Talk:Operation Lilliput

Duplicate info

See duplicate content found in two sections containing ""the most dangerous coastline in the world". — btphelps ^{(talk to me) (what I've done)} 08:28, 26 October 2013 (UTC)

Done. Thanks for the catch. Palmeira (talk) 12:57, 26 October 2013 (UTC)

"the most dangerous coastline in the world"

described by Colonel, later Brigadier General, Thomas B. Wilson, Chief of Transportation, as "the most dangerous coastline in the world"

This has been used in the Battle of Buna-Gona page which I am working on. It is an unreferenced quote and the paragraph reference does not appear to support it. Trying to find a reference. Help please. Cinderella157 (talk) 08:26, 24 November 2014 (UTC)

The citation is at the bottom of the paragraph—a more standard format than the Wikipedia insistence on every little statement having an individual cite. The precise quote is on page 587 where the discussion of this difficulty is covered in Masterson, Dr. James R. (1949). U. S. Army Transportation In The Southwest Pacific Area 1941–1947. Washington, D. C.: Transportation Unit, Historical Division, Special Staff, U. S. Army is this paragraph extending across pages 586—587:

Until 14 September 1942, when the Japanese advance across the Owen Stanley Mountains was stopped 32 miles or less from Port Moresby, that port was necessarily the main northern terminal of the supply route. Later, when the center of combat moved to the Buna-Gona area, the main terminal was Milne Bay, though personnel and cargo for air movement across the mountains continued to be discharged at Port Moresby. Personnel, equipment, and supplies destined for water movement to the Buna-Gona area were transferred at Port Moresby to small boats and carried to Oro Bay. The coast from Milne Bay to Oro Bay, 211 miles, had never been accurately charted. The most recent charts were dated 1895 or earlier, and new coral formations had grown rapidly in the warm tropical waters. The area was considered, according to Colonel Wilson, Chief of Transportation, "the most dangerous coastline in the world." Vessels from Australia had avoided this route before the war and had sailed instead by way of Rabaul to ports on the north coast. As late as March 1943 the U. S. Navy used only the prewar route.

Before you begin ripping into "unreferenced quote(s)" be aware of the end of paragraph cites. Palmeira (talk) 11:13, 24 November 2014 (UTC)

By the way, if you want Masterson's monograph go here: for 8 PDF files. Anyone doing work dealing with SWPA logistics needs a copy. It is a fairly frequent cite in the "Green Books" dealing with Army transport in SWPA. That quote is in Part_4(2) which translates to part 5 in the downloads. I see someone is now selling the sections in print at almost $20 a section! Public domain, done at U.S. taxpayer expense. Palmeira (talk) 21:37, 24 November 2014 (UTC)

Thankyou for clearing that up. This is also a better online source. Cinderella157 (talk) 11:54, 25 November 2014 (UTC)