Photo copyright © 2005–2006 D.W. McComb
View east from the Solomon Sea toward islands and shoals west of Buka Passage, 7 April 2005. Buka is at left; Madehas Island is at right center with the north channel to the passage between them and Matchin Bay beyond to the right. From this vicinity, in deep water outside a mined area, Adm. Merrill’s cruisers and destroyers of DesRon 23 bombarded the Buka and Bonis airfields as a diversion before landings at Cape Torokina, 1 November 1943.