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    Hollandia (Jayapura) Irian Jaya Indonesia













































Click For Enlargement
April 1944


Click For Enlargement
April 1944











Click For Enlargement



Click For Enlargement

Location
Lat 2° 31' 60S Long 140° 41' 60E Located inland from Humbolt Bay.

History
Occupied by the Japanese during April 1942 and developed into a base and airfield complex: Hollandia Drome, Sentani Drome and Cyclops Drome.

American Occupation
Prior to the American landing, a reconnances party was landed in March 1944 by submarine USS Dace. The group, consisiting of Ameircan, Australian, Indoesian and New Guineans (Mariba, Yali, McNicol, Buka) landed in two groups.  Only 7 of the 12 landed survived the aborted mission. Liberated by American amphibious task force Code named Operation Reckless on April 22, 1944 that caught the Japanese largely by surprise, and evenhundereds that willingly surrendered. Japanese units included the remnants of the 41st, 20th and 51st Divisions that moved inland to try to escape. Also, many support personel and airfielld personel. After American occupation, the area was a huge staging area for later operations, including the invasion of Luzon in the Philippines. MacArthur had retained Company A of the 1st Tank Battlaion, 1st Marine Division to support the landings that had particpated in the actions on West New Britain, but a swamp beyond the beachhead prevented their dive inland.

American Missions Against Hollandia
April 17, 1944 - ?

Black GI's
at Hollandia

207th Antiaircraft Artillery AW
207th Antiaircraft Artillery AW
572nd Quartermaster Railhead

458th Aviation Squadron
593rd Port Port Co

415th Army Band
741st Antiaircraft Artillery Gun

Today
After Indonesian gain control of Western New Guinea, Hollandia's name was changed to Jayapura.

Tanahmerah Bay (Red Beach)
Several US tanks hulks lie to the east of Depapre at the base of the track built be the Americans that connects Tanahmerah to Jayapura (Hollandia) to the East. Following a Navy bombardment, elements of the 19th and 21st Infantry Regiments made landings at: Red Beach 1 and Red Beach 2.

Humbolt Bay (White Beach)
Natural harbor located to the East of Hollandia town. The 41st Infantry Division landed against light opposition on April 22, 1944. After the invation, the bay became a major American staging base, for future landings in the Philippines.

US Army 'Base G' Hollandia
US Army letter base designation. Name for the US Army Base G at Hollandia located at the shore of Humbolt Bay. This was a major American base from late April 1944 until the end of the war.

Hollandia Airfield (Hollandia Drome)
Japanese built airfield, occupied by US Army and further developed

Cyclops
Airfield and mountain near Hollanida, MacArthur's HQ at Hollanida.

Museum Jayapura
Located inside the Cenderawasih University campus.

Sentani
Located inland from Hollandia, site of Sentani Airfield, parallel, to the south Cyclops Drome. Also, Lake Sentani a large freshwater lake.

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Last Updated
May 14, 2011

 

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