September 9, 1943
October
16, 1943
November 18, 1943
May 14, 1944
September 12, 1945
Ray Fairfield 1966
c1990 via Rocker
Justin Taylan 2000
Albert Cross, 1965
Justin Taylan 2005
|
Location
Located near Cape Boram, just inland from the coast. To the west of Wewak.
Construction
Built by the Japanese, this airfield was
developed around a single 4,600' runway (as of September
9, 1943) that ran parallel to the coastline, roughly east
to west. 40 bomber and 24 fighter revetments, and 42 heavy
AA, 33+ light AA, 21 searchlights in the Boram and Cape
Wom vicinity. The southern side of the strip was the bomber
dispersal area and (24) revetments, with a general camp
area behind them. To the north-east were (6) bomber revetments.
To the north side, closest to the sea were (24) fighter
revetments and dispersal areas.
Japanese Units Based at Boram
68th Sentai (Ki-61)
78th Sentai (Ki-61)
American
Missions Against Boram
April 10, 1943 - August 28, 1944
Battlefield
Neutralized from the air by Allied bombing attacks. The airfield remained in Japanese usage until late May 1945 when the Australian Army 2/8 Infantry Battalion supported by tanks advanced from the west reached the airfield area by May 20th. They encountered heavy opposition in the hills behind the airfield, before finally securing the area by May 22, 1945.
Australian Usage
After the battle, the runway was repaired and was used by the Australians to a limited capacity for the rest of 1945.
Postwar
On October 26, 1945, Australian General Blamey landed at Boram aboard B-24 A72-189 to inspect troops of the 6th Division. This was the first landing by a B-24 at the airfield.
Today
Still in use
today by Air Nugini for
air service to the Wewak area by Fokker F-28 jets. Bomb craters still pockmark
the surrounding area, and are clearly visible on take off and landing.
Anti-Aircraft Ridge
To the south of the airfield is a low ridge that offers a commanding
view of the airfield. During the war, this ridge was heavily fortified with anti-aircraft gun pits, primarily the Army 75mm Type 88 Anti-Aircraft Gun. A dramatic series of low level photos of strikes by B-25 over this ridge were taken on the October 16, 1943 air raid. Today, three 75mm Type 88 anti-aircraft
guns are still located on the ridge in their positions. Other 75mm
guns were removed from this ridge for the memorial at Cape
Wom, and export to overseas museums.
Ki-43 Oscar Wreckage
Midway down the strip, on the south side is the wreckage of an upside down Oscar
in a bomb crater. It is partially submerged in water during most of the year.
At one point, the airfield maintenance staff attempted to remove the plane,
but it would not budge.
Contribute
Information
Do you have photos or additional information?
|
View on Google Earth
Photo Archive
|
