Gona was the site of an
Anglican church and mission. During
World War II,
Imperial Japanese troops invaded on 21–27 July 1942 and established it as a base. Three missionaries were captured at Gona; Father James Benson,
May Hayman and Mavis Parkins. The two women and a six-year-old boy were beheaded on the beach. Father Benson was reported killed but taken prisoner and sent to
Rabaul where he remained until the end of the war in 1945. The was sunk by
United States Army Air Forces and
Royal Australian Air Force bombers in shallow water off Gona on 21 July 1942. It later became known as
the Gona wreck. Gona was recaptured by the
Australian Army during the
battle of Buna-Gona on 9 December 1942. ==See also==