Alexishafen Mission
Located at Alexishafen.

St. Fidelis College (Alexishafen Mission)
During the Japanese occupation, the Catholic mission, which is built on a peninsula of land was fortified with at least a dozen an anti-aircraft batteries outfitted with the Japanese 75mm guns built into revetments. The mission was totally destroyed by air raids and retreating Japanese. They had stripped the mission building and destroyed many of its relics. All that remained when the Australians arrived to liberate the area on April 26, 1944 was the mission's foundation and its cross

Alexishafen US Navy Base
After the Allied occupation of the area, the US Navy's 7th Amphibious Force requested in May 1944 to provide logistical support for operations in the area. On June 13, 1944 a group of 200 men of the USN 91st Battalion arrived to begin construction with materials from Finschafen and Milne Bay, to establish the base on Bostrem Bay, on a peninsula off Alexishafen (possibly also on Megas Island and Ulimal Island also). A camp was established for 400 men of command services were assigned to the base. A freshwater supply system for ships, capable of providing a half million gallons per day of untreated water was built. Boat repair facilities were built on floating dry docks. The completed base was commissioned on August 17, 1944. By early November, the base was too far behind the front lines and plans for dissasembling the base went into effect by the end of December. The water supply was turned over to the Royal Australian Navy.  It was decommissioned as a US Naval base on January 28, 1945.

Today
Troops ClubMany relics remain on the mission properly undisturbed. Unlike other relics that have since been scrapped or removed, the mission land is protected and is why they are left intact. The mission's sign is made from a large Japanese propeller, probably from a bomber from Alexishafen. Also, the stations of the cross are painted onto large ship screws, probably from wrecks or abandoned equipment in the harbor area.

Click For EnlargementAlexishafen Mission Cemetery
Gaveyard includes graves of missionaries who died during the war.

Half Track and Artillery Mount
Abandoned American built half-track and mount for some type of towed gun or artillery.

Type 88 75mm Anti-Aircraft Batteries
Type 88Japanese had a battery of four 75mm Type 88 Anti-Aircraft guns emplaced at the point overlooking Sek Harbor. All are inside constructed revetments and many bomb craters pot mark the area. Some of the guns are missing, or barrels have fallen off in the years since the war while others are still in excellent condition. Photo by Justin Taylan, 2000.

Ship's PropellerPropellers & Stations of the Cross
The stations of the cross are painted on large ship propellers, presumably from war debris located near the mission and collected after the war.

 

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