Battle of Goodenough Island

Battle of Goodenough Island
Part of the New Guinea campaign of the Pacific Theater (World War II)
Australian soldiers with a Japanese flag captured during the fighting at Goodenough Island
Date 22–27 October 1942 Location Goodenough Island, Territory of Papua 09°20′25″S 150°16′03″E / 9.34028°S 150.26750°E / -9.34028; 150.26750 Result Allied victory
Belligerents
Australia  United States	Japan
Commanders and leaders
Arthur Arnold Keith Gategood	Torashige Tsukioka
Strength
640	353 initially, 285 during ground fighting
Casualties and losses
13 killed, 19 wounded	20 killed, 15 wounded, 1 prisoner

The Battle of Goodenough Island (22–27 October 1942), also known as Operation Drake, was a battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II. The Allies landed on Goodenough Island, Papua, and clashed with a Japanese Kaigun Rikusentai (Special Naval Landing Force). The Japanese troops had been stranded on the island during the Battle of Milne Bay in late August 1942. "Drake Force", consisting of the Australian 2/12th Battalion and attachments, landed on the southern tip of Goodenough Island at Mud Bay and Taleba Bay on 22 October, tasked with denying the Japanese use of the island prior to the Buna campaign. Following a short but intense fight, the Japanese forces withdrew to Fergusson Island on 27 October. After the battle, Goodenough Island was developed into a major Allied base for operations later in the war.