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 Author  Topic: Base 4 Cairns move to Base 6 Kana Kope
Allan

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Allan   Send Email To Allan Posted on: Dec 22, 2011 - 1:44pm
Board Members:

Can anyone tell me when Base FOUR at Cairns was moved to Kana Kope in Milne Bay? Kana Kope was Base SIX until Base FOUR took it over sometime in 1943, apparently around May of 1943 or just before. Is there a good book that covers this move? I have some of the details but no documents.

Allan


Total Posts: 161 | Joined: Sep 18, 2007 - 7:07pm | IP Logged

Michael

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Michael   Send Email To Michael Posted on: Dec 23, 2011 - 2:24pm
Hi Allan,here is what i have on Base 4 Cairns,from a book on Cairns in WW2.

OKRA Detail 69 was the secret code name for Motor Torpedo Boat Base 4,formed at Treasure Island,San Francisco in October 1942.
The Detail boarded the Liberty Ship-George Chaffey at Long Beach and arrived in Cairns on January 1943.It consisted of 150 enlisted men and about 5 or 6 Officers,which was the entire personnel of Base 4.

However before these men arrived.The USS Hilo and a couple of PT Boats arrived in Cairns on the morning of December 11 1942.The next day they recieved orders to proceed to Milne Bay,which they did on December 15 under escort of USS Patterson and reported to Commander Task Force 50.1,the PT task group in New Guinea.
PTs 121 and 122 had left Cairns for Milne Bay three days earlier in tow of the gunboat TULSA.
At the same time the Advanced Echelon of PT Base 4 was in Cairns,the base site was a mangrove swamp.There was no construction equipment as the equipment which came with PTs 121 and 122 had been off loaded into a warehouse and thoroughly rifled.
US Navy Base Section 6 arrived February 15 1943 and USN Base Section 10 on May 15 1943.

According to USN Petty Officer David Bartlett,some of the men were moved north around September 43 to start the new Base 4 at Milne Bay transported by the RAN Corvette--PIERE.
Base 6/4 Kana Kopa was opened on the 12th November 1942 and disbanded in June 1944 and moved to Dreger Harbour.
Base 4 was opened on 15th June 1944 at Ladava Milne Bay as a major engine overhaul facility.

Hope this info is of some use to you.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New year
Michael



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Allan

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Allan   Send Email To Allan Posted on: Dec 24, 2011 - 6:24am
Michael:

Thanks for your information. I was familiar with some details as provided in "At Close Quarters" but you have some good new material.

Enjoy the Christmas season.

Allan


Total Posts: 161 | Joined: Sep 18, 2007 - 7:07pm | IP Logged


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