US Marine Corps - The Black Vault

514 Amphibians Came To Conquer
before the invasion, it is logical to assume that Rear Admiral Turner had
deceived the Japanese of the imminence of the New Georgia effort, if not
its immediate objectives. Conclusions in regard to the objective logically
could have been drawn from our almost daily bombings of Munda and Vila
airfields. (Munda was bombed on four out of five days and Vila on three
out of five days beginning on 25 June, while no other base in the Central
or Northern Solomons, i.e. Rekata Bay, Kahili, Ballale or Buka, was bombed
more than twice. ) ‘s
THE SOPAC FINAL TOENAILS PLAN
The general concept of Vice Admiral Halsey’s plan was that movements
of the amphibians on 30 June 1943 into the New Georgia Group were the
necessary prelude to capturing in succession Munda airfield on New
Georgia, Vila airfield on Kolombangaru, and other enemy positions in the
New Georgia Group.”
The only deadlines set by COMSOPAC were 30 June when the initial
amphibious landings were to take place, and following which, at “any
favorable opportunity,” a flank assault on Munda airfield was to be launched,
by landing at Zanana Beach on New Georgia, five miles east of Munda.
Vice A~miral Halsey’s Opetation Plan 14–43 divided the forces available
to him for TOENAILS into four main segments and directed that the surface,
air, and submarine elements would all support the amphibious element,
which Rear Admiral Turner would command.
Specifically, the three elements supporting the amphibious forces were:
wCOMAIRSOPAC~~tirDi#ry, Jun. 1943,
m Commander Third Fleet Op Plan 14–43, 3 Jun. 1943.
THE OVERALL NAVAL ORGANIZATION FOR TOENAILS
COMSOPAC
Halsey
I
[ I I I
TF 31 TF 33 TF 36 TF 72
AMPHIB AIR SURFACE SUBS
Turner Fitch Halsey Fife
,