When the Busu Killed Thirteen: Lae's Forgotten River Massacre

A column of Australian soldiers waits at dawn on the swollen Busu River - did they make it in time? When the Busu Killed Thirteen: Lae's Forgotten River Massacre In this episode, we follow the Lae operation’s march toward a coastal objective and the decisions that shaped a costly movement through jungle and surf. The episode maps the planning, the mismatched training, and the moment a minor river became a decisive hazard - could better timing or a different choice have averted disaster? Date: September 4, 1943 Location: Busu River, near Lae Person: Brigadier Victor Windeyer Unit: Ninth Division, Australian Army Operation: Capture of Lae (Operation Cartwheel) - Three days of continuous jungle rain swelled the Busu into a 700-meter fast, chest-deep current that had not been expected on the maps. - Thirteen Australian soldiers drowned at 06:29 while crossing a river that had been treated as a minor obstacle in planning. - Landing rehearsals and six months of preparation had trained desert veterans in jungle movement and amphibious assault techniques before the Lae landings. - Rear Admiral Daniel Barbey refused to attempt beach location in total darkness, forcing a critical timing decision for the morning landings. - A document in Allied hands on September 13 described a route out of Lae ten days earlier than the final flag, yet a column proceeded along that corridor anyway. To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com. © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved. This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: [email protected].