Under steady and relentless pressure, the Japanese air defence began to weaken, allowing a landing to be made on 15 February by New Zealand troops on the Green Islands, which lie little more than 100 miles (160 km) from Rabaul.
Under det vedvarende pres begyndte det japanske luftforsvar at svækkes, hvilke gjorde det muligt at gennemføre en landgang den 15. februar på Green Islands, som ligger mindre end 160 km fra Rabaul.