COASTWATCHER
Lieutenant Commander
Paul Edward Allen MASON DSC(U.S.) DSC(U.K.) RANVR
An extraordinary man

Paul Edward Allen Mason was far from the stereotypical image of a military hero.  Short, bespectacled, and often described as "unprepossessing," he was an Australian plantation manager who became one of the most critical intelligence assets in the South Pacific during World War II.  Admiral William "Bull" Halsey, Commander of the South Pacific Area, famously remarked that the intelligence provided by Coastwatchers like Mason "saved Guadalcanal, and Guadalcanal saved the South Pacific."

Early Life and the Call of the Tropics

Born on April 30, 1901, in North Sydney, Paul Mason was the son of a Danish master mariner who had changed his name from Mikkelsen to Mason.  Though he briefly attended the prestigious Fort Street Boys’ High School, Mason was primarily a self-taught man who valued practical skills—navigation, mechanics, and radio operation—over formal academics.

At just 14 years old, Mason followed his half-brother to the Shortland Islands to manage a trade store.  After a brief return to Australia to work on a family orchard in Penrith, the lure of the islands proved irresistible.  In 1925, he moved to Bougainville to manage Inus Plantation.  It was a grim beginning; his predecessor had been killed by the plantation laborers.  However, Mason’s fair treatment and deep respect for the local people allowed him to succeed where others had failed.  He spent nearly two decades trekking across Bougainville, gaining an intimate knowledge of its rugged terrain and forging bonds with its inhabitants that would later prove life-saving.

The Coastwatcher: "Twenty-four Bombers Headed Yours"

When World War II broke out, the Australian Naval Intelligence Division activated the Coastwatchers—a network of planters, missionaries, and government officials tasked with staying behind enemy lines to report on Japanese movements.  Mason, despite being "overage, undersized, and slightly deaf," refused evacuation when the Japanese invaded Bougainville in 1942.

To provide him with some legal protection if captured, he was commissioned as a Petty Officer (and later Lieutenant) in the Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve (RANVR).  Carrying a heavy, cumbersome "teleradio" through the dense, mountainous jungle, Mason established an observation post on Malabita Hill, overlooking the Japanese-held waters of the southern Solomon Islands.

The Turning Point at Guadalcanal

Mason’s most legendary contribution occurred on August 7, 1942, during the opening of the Guadalcanal campaign.  From his vantage point, he spotted a massive formation of Japanese aircraft flying south from Rabaul.  He tapped out a brief, urgent message:

"Twenty-four torpedo bombers headed yours."

This warning gave the U.S. fleet at Guadalcanal over two hours of lead time.  By the time the Japanese arrived, American fighters were already in the air, and anti-aircraft guns were manned.  The result was a slaughter: nearly every Japanese bomber was destroyed.  These early warnings became a regular occurrence, forcing the Japanese to realize that someone on Bougainville was watching their every move.

In about August 1942, Mason reported Japanese air reconnaissance over the flat land near Buin.  In September the natives reported that the Japanese appeared to be establishing themselves in the area.  Mason observed tractors, lorries, guns and other equipment being landed in the area.  He moved inland but continued to report aircraft movements. 

Some friendly natives would mingle with the Japanese and then report back info to Mason. One of his signals back to Townsville read as follows:-

0302Z 23rd (September 1942).
"Our scouts being employed Kahili aerodrome state aerodrome is expected to be completed in a week's time.  Many hundreds of natives being forced to work on aerodrome.  27 lorries, 6 motor cars, 10 horses, 6 motor cycles, 4 tractors and aerodrome working equipment at Kahilia.  Stores and fuel under tarpaulins spread along foreshore from mouth of Ugumo River to mouth of Moliko River.  Two anti-aircraft guns near mouth of Ugumo River in fuel and ammunition dump and one anti-aircraft gun on north-western boundary of aerodrome.  Wireless station on beach in front of aerodrome, also eight new iron buildings.  Priests and nuns interned in iron buildings on beach.  Enemy troops in green uniforms with anchor badge on arm and on white hat.  Scouts state 440 enemy troops but coolies too numerous to count.  Weather too hazy to observe ships today."

More Japanese ships started to anchor in the area between Buin and the Shortlands.  Mason had difficulty identifying some of them so the next supply drop included photographs of some of the pages out of "Jane's Fighting Ships".

When the Japanese tried to recapture Guadalcanal in November, Mason's report on 10 November 1942 advised that:

At least 61 ships this area, viz. 2 Nati, 1 Aoba, 1 Mogami, 1 Kiso, 1 Tatuta, 2 sloops, 33 destroyers, 17 cargo, 2 tankers, 1 passenger line of 8,000 tons.

