Between 9 March and 5 April 1942 during World War II, forces of the Empire of Japan occupied the islands of Buka and Bougainville in the South Pacific.

A platoon of Australian commandos from the 1st Independent Company was located at Buka Airfield when the Japanese landed but did not contest the invasion.

[2] These bases allowed the Japanese to conduct operations in the southern Solomon Islands and to attack the Allied lines of communication between the US and the Southwest Pacific Area.

[1] In November 1943, Allied forces landed on the west coast of Bougainville as part of the latter stages of Operation Cartwheel and began building air bases to assist in the isolation and neutralization of Rabaul.

U.S. Marines landed at Cape Torokina[1] and established a beachhead within which the Allies eventually constructed three airfields.