Trail When war came to Papua and New Guinea 9 steps 30m share Start trail 1942 Rabaul 23 January 1942 Japanese invasion of Rabaul 1942 Coral Sea February 1942 to August 1945 Port Moresby 3 February 1942 to 17 August 1943 Battle of Port Moresby 3 February 1942 First Japanese bombing of Port Moresby 1942 End of Australian civilian government in Papua and New Guinea 31 March 1942 USAAF joins the Battle of Port Moresby 17 to 18 June 1942 Bombing of the MV Macdhui in Port Moresby Harbour