Paul was promoted to Lieutenant in the November, and was awarded the US Distinguished Service Cross.

Lieutenant Paul Mason is presented with an American Distinguished Service Cross
for extraordinary heroism as a Coastwatcher.

Survival and Guerilla Warfare

The Japanese eventually launched a massive manhunt for the "radio man."  Mason was forced to flee through the jungle, often barefoot and starving, carrying only a pistol and a small rucksack.  In one instance, he and his party escaped a 100-man Japanese search unit by scaling the 5,000-foot Keriaka Plateau.

After many days of walking, Mason developed a festering sore on his foot. He removed his boot and as he removed his sock, to his horror, skin and flesh came away with it. Mason rested up for 2 days to gather his strength.

After being evacuated by submarine in July 1943 due to exhaustion and illness, Mason’s devotion to Bougainville remained unshaken. 

Guerrilla Operations: 1944–1945

When Mason returned to Bougainville in late 1944, his role shifted from passive observer to active combatant.  The Japanese 17th Army was still 40,000 strong on the island, though they were cut off from supplies.  He organized a partisan band of local scouts who engaged in fierce guerrilla warfare. 

Despite the violence of the era, Mason was noted for his humanity.  He led daring rescues of former prisoners and missionaries and famously refused to take vindictive action against locals who had been forced to collaborate with the Japanese.

To dive deeper into the technical and tactical side of Paul Mason’s war, we have to look at how he managed to survive while being hunted by thousands of Japanese troops.  His success relied on two pillars: the AWA Teleradio 3BZ and his mastery of asymmetric guerrilla warfare.

AWA Teleradio 3BZ used by coastwatchers during the war.

The Technology: The Teleradio 3BZ

The "voice" of the Coastwatchers was the Teleradio 3BZ.  For a man like Mason, who was often on the run, this piece of equipment was both his greatest weapon and his heaviest burden.

• Portability vs. Weight: The unit weighed roughly 100 lbs (45 kg) when packed with its heavy lead-acid batteries and engine-driven generator.  It required a team of 12 to 16 local carriers to transport the radio, fuel, and supplies through the steep, muddy tracks of Bougainville.

• The Antenna: To get a signal out of the deep jungle to the base in Vila or Darwin, Mason had to string long-wire antennas between trees, often at great heights.  This made his position vulnerable to direction-finding equipment if he stayed in one place too long.

• The Signal: Mason primarily used Morse code for its reliability over long distances, though he would use voice for urgent warnings, such as the famous Guadalcanal alert.

The "Mason Force"

Mason didn't lead a traditional army; he led a group of Bougainvillean partisans.  His tactics were centered on:

•  Ambushes: Using his intimate knowledge of the Inus and Kieta tracks, Mason’s scouts would strike Japanese foraging parties, seizing weapons and food.

•  Psychological Warfare: By maintaining a presence across the island, Mason made the Japanese feel surrounded, even when the actual number of Allied troops was small.

•  Intelligence for Air Strikes: Mason would pinpoint Japanese headquarters or supply dumps and "talk" Allied bombers onto the targets using his radio.

The numbers are staggering:  his small, mobile force is credited with the deaths of 2,288 Japanese soldiers during this final phase of the war.  Despite the high-intensity combat, Mason's primary concern remained the safety of the local villages caught in the crossfire.

A handful of men

In the dense jungles of Bougainville, the war was won not just by divisions of soldiers, but by a handful of men with radios.  To understand Paul Mason’s impact, one must also look at his counterpart, Jack Read, and the specific locations from which they watched the horizon.

The "Twin Eyes" of Bougainville: Paul Mason & Jack Read

While Paul Mason watched the south, William John "Jack" Read guarded the north.  A former Assistant District Officer, Read was Mason’s tactical mirror.  Together, they formed an inescapable intelligence net.

•  Jack Read (Northern Bougainville): Based near Buka Passage (the narrow channel separating Buka Island and Bougainville), Read overlooked the Japanese airfields and naval anchorages in the north.  On August 8, 1942—just one day after Mason’s famous warning—Read radioed:  "Forty-five dive-bombers going south-east."  This second warning was equally vital in protecting the American beachhead at Guadalcanal.

•  The Partnership: Although they operated independently, they coordinated to track Japanese forces as they moved from the major bases in Rabaul down the "Slot" toward the front lines.

Strategic Observation Posts

Mason and Read didn't just pick any hill; they chose locations that offered specific technical and visual advantages.

1.  Malabita Hill (The Southern Watch)

This was Mason’s primary post during the most critical months of 1942.

•  Location: Inland from Buin and Kangu on the southern coast.

•  Strategic Value: It provided a panoramic view of the Shortland Islands and Fauro Island, where the Japanese Navy assembled their massive "Tokyo Express" convoys.

•  The Sight: From here, Mason could see Japanese tractors, guns, and thousands of troops landing on the beaches below.  He even used a copy of Jane’s Fighting Ships dropped to him by the RAAF to identify specific Japanese cruisers and destroyers by name.

2.  Porapora (The Northern Watch)

This was Jack Read’s "eyrie" in the mountains of North Bougainville.

•  Location: A rugged hideout overlooking Buka Passage.

•  Strategic Value: This location captured every flight taking off from the Buka and Bonis airfields.  Because the flight path to Guadalcanal led directly over the center of the island, any aircraft Read missed would be picked up by Mason minutes later.

3. The Keriaka Plateau (The Survival Retreat)

When the Japanese launched "Operation Coastwatcher" to hunt them down with dogs and 100-man patrols, both men retreated into the Keriaka Plateau.

•  Terrain: This is a massive limestone formation with cliffs 5,000 feet high.

•  Tactical Use: It was virtually inaccessible to anyone without local guides.  Mason and Read used this as a "dead zone" where they could disappear when the heat became too intense, only to emerge weeks later at a new hilltop to resume broadcasting.

The "STO" Signal

Every radio station had a call sign.  Mason’s was STO—the initials of his married sister.  For the U.S. Navy commanders in the Solomons, "Message from STO" became the most trusted words in the Pacific.  It meant the difference between being caught at anchor and being ready for a fight.

A Legacy of Respect

What truly set Mason apart from other colonial-era figures was his post-war transition.  While many planters struggled to adapt to the changing social climate of Papua New Guinea, Mason was respected as a "man of the people."  When he stood for the Legislative Council, he didn't campaign on his war record; he campaigned on the need for roads, schools, and medical facilities for the people who had hidden him from the Japanese.

His life reminds us that the "unprepossessing" person in the room is often the one holding the most power—and the most courage.

Post-War Career and Legacy

After the war, Mason returned to his beloved Inus Plantation.  He was no longer the "unkempt eccentric" of the pre-war years but a celebrated hero.  He was awarded both the U.S. Distinguished Service Cross (presented by General Douglas MacArthur) and the British Distinguished Service Cross.

Political Life and Community

In 1947, he married Noelle Taylor, a journalist and psychologist.  Together, they expanded their business interests, opening the Chimbu Lodge and Buka Store.  Mason remained a vocal advocate for the development of Bougainville.  In 1961, he was elected to the Legislative Council of Papua and New Guinea, where he served until 1964.  He was known as a pragmatic voice, often wary of premature independence, fearing the administrative challenges the territory would face.

The Final Signal

In late 1971 Mason was admitted to hospital in Bougainville.  He was subsequently transferred to Greenslopes Repatriation General Hospital in Brisbane, where he died on December 31, 1972, at the age of 71.  His legacy is etched into the history of the Pacific War—a man who proved that local knowledge, technical ingenuity, and quiet courage could alter the course of global conflict.

Award	Country	For Service
Distinguished Service Cross	United States	"For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy as a Coast Watcher in action against enemy forces in the Southwest Pacific Area."
Distinguished Service Cross	United Kingdom	"For great skill and outstanding devotion to duty in special operations in the Far East." (1944-45)
Promotion to Leut. Commander	Australia	Post-war recognition in RANVR

 
Legacy Note:  Admiral Halsey’s tribute—"The Coastwatchers saved Guadalcanal, and Guadalcanal saved the South Pacific"—is often quoted, but it was specifically the data from Malabita Hill and Porapora that made that salvation possible.

Sources:
Australia At War
Anzac Portal
Australian Dictionary of Biography
Wikipedia
Traces of War
Grokipedia
Vintage and Military Amateur Radio Society
Australian War Memorial (P01035.006)
The New York Times

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NOTE:  More than 600 Coastwatchers served in Australia, New Guinea and the Pacific islands during World War II. They were often cattle-station managers, missionaries and plantation managers stationed on remote islands. They played a key role in Australian military intelligence. It was a lonely and dangerous job. The Japanese tortured and killed Coastwatcher Percy Good, an elderly copra planter on Buka Island, off Bougainville. After Good's death, all civilian Coastwatchers were enlisted into the Royal Australian Navy. It was believed this would protect them if they were captured.

Compiled by Laurie Pegler