The Cavalry arrive in the Pacific

29th February 1944: General MacArthur lands on the Admiralty Islands - and is remarkably lucky as 'Operation Brewer' unfolds

Vice Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid (left center) with General Douglas MacArthur (center) on the flag bridge of the light cruiser Phoenix (CL-46) during the pre-invasion bombardment of Los Negros Island.

Six-inch guns of the cruiser USS Phoenix bombard Los Negros on the morning of February 29 as the cavalrymen prepare to land on the island.

In early 1944, the US campaign to isolate the vast Japanese base at Rabaul was progressing well. The strategy of Operation Cartwheel¹ was to keep thousands of Japanese troops restricted within the confines of their base - but not to attempt a direct assault. One of the last links in the chain connecting Rabaul with Japan was the Admiralty Islands, some 360 miles away. Not only would taking the long airfield and deep water anchorage further isolate Rabaul, but they also offered facilities to the US forces as they prepared to return to the Philippines.

The Admiralty Islands included a deep water anchorage in Seeadler Harbour.

So when MacArthur heard intelligence that the main Admiralty islands of Los Negros and Manos were only occupied by 300 Japanese troops, he decided to launch a ‘reconnaissance in force’. A hastily put-together force of 1,026 US Army troops - mainly from the U.S. 1st Cavalry Division, now retrained to fight as infantry - were to be put ashore. This followed the doctrine that any invasion force should outnumber the occupiers three to one.