Emirau Island, also called Emira, is an island in the Bismarck Archipelago located at . It is currently part of the New Ireland Province of Papua New Guinea. The local language is a dialect of the Mussau-Emira language. Early explorers named it Squally Island, a name still found in some early records.
Early in World War II this tiny island became international news when over 500 prisoners from various ships (including RMS Rangitane) sunk by German surface raiders were released and subsequently rescued by the Australian authorities. US Marines landed on Emirau in March 1944. The island was used as an American airbase. Several Marine Corps and Royal New Zealand Air Force bomber squadrons were based here including VMB 413,[1] VMB 433,[2] VMB443[3] VMB 611,[4] and No. 3 Squadron RNZAF,[5] No. 8 Squadron RNZAF, No. 9 Squadron RNZAF, No. 1 Squadron RNZAF and No. 4 Squadron RNZAF.[6] The Royal New Zealand Air Force fighter squadrons based here were No. 19 Squadron RNZAF, No. 22 Squadron RNZAF, No. 23 Squadron RNZAF, No. 25 Squadron RNZAF and No. 14 Squadron RNZAF.[7] There was also one Australian unit located on the island - the 474 Heavy Anti-aircraft Troop. Emirau was the staging point for attacks on the Japanese stronghold at Rabaul.