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Appendix K

Joint Chiefs of Staff Directive: Offensive Operations in the South and Southwest Pacific Areas during 1943, 28 March 1943 (JCS 238/5/D)

1. The Joint Chiefs of Staff directive communicated in COMINCH dispatch 022100 of July 1942 is cancelled and the following directive is substituted therefor.

2. Command.

a. The operations outlined in this directive will be conducted under the direction of the Supreme Commander, Southwest Pacific Area.

b. Operations in the Solomon Islands will be under the direct command of the Commander, SOPAC Area, operating under general directives of the Supreme Commander, Southwest Pacific Area.

c. Units of the Pacific Ocean Area, other than those assigned by the Joint Chiefs of Staff to task forces engaged in these operations, will remain under the control of the Commander in Chief, Pacific Ocean Area (CINCPAC) .

3. Forces will be allocated for these operations as determined by the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

4. Tasks.

a. Establish airfields on Kiriwina and Woodlark Islands.

b. Seize Lae–Salamaua–Finschhafen–Madang Area and occupy Western New Britain.

c. Seize and occupy Solomon Islands to include the southern portion of Bougainville.

5. Purposes. To inflict losses on Japanese forces, to deny these areas to Japan, to contain Japanese forces in the Pacific Theater by maintaining the initiative, and to prepare for ultimate seizure of Bismarck Archipelago.

6. Plans. Supreme Commander, Southwest Pacific Area, will submit general plans including composition of task forces, sequence and timing of major offensive operations to the Joint Chiefs of Staff.