresby by sea and air attack; but were defeated in the Battle of the Coral Sea
-
Maroubra Brigade began the long, tough march across the Owen Stanley Range to defend the airport at Kokoda.
-
A Japanese invasion force, landed at Buna-Gona on the north coast of Papua, quickly heading up the track.
-
First conflict on the track when Australian and Japanese troops meet at Awala, 40 kilometres north of Kokoda.
-
Japanese advance towards Kokoda village. Despite the Australians’ stubborn resistance, Kokoda fell to the larger Japanese force. Australians fall back to Denaki.
-
Allied troops land at Guadal Canal.
-
Japanese naval troops attacked the Allied airfields at Milne Bay. The Japanese miscalculated the size of the predominantly Australian garrison and landed a small force. The Allies had heavily reinforced the garrison. The Allies won the Battle and pushed the Japanese back.
-
The Battle of Isurava is won by the Japanese.The 39th and 53rd battalions are bolstered by the timely arrival of the 2nd AIF. Australians still outnumbered by Japanese but occupies the Japanese long enough for other battalions to arrive.
-
The Battle of Brigade Hill
Japanese forces overrun Australian positions with disastrous results. -
Japanese defeated at Milne Bay by Allies.
-
The Battle of Ioribaiwa
This as far as the Japanese advance, within sight of Port Moresby. The Emperor directs them to withdraw -
The Australians withdraw to Imita Ridge to make ‘a last stand to the death’. The Japanese never arrived.
-
Japanese withdrawal commences from Ioribaiwa.
-
Australians begin their advance on Japanese.
-
The Battle of Eora Creek and Templeton's Crossing area
Australians fight stubborn Japanese resistance to clear the area at great cost. -
Australia re-capture Kokoda but it was another 7 weeks before Japanese withdraw from coastal towns of Buna, Gona and Sananda.
-
The Battle of Oivi and Gorari. Over 1000 Japanese troops are killed.
-
The Battle of the Beacheads commences. 1522 Australian troops are killed and thousands wounded in the ensuing battles.
-
Japanese resistance ceases in PNG.
-
USA drops atomic missle on Hiroshima; hoping for Japanese surrender.
-
USA drops a second atomic bomb on Japan, this time on Nagasaki to try and force Japanese surrender.
-
Japan surrenders unconditionally.
