Atlas of Battles

battle, notable, interwar and Second World War

Battle of Buna–Gona

Battle of Buna–Gona was a battle fought on 16 November 1942 at Buna, in what is now Papua New Guinea; it lasted 2 months. It was part of the Pacific War, which ran from 1941 to 1945. The recorded result: Allied victory. Recorded strength: 20,000+ (total) against 5,500–6,500 (initially); 11,000–12,000 (total).

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George Silk's classic picture taken at Buna, New Guinea, on Christmas Day, 1942. An Australian soldier, Private George "Dick" Whittington is aided by a Papuan orderly, Raphael Oimbari. Whittington die
George Silk's classic picture taken at Buna, New Guinea, on Christmas Day, 1942. An Australian soldier, Private George "Dick" Whittington is aided by a Papuan orderly, Raphael Oimbari. Whittington die. George Silk, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Fought16 November 1942lasted 2 months
WhereBuna, Papua New Guinea8.650S, 148.350E
OutcomeAllied victory
BelligerentsAustralia; United StatesagainstEmpire of Japan
Part ofPacific WarNew Guinea campaign

Where it sits in the Pacific War

Bombing of Tokyo, 1940Bombing of South-East Asia, 1940Japanese invasion of French Indochina, 1940Battle of Guam, 1941Bombing of Bangkok in World War II, 1941Shelling of Johnston and Palmyra, 1941Axis and Soviet air operations during Operation Barbarossa, 1941Attack on Pearl Harbor, 1941Philippines Campaign, 1941Battle of Hong Kong, 1941Battle of Wake Island, 1941Dutch East Indies campaign, 1941Bombing of Singapore, 1941Battle of Prachuap Khiri Khan, 1941Japanese invasion of Batan Island, 1941Attack on Clark Field, 1941Sinking of Prince of Wales and Repulse, 1941Japanese invasion of Aparri, 1941Japanese invasion of Vigan, 1941Battle of Jitra, 1941Japanese invasion of Legazpi, 1941Battle of Gurun, 1941Battle of Borneo, 1941Japanese Invasion of Davao, 1941Battle of Piis, 1941Battle of Kampar, 1941Solomon Islands Campaign, 1942Burma Campaign, 1942Battle of Savo Island, 1942Battle of Rabaul, 1942Battle of Corregidor, 1942Invasion of Tulagi, 1942Battle of Java, 1942Battle of Tarakan, 1942Japanese invasion of Cotabato, 1942Bombing of Mandalay, 1942Battle of Slim River, 1942Battle of Bataan, 1942Battle of Manado, 1942Battle of Kuala Lumpur, 1942Battle of Muar, 1942Battle of Gemas, 1942New Guinea campaign, 1942Battle of Balikpapan, 1942Battle of Ambon, 1942Marshalls–Gilberts raids, 1942Battle for Australia, 1942Battle of Port Moresby, 1942Battle of Makassar Strait, 1942Battle of Singapore, 1942Battle of Kranji, 1942Battle of Sarimbun Beach, 1942Battle of Bukit Timah, 1942Battle of Palembang, 1942Battle of Pasir Panjang, 1942Battle of Badung Strait, 1942Bombing of Darwin, 1942Battle of Timor, 1942Air raids on Australia, 1942–43, 1942Bombardment of Ellwood, 1942Wake Atoll raid, 1942Battle of Los Angeles, 1942Battle of the Java Sea, 1942Battle of Sunda Strait, 1942Second Battle of the Java Sea, 1942Attack on Broome, 1942Operation K, 1942Bombing of Sukabumi, 1942Battle of Tjiater Pass, 1942Invasion of Salamaua–Lae, 1942Invasion of Sumatra, 1942Indian Ocean raid, 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1942Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, 1942Kokoda Track campaign, 1942Battle of Buna–Gona, 1942Battle of Tassafaronga, 1942Arakan Campaign 1942–1943, 1942Carlson's patrol, 1942Battle of Mount Austen, the Galloping Horse, and the Sea Horse, 1942Bombing of Rabaul, 1943Operation Python, 1943Operation Ke, 1943Shelling of Port Gregory, 1943Battle of Rennell Island, 1943Battle of Wau, 1943Battle of the Bismarck Sea, 1943Battle of Blackett Strait, 1943Battle of the Komandorski Islands, 1943Operation I-Go, 1943Operation Vengeance, 1943Salamaua–Lae campaign, 1943Battle of Mubo, 1943Battle of Bobdubi, 1943Raid on Darwin, 1943Battle of Attu, 1943Japanese evacuation of Kiska, 1943New Georgia Campaign, 1943Operation Chronicle, 1943Battle of Lababia Ridge, 1943Operation Cartwheel, 1943Battle of Wickham Anchorage, 1943Landings on Rendova, 1943Battle of Viru Harbor, 1943Battle of Kula Gulf, 1943Landing at Nassau Bay, 1943Battle of Enogai, 1943Battle of Kolombangara, 1943Battle of Mount Tambu, 1943Drive on 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1945Bombing of Odawara, 1945Bombing of Isesaki, 1945Seishin Operation, 1945Philippines campaign of 1944–1945, 1945Operation Jurist, 1945Operation Tiderace, 1945Operation Agas, 1945UN Offensive Campaign, 195019401950Battle of Buna–Gona, 1942
415 placed engagements of the Pacific War in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

Date16 November 1942
to 22 January 1943
PlaceBuna, Papua New Guinea
8.650S, 148.350E
KindBattle, interwar and Second World War
Strength20,000+ (total)5,500–6,500 (initially); 11,000–12,000 (total)
Casualties and losses1,991 killed,; 12,300+ injured or sick7,000 dead (4,000 in battle, remainder from disease); 1,200 injured (evacuated),; 250+ captured
Commanders
  • Yosuke Yokoyama
  • Yoshitatsu Yasuda
Battle of Buna–GonaBattle of Buna–GonaKokoda Track campaignBattle of IsuravaBattle of Mission Ridge – Brigade HillBattle of Port MoresbyKokoda Track campaignBattle of IsuravaBattle of Mission Ridge – Brigade HillBattle of Port Moresby100 km8.650S, 148.350E
The recorded site, with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

Nearest engagements

In the same war

Elsewhere in 1942

Battle of Buna–Gona is one of 4,429 engagements of the 20th century in the atlas and one of 70 in present-day Papua New Guinea.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q2917077, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Battle of Buna–Gona, revision 1377091130, read 2026-11-14, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.