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 5th AF January 1, 1943  5th AF June 1943  5th AF 1943  5th AF January 22, 1944 |
Location Lorengau Airfield is located at Lorengau on the northeast coast of Manus Island in the Admiralty Island Group (Admiralty Islands). Borders Seeadler Harbor to the north. Prewar and during the Pacific War part of Manus District in Territory of New Guinea. Today located in Manus Province in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Construction During early April 1942 occupied by the Japanese. Later in 1942, the Japanese constructed a single runway measuring 3,500' x 375' oriented roughly NW to SSE parallel to the coast. A road connected the airfield to a nearby jetty to at Lorengau. By September 23, 1943 the runway had 20 fighter revetments on the southern end and no anti-aircraft defenses. By early 1944, light anti-aircraft guns and medium anti-aircraft guns were detected by the Allies to the south and southeast to defend the area. Wartime History Lorengau Airfield was used by the Japanese as a military airfield. Starting in the middle of October 1942 attacked by U.S. bombers until the middle of March 1944. American missions against Lorengau January 25, 1942–March 12, 1944 On March 15, 1944 U.S. Army 1st Cavalry Division, 8th Cavalry Regiment landed at Lugos Mission and encountered only light resistance and advanced in two prongs towards eastwards towards Lorengau. The 7th Cavalry Regiment also landed and was held in reserve. The 8th Cavalry, 1st Squadron advanced along the coast route "Number 3 Road" but encountered enemy pillboxes that were targeted with artillery fire and Allied air strikes to reduce them. Meanwhile, the the 8th Cavalry, 2nd Squadron advancing inland on a dirt road "Number 1 Road" and advanced with little resistance and was aided by tanks. On March 16, 1944 in the morning, the 1st Squadron attacked Lorengau Airfield but were stopped by bunkers on the southern edge of the runway. As the C Troop attempted to flank the bunkers and managed to throw grenades into them, the defending Japanese began firing at B Troop and they returned fire some of their fire hit C Troop soldiers causing confusion and forced them to withdraw. By the end of the day, roughly half of the runway area was captured. During the evening, the 7th Cavalry Regiment relieved the Cavalrymen on the front line and a heavy bombardment by Navy vessels, mortars and artillery from Hauwei Island targeting areas of resistance. On March 17, 1944 when the 7th Cavalry Regiment attacked, they met weak resistance and they were able to capture the rest of Lorengau Airfield and reached the Lorengau River and linked up with the 8th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Squadron that had advanced inland and Lorengau Airfield was liberated by the Americans. Afterwards, U.S. artillery bombarded nearby Lorengau. By March 18, 1944 Japanese resistance ceased at Lorengau as the remaining Japanese withdraw inland to Rossum. Afterwards, U.S. Army engineers evaluated Lorengau Airfield and deemed it unsuited for American requirements for an airfield and it was disused as a landing ground and was instead developed into a base area to support the U.S. forces on Manus Island. Today Lorengau Airfield is disused since the Pacific War and the area includes building and roads and has become part of Lorengau. References U.S. Army Campaigns of World War II - Bismarck Archipelago pages 22-23 Contribute
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