EVS-Islands: Green Islands PP - Kiwi Raid and "Lucky Lindy" Charles Lindbergh Again

Green Islands PP - Overview

The coral atolls, called Green Islands, is frequently referred to as Nissan because Nissan Island represents 90 per cent of the land area. Nissan is an elliptically shaped ribbon of land, less than a mile in width, surrounding a lagoon about eight miles long and three miles wide. The open sea enters the lagoon through three small gaps in the ellipse of land, thus making the two small islands of Sirot and Barahun at the north-west of Nissan. The main channel, which is between Nissan and Barahun, is only 15 feet deep, so that although the lagoon is deep, only shallow draft vessels may enter. There are no high hills and no watercourses on these islands, but the jungle is thick and substantial areas are covered by coconut plantations. (Extracted from "Landing on Nissan Island", NZTEC).

The article goes on to describe a hard-fought battle for this strategically important island group. It turns out that "Lucky" Lindy flew missions from this island as well as Emirau Island.

Green Islands PP - Nissan Island

The main island in the group is Nissan Island. It was the site of a Japanese base during WW-II. The base had an airfield and a docking area for seaplanes and barges. It was important to capture this island to disrupt the Japanese supply lines to their outer bases.

I read a recent report about Nissan Island and it stated that there are inhabitants on the island. They make their living off of fishing and copra. This individual was taken to sites on the island and shown unexploded ordinance. I think they need my vector maps to plot those potentially deadly bombs so that they can be initially located, relocated and removed.

Green Islands PP - Pinipel Island

I almost didn't map this island. I was busy with Nissan Island and thought that I might revisit Pinipel Island later. Well, later turned out to be sooner. Pinipel Island is mapped for your viewing pleasure.

Green Islands PP - 1:250,000 Mapping

My last comments concern the series of maps, New Guinea AMS Topographic Mapping, held by Perry-Castaneda Map Library, U of Texas, specifically, the map that covers the Green Islands. The map is titled Cape St George, New Ireland SB 56-3. What interests me the most is the source material for this map. The bulk of the land features are based on 1940's aerial photography. The nautical data (depths, harbors, reefs, and shorelines) is based on 1876-1912 small scale hydrographic charts. Now that is some old stuff. Much of the world's mapping is still based on these kinds of out-dated sources. I realize that Papua New Guinea most likely has some very recent mapping covering it's territory. However, I would be willing to bet that much of the mapping covering it's holdings is still based on these antiquated sources.

We have the base imagery and technology to make major mapping advances, but we seem content to rely on old source material (DCW and AMS) and say "It's good enough." I say - EVS precision is needed on a global scale. Let's get busy!

view Green Islands on Google Maps