The Kokoda Trail campaign had grown into weeks of desperate fighting until the tide finally began to turn: This week in the war, on 14 December 1942, American troops captured Buna village in south-eastern Papua New Guinea.

Japanese destroyers and transports attempting to supply their diminishing forces were attacked by American aircraft while, on the following day, a Dutch cargo vessel delivered tanks to Australian troops in Oro Bay.

The tanks were used to attack the Japanese salient around Buna Mission. The Japanese position was strongly held and was not overcome until early January 1943.