Gona
For the beauty pageant titleholder, see Marigona Dragusha.
Gona is a coastal village in Oro Province, Papua New Guinea.
History
Gona was the site of an Anglican church and mission.
During World War II, Imperial Japanese troops invaded on 21–22 July 1942 and established it as a base. Three missionaries were captured at Gona, Father James Benson, May Hayman and Mavis Parkins. The two women and a six-year-old boy were beheaded on the beach. Father Benson was taken prisoner and sent to Rabaul.
The Ayatosan Maru was sunk by United States Army Air Forces bombers in shallow water off Gona. It later became known as The Gona Wreck.
Gona was recaptured by the Australian army during the Battle of Buna-Gona on 9 December 1942.
References
- William Manchester, American Caesar, 1978, Little Brown Company, 793 pages, ISBN 0-316-54498-1
External links
Coordinates: 8°36′S 148°16′E / 8.600°S 148.267°E