Lat
2° 0' 0S Long 121° 0' 0E Formally know as
Celebes, it is now know as Sulawesi.
History
While still conducting their conquest
of the Philippines, the Japanese
began an offensive against the Netherlands East Indies. As
they
progressed southward, the U.S. attempted to assist the Dutch
and sent to Java all the
Army Air Force airplanes it could muster, from there, they
carried out
bombing attacks extending from the Malay Peninsula eastward to
the Celebes but with such a token force, its efforts did little
to stem the Japanese. Celebes fell in January 1942. Thanks to
Bob Rocker for assistance with tihs page.
Mount Tongkoko
Mountain in northern Sulawesi
Lembeh
(Lahbeh) Island
Narrow
island that is seporated from the
northern tip of Sulawesi by a narrow
body of war, the Lembeh Straight.
Wartime spelling was Lahbeh.
Togian
Islands
Lat
0° 19' 60S Long 122° 0' 0E
| Langoan Airfield |
 Lat
1° 8' 60N Long 124° 49' 60E Located at
the NE tip of Celebes Island. Wartime
Japanese airfield with single runway.
|
Manado
(Menado)
Lat
1° 28' 60N Long 124° 50' 60E There were three airfields
in this area: Menado, Sidate and Mapenget. Menado Bay had
shipping facilities.
| Manado
Airfield (Menado) |
Wartime airfield. On
Jan. 11, 1942, the first Japanese attacks were launched
at Manado a key Allied base in Celebes. It was occupied
and used by the Japanese until the end of the war.
Japanese Units Based at Menado
248th Sentai (Ki-43) from Hollandia, three aircraft, one
servicable April 25, 1944
American Missions against Menado
January
17, 1942 - January 5, 1945
|
Sidate
 Lat 1° 8' 60N Long 124° 24' 0E Located at the eastern arm of the island's northern coast.
| Mapenget Airfield |
 Construction
Wartime Japanese airfield located outside
Menado. Built by the Japanese, this single runway, had a taxiway with ravetmentsto the side.
American Missions Against Mapenget
(FEAF) September 9, 1944 - July 14, 1944
Bob Rocker adds:
"Lee Everhart, the C.O. of the 35th FS with six victories was killed strafing this strip
in his P-38L flying from Morotai. He was hit by ground fire while dive bombing Mapanget airfield and his aircraft caught on fire and he did not exit the aircraft as it dove vertical into the ground on October 12th , 1944. Also, the 307th BG and the 22nd
BG did suppression work."
|
Makassar
(Makasser)
Lat
5° 7' 50S Long 119° 24' 45E Located on
the south western tip of Celebes island.
American Missions against Makassar
January 22, 1942 - August 5, 1945
Makassar POW Camp
Brutal Japanese garrison detained Allied
POWs here for the last three years of the war.
Mandai Airfield (Makassar)
Japanese airfield near Makassar.
Kendari
Lat 3° 58' 17S Long 122° 34' 40E Japanese occupied January 24, 1942 Located on the south-eastern arm of the island's eastern coast.
Kendari II Airfield
Prewar airfield occupied by the Japanese and used for the duration of the war.
Aloe (Allu, Alloe,Alu,Aloe)
Lat 5° 34' 55S Long 119° 33' 55E Located on the southern coast of the island.
|
