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Hollandia Airfield Complex

Type Airfield Historical Name of Location Hollandia, Dutch New Guinea, Dutch East Indies

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseThe Dutch arrived at the town of Numbay on the northern coast of the island of New Guinea in Sep 1909, and in Mar 1909 it was renamed Hollandia. In Apr 1942, it was occupied by the Japanese Army, who developed a complex of three airfields about 5 miles in-land, about directly west of the town. The complex was completed by Oct 1943. It was consisted the main Hollandia Airfield, Sentani Airfield, and Cyclops Airfield. The main Hollandia Airfield was western-most, near Lake Sentani; it had two runways and featured several barracks and revetments for bombers. Sentani Airfield, which had one fighter strip was to Hollandia Airfield's east. Cyclops Airfield, closest to the town of Hollandia, was about 0.75 miles northeast of Sentani Airfield; it also had only a short strip suitable for fighters only. The main airfield was captured by US Army troops on 22 Apr 1944 as a part of Operation Reckless, followed by the capture of the two satellite fields four days later. Unlike most other Japanese strongholds that were captured by the Allies during the war, a large number of Japanese abandoned their defensive positions to escape through the jungles, while a few willingly surrendered. Between late Apr 1944 and Mar 1945, Hollandia Airfield Complex (Cyclops Airfield specifically) was Douglas MacArthur's headquarters, thus the airfields were busy with various activities. After the war, the main Hollandia Airfield was abandoned and became overgrown with vegetation. Sