Friendly fire WWII

[Boomerang]

This is a friendly-fire incident that I can't recall seeing here earlier.

In early May 1945, the Australian 19th Brigade (part of the 6th Australian Division) was located at Cape Wom on the north coast of New Guinea. It was moving east to attack Japanese positions at Wewak, as part of the mostly forgotten Aitape-Wewak campaign.

In 'The Proud 6th', Mark Johnston records events on 7 May (page 216): "all Australians on Cape Wom underwent a shocking ordeal. American Lightning aircraft mistook that cape for the Japanese held Wewak Point and attacked the unsuspecting Australians. Eleven were killed...Fifteen...wounded". The American P-38 unit is not identified in the book. Perhaps a forum member may be able to identify it.

Another incident to add to a list that is, sadly, far too long.

Don W