Accomplish as many of the applicable SOL as time allows.

Social Sciences: 6.3, 6.10,6.11, 9.9, 9.10, 10.11, 10.13, 10.14, 10.15, 11.8, 11.9, 11.15, 11.17

   Classroom activities developed by a teacher committee (funded through a grant from Jesse Ball du Pont Fund) involve students in a study of World War II using the collection of primary sources in the archives of the General Douglas MacArthur Memorial. The focus is on the importance of the New Guinea Campaign (1942-1943) for the Allies.

Length of Program: 4+ Hours to accomplish all aspects of the lesson.

Cost: Field Trips to the MacArthur Memorial can be taken without charge.

1. If intending to take your class on a field trip to the MacArthur Memorial, please contact Linda McCubbins, MacArthur Memorial Education Coordinator, to arrange the date and time of the visit.
2. Confirmation of the visit will be sent to the lead teacher, with pre-visit information and a parking map.

   Frustrated by their failure to take Port Moresby after their defeat in the Battle of Coral Sea in early May 1942, the Japanese were still determined to win this important base. From it, they would be able to isolate Australia and secure their own defensive perimeter. They launched a bold attempt to take Port Moresby by an overland route, striking across New Guinea from the North.

   On July 21-22, the Japanese Army landed at Buna and Gona and advanced inland up the narrow Kokoda Trail into the Owen Stanley Mountains that formed a ridge down the center of the island. Pushing back American and Australian opposition, the Japanese seized the key passes over the range by August 12^th and continued to advance against increasingly stiff resistance. The Japanese were within 30 miles of their objective by the second half of September. However, the Australians, backed by local air superiority, were able to drive the Japanese back over the mountains.

   By November 1942, the Japanese had established a jungle fortress around Buna and Gona. Untrained in guerilla warfare, tired out, sick, short on artillery and rations, the Australians and Americans could not pry the Japanese from their dug-out positions on the edge of the jungle. General Douglas MacArthur sent Lt. General Robert Eichelberger to lead the Buna campaign.

   On December 9, 1942, the Allies stormed Gona. During the last week of January 1943, the Allies captured Gona. MacArthur then turned his attention to the key Japanese airfield at Lae and control of the coastline facing New Britain. After a series of land and sea attacks, the Allies landed in New Britain at the end of 1943.

   Activity #1: Locate New Guinea on a map. What is the latitude and longitude? What climate would we expect it to have? What oceans and countries are close by?

   Activity #2: Use your textbook and library to find the importance of the New Guinea campaign. Why was it important for both the Allies and the Japanese.

   Other Activities: Using documents, maps and photos, students will demonstrate an understanding of the New Guinea campaign and why it was important to the Allied efforts in WWII.

Suggested activities, copies of photographs, newspapers, maps, and other documents are available in the MacArthur Memorial's education department. To obtain copies of the documents and activities, call Linda McCubbins at 441-2965. If desired, original copies of the photographs may be obtained at cost from the MacArthur Memorial Archives.

   Assessment activities should be developed around the objectives outlined in the SOL covered in this field trip activity and appropriate to the various grade levels participating.

Linda McCubbins
Education Coordinator
General Douglas MacArthur Memorial
MacArthur Square
Norfolk, Virginia 23510

PHONE: (757) 441-2965
E-MAIL: macmem@norfolk.infi.net