Operation Backhander: How US Marines Seized Strategic Airfields on New Britain in 1943

Wars & Conflicts · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In late 1943, Allied forces launched a daring amphibious assault on the island of New Britain. Codenamed Operation Backhander, the mission aimed to capture Japanese-held airfields near Cape Gloucester. This strategic maneuver was designed to isolate the major Japanese base at Rabaul while securing vital sea lanes for the Pacific War.

The Battle of Cape Gloucester, fought between 26 December 1943 and 16 January 1944, was a critical component of Operation Cartwheel, the overarching Allied strategy to neutralize Japanese positions in the South West Pacific. The US 1st Marine Division, commanded by Major General William H. Rupertus, was tasked with seizing the airfields on the northern peninsula of New Britain. These airfields were defended by the Japanese 17th Division, specifically the 'Matsuda Force' under Major General Iwao Matsuda, which consisted of approximately 3,883 troops at the time of the battle.

The Allied plan involved a two-pronged seaborne landing. A diversionary force landed at Tauali on the western coast to cut the coastal road, while the main force landed on the eastern side near Borgen Bay. The terrain proved exceptionally difficult, characterized by dense rainforest, sharp kunai grass, and deep mangrove swamps. Furthermore, the area was dominated by volcanic features like Mount Talawe, which rises 6,600 feet. Despite these environmental challenges and initial resistance, the Marines successfully consolidated the airfields by the end of December 1943.

The operation was not without internal debate. Lieutenant General George Kenney, the US air commander, argued that the landing was unnecessary, fearing the pace of the Allied advance would render the airfields obsolete before they could be fully developed. However, naval and army commanders insisted the mission was essential to secure the Vitiaz and Dampier Straits for convoy routes. By 16 January 1944, organized Japanese resistance ended with the capture of Hill 660, though mopping-up operations continued until April 1944. The success of the operation contributed significantly to the isolation of the Japanese garrison at Rabaul, which was subsequently subjected to heavy aerial bombardment rather than a direct, costly assault.

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