Wom Airfield (Cape Wom Airfield)

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Liz Whitehead, 1987
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Justin Taylan 2004

 

Location
Located at Cape Wom to the west of Wewak.

Construction
A small pre-war airstrip was built by missionaries running roughly north-west to south-east. It is possible, but not confirmed that the Japanese used it during the war as an airstrip, but only in a limited capacity if so.

Formal Surrender of Japanese 18th Army
After the capitulation of Japan, the Japanese 18th Army Commander Lt. General Adachi an interpreter and three officers were flown from Hayfield Airfield to Wewak Airstrip for the official surrender ceremony on September 13, 1945 at 10am at Cape Wom Airfield. Lt. General Adachi signed the surrender and handed over his sword in the presence of 3,000 troops drawn from various units of the Australian division.

The Japanese Navy garrison on Kairiru Island surrendered separately, three days earlier.

Today
The airfield has not been used since the war, only the cleared runway area is visible, and is today part of the Cape Wom Memorial Park.

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