Milne Force was a garrison force formed in July 1942 during the Second World War

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

 which controlled allied naval, land and air units in the region of Milne Bay

Milne Bay

Milne Bay is a large bay in Milne Bay Province, southeastern Papua New Guinea. The bay is named after Sir Alexander Milne.The area was a site of the Battle of Milne Bay in 1942....

, in the Territory of Papua. The force was responsible for constructing airstrips, roads, camps and defensive positions.

Milne Force successfully withheld a Japanese invasion which landed on 25 August during the battle of Milne Bay

Battle of Milne Bay

The Battle of Milne Bay, also known as Operation RE by the Japanese, was a battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II. Japanese marines attacked the Australian base at Milne Bay on the eastern tip of New Guinea on 25 August 1942, and fighting continued until the Japanese retreated on 5...

 and forced the invasion force to retreat on 5 September.

On 1 October 1942, Milne was redesignated the 11th Division

11th Division (Australia)

The 11th Division was an Australian Army unit formed during World War II by the redesignation of Milne Force on 1 October 1942. The division saw action in New Britain...

.

Commanders

• Brigadier
  Brigadier
  Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
  
   John Field
  John Field (brigadier)
  Brigadier John Field CBE, DSO, ED was a senior officer in the Australian Army during World War II. He commanded the 2/12th Battalion in the Middle East and Milne Force and the 7th Brigade in New Guinea. He later went on to work with the State Electricity Commission of Victoria in large projects at...
  
   (11 July – 23 August 1942)
• Major General
  Major General
  Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
  
   Cyril Clowes
  Cyril Clowes
  Lieutenant General Cyril Albert Clowes CBE, DSO, MC was an Australian soldier. He won the first land victory against the Japanese in the Second World War, at the Battle of Milne Bay, New Guinea...
  
   (23 August – 1 October 1942)

Units

• 7th Brigade
  • 9th Battalion
  • 25th Battalion
  • 61st Battalion
    61st Battalion (Australia)
    The 61st Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army. It was originally raised in 1917 during the First World War but was disbanded the same year without seeing active service. Later it was re-raised as a part of the Militia in 1938 in Brisbane, Queensland...
    
    
• 18th Brigade
  18th Brigade (Australia)
  The 18th Brigade was an infantry brigade of the Australian Army, which served during the Second World War. The brigade was raised on 13 October 1939 and was one of the first three infantry brigades of the Second Australian Imperial Force to be formed. Initially commanded by Brigadier Leslie...
  
  
  • 2/9th Battalion
    2/9th Battalion (Australia)
    The 2/9th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army during World War II. Raised in Queensland as part of the Second Australian Imperial Force shortly after the outbreak of the war, it served as part of the 18th Brigade and over the course of the war it was attached to the 6th, 9th...
    
    
  • 2/10th Battalion
  • 2/12th Battalion
    2/12th Battalion (Australia)
    The 2/12th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army which served during World War II. Raised in late 1939 as part of the all volunteer Second Australian Imperial Force, the battalion served throughout the course of the war in the United Kingdom, North Africa, New Guinea and on...
    
    
• 2/5th Field Regiment
  2/5th Field Regiment (Australia)
  The 2/5th Field Regiment was an Australian Army artillery regiment formed on 25 April 1940, as part of the 7th Division in 1940 during World War II. The regiment was part of the North African Campaign, Syria-Lebanon Campaign, Salamaua-Lae campaign, Finisterre Range campaign and the Borneo campaign....
  
  
• 4th Battery, 101st Anti-tank Regiment
• 6th Heavy Anti-aircraft Battery
• 9th Light Anti-aircraft Battery
• 24th Field Company
• Royal Australian Air Force
  Royal Australian Air Force
  The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
  
  
  • No. 32 Squadron
    No. 32 Squadron RAAF
    No. 32 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force unit based at RAAF East Sale in Victoria. It currently flies training and transport operations.- World War II :...
    
     (Lockheed Hudson
    Lockheed Hudson
    The Lockheed Hudson was an American-built light bomber and coastal reconnaissance aircraft built initially for the Royal Air Force shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War and primarily operated by the RAF thereafter...
    
    )
  • No. 75 Squadron
    No. 75 Squadron RAAF
    No. 75 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force fighter unit based at RAAF Base Tindal in the Northern Territory. The squadron was formed in 1942 and saw extensive action in the South West Pacific theatre of World War II, operating P-40 Kittyhawks. It was disbanded in 1948, but reformed the...
    
     (P-40 Kittyhawk)
  • No. 76 Squadron
    No. 76 Squadron RAAF
    No. 76 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force flight training squadron. Established in 1942, the squadron operated P-40 Kittyhawk fighter aircraft and saw combat during World War II. Following the war it formed part of Australia's contribution to the occupation of Japan until it was...
    
     (P-40 Kittyhawk)
• United States
  United States
  The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
  
  forces
  • 709th US Airborne Anti-aircraft Battery
  • 101st US Coast Artillery Battalion
  • 2nd Battalion, 43rd US Engineer Regiment
  • E Company, 46th US Engineer Regiment