BC Guy:
Given your interest both in the S Pacific, cruising and WWII, the book you probably need most is Landfalls in Paradise by Earl Hinz -
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/082...lance&n=283155
This used to be the main cruising reference for those island groups, combining clearance and anchorage info with the history of these islands during the last global war. Earl's not cruised there for over a decade now, and so it's viewed as less current than other, more recently and more regionally-oreinted guides...but the book is timeless for the blending of the history with the cruising detail. Earl and Betty cruised SoPac waters for over a decade, as I recall - they know the area intimately.
Jack