_The Northern Landing Group, built around the 1st Marine Raider
Regiment, landed at Rice Anchorage on 5 July and proceeded
cross-country to take Enogai on Dragons Peninsula. The Marine third
from the left hefts a Boys rifle used by the raiders as an antitank
weapon._]
[Illustration: _Camouflaged Japanese 140mm naval guns with their
ammunition intact were found and put out of action at Enogai by the
raiders’ landward attack._
Department of Defense Photo (USMC) 127G59009A
]
At 0800, 13 July, U.S. Army infantry units landed at Laiana Beach,
about 2½ miles east of Munda airfield, and continued the drive towards
Munda Point. A detachment of 22 men with one 40mm gun, one twin 20mm
gun, and two .50-caliber machine guns from the 9th Defense Battalion
under First Lieutenant Colin J. Reeves, went to Laiana Beach on New
Georgia to defend the landing site.
[Illustration: APPROACH TO BAIROKO