_Close-in air defense around the airfield was accomplished by
regrouping defense battalion assets from Rendova, Laiana, and Zanana.
This “Twin-Twenty” is at Munda, and is on one of several types of
mobile mounts at New Georgia._]
[Illustration: _Other Japanese defenses included this 25mm automatic
dual-purpose twin-barrelled gun in position on the airfield approaches.
These proved to be deadly against both American air and ground forces._
Department of Defense Photo (USMC) 69975
]
The artillery group used the services of spotter aircraft, but because
of enemy gunfire, switched from the light observation planes to Grumman
TBFs because their armor plating gave the pilots greater protection.
First Lieutenant Donald V. Sandager and Sergeant Herschel J. Cooper
flew these missions over Kolombangara. “We both volunteered to a
request from Major Hiatt. When we reported to Munda Airfield we had
no parachutes and were told each flier had to have his own,” recalled
Sandager. “The pilots were inexperienced and flew up from Guadalcanal
each morning and we had to direct them to find the battery and
Kolombangara. Radio communication with the battery was bad.” Admiral
Halsey noted the artillery group and Lieutenant Colonel O’Neil’s
ability to “utilize air spotting and the accuracy of their fire which
stood out above other more experienced groups.”
[Illustration: _Dead at his post, this Japanese soldier lies by a
smashed 37mm antitank gun near the airfield. As the tanks broke
through, the infantry followed and the fighting continued until the
positions were overrun or buried in the rubble._
Marine Corps Historical Collection
]
The peak of enemy air activity over Munda Airfield occurred the night
of 14-15 September when enemy planes kept gun crews at battle stations
all night. The 90mm group expended 3,378 rounds, downing one plane
and causing most of the enemy planes to jettison their bombs over the
jungle or the sea. At Vila, a Japanese commander reported, “it had
become very difficult to fire the antiaircraft guns as the enemy places
their artillery upon our position immediately after we commence firing
upon the aircraft.” At Piru, Japanese counterbattery fire hit the
artillery group throughout September and the first two days of October.
A number of the enemy artillery projectiles failed to detonate and
there were no casualties from the shelling.
On 15 September, General Sasaki was ordered to evacuate his remaining
12,400 men from Kolombangara. The next month on 3 October, while flying
his assigned air spotter missions, Lieutenant Sandager reported Vila
evacuated; the Japanese had pulled out. Lieutenant Colonel Scheyer was
pleased to state that for the “first time in this war the enemy had
been driven from his base by bombing and artillery fire.” He concluded
that at Kiska it was bombing and ship’s gunfire, at Kolombangara it was
naval gunfire, bombing, and artillery fire that turned the tide. The
final action of the campaign was a sea battle on 6-7 October when U.S.
Navy destroyers intercepted Japanese evacuation ships during the Battle
of Vella Lavella.
[Illustration: