In late Spring 1943, General MacArthur and Admiral Halsey prepared to resume their counteroffensive in the Pacific, with a two pronged drive aimed at Rabaul -- codenamed Operation Cartwheel. On the night of June 29 6,000 Marines left Guadalcanal and landed on the beaches of Rendova and New Georgia islands. On August 5, 1943 the Japanese were driven from their last positions near airbases at Munda. Halsey was now positioned to attack the island of Bougainville.