American Military History, Volume 2 by Richard W. Stewart

In June 1943 MacArthur and Halsey resumed their offensive to reduce the Japanese stronghold at Rabaul-a prerequisite to further ad- vances along the Southwest Pacific axis toward the Philippines. The plan for the campaign pro- vided for a carefully phased series of operations in each theater, each designed to secure a strate- gic position where air cover could be provided for further advances. The first of the series started in late June, when MacArthur landed American troops on the Woodlark and Kiriwina Islands off eastern New Guinea and at Nassau Bay on the New Guinea coast and Halsey's forces made their first landings on the New Georgia group in the central Solomons. From these beginnings, the operations proceeded up the ladder of the Solomons, along the coast of New Guinea, and across the straits to New Britain Island generally as scheduled, despite strong Japanese reaction.

In the Solomons, by early August Army forces under Halsey had secured New Georgia with its important Munda airfield; but the cam- paign was not completed until October, when U.S. and New Zealand troops occupied Vella Lavella, between New Georgia and Bougain- ville. At the end of October New Zealanders and U.S. marines landed on Treasury and Choiseul Islands to secure bases for the assault on Bou- gainville.