|
 Located
parallel, to the south Cyclops Drome.
Construction
Single
runway built by the Japanese, to the south of Cyclops
Drome, it was
liberated by the 186th Infantry
on April 26, 1944. It was badly cratered by previous
American bomber raids, and completely useless. The barracks
in the
area had also been laregly destroyed by bombing. It appeared
to have not been operational for some time.
American Improvement & Usage
The strip
was improved by the Americans. It was a huge airbase
complex with fighters, and heavy bombers operating out
of the area.
American Units Based at Sentani
475th FG, 431st FS (P-38) Nadzab May 15 - July 12, 44 to Biak
475th FG, 433nd FS (P-38) Nadzab May 15 - July 14, 44 to Biak
475th FG, 432nd FS (P-38) Nadzab May 15 - July 12, 44 Biak
Japanese Aircraft Wrecks
Dozens of wrecks were abandoned at the strip, several were evaluated by US Army TAIU.
Today
The airfield is abandoned, but still in good condition
to this day.
John Voss visited in 1992 recalls:
"As my DC-9 was just about to touch down at Sentani
all of the taxiways and runways of Hollandia airfield
could be readily seen."
|
