Port Moresby

Lat 9° 28' 60S Long 147° 10' 60E  City on the south coast of New Guinea, capital of PNG.

History
Click For EnlargementPrior to WWII, Port Moresby was a small administrative center for the Australian territories of Papua and New Guinea. During the war it was the strategic objective of the Japanese during the Battle of Coral Sea and the overland during the Kakoda Trail campaign. Japanese invasion attempts were unsuccessful, but area was subjected to many air attacks. The area became a major American and Australian staging area and airfield complex in support of the Allied push to the north of New Guinea.

Today
Click For EnlargementCapital of Papua New Guinea (PNG). The town has grown and many traces of the war have been removed or dissapeared, but airifelds and dive sites still remain. Also, the city is home to the PNG National Museum with a collection of war relics and artifacts. Everywhere you look, there are pieces of Marston Matting, or PSP (Pierced Steel Planking) used as fences, sidewalks and animal pens!

Japanese Air Raids Against Port Moresby
February 2, 1942 - April 12, 1943 (plus later nightime harrasment raids). 

Port Moresby City Areas
Nearly the entire city has some connections with World War II

  Prewar town and wharf area
  Northern area of the town
  North of Konedobu
  former 5-Mile Wards Drome and the PNG goverment
  South-east of Waigani PNG Modern History Museum
  Located to the east of town
  Area to the north of the present day University of PNG.
  East of Port Moresby town, former 3-Mile Drome
  Peak behind Port Moresby
  Port Moresby's Harbor
  Inlet to the east of Port Moresby
  Inlet to the west of Port Moresby, Roku village
  Bay to the east of Port Mresby, Local Island

Port Moresby Area Aerodromes
By 1944, Port Moresby had six airfields. Jackson was the largest.  Wartime airfields in the area included the following:

  Airfield for ighters and bombers
  Airfield for heavy bombers and transport planes.
  Main airfield still in use today by Air Nugini
  Fighter and medium bomber base near Bomana
  Also known as Laloki. Fighter and medium bomber base
  Fighter and medium bomber base
  Fighter and medium bomber base
  Emergency landing strip on off shore island
  Located at Fairfax Harbor near Port Moresby and Napa Napa

Port Moresby Gun Emplacements & Fortifications
There are a number of abandoned gun emplacements, bunkers and fortifications. These were constructed by Australian Engineers in 1944, but never used, then abandoned after the war.

  Largest, three gun battery to the west of Moresby
  Gun battery & radar set location hill outside Moresby
  Gun position on offshore island, overlooking the east.
  Gun position at Bootless Bay
  Gun position west of Port Moresby
   Australian 3.7" Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery
 
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