Keywords: Flame-throwing-tank-bouganville-RG-208-AA-158-L-001.jpg en U S Flamethrowing tank blasts Japanese on Bougainville <br> Flames sear a Japanese pillbox as an American soldier emerges from the turret of a flame-throwing tank during the American advance on Bougainville Island in the Northern Solomons in the South Pacific Tanks with flame-throwing units such as this one have proved invaluable in the Bougainville fighting U S forces expanded their Empress Augusta Bay beachhead on the island's western coast after crushing desperate Japanese attempts to crack the American lines In March 1944 alone an estimated 5 000 Japanese soldiers were killed in the fighting on the island where the enemy entirely cut off from supplies faces annihilation or capture 1944-04-28 National Archives and Records Administration author <gallery> File RG-208-AA-158-L-001 tif tif </gallery> PD-USGov NARA-cooperation Black and white photographs Flame tanks of World War II Files from NARA ExtravaSCANza Bougainville campaign 1943-45 M3 Stuart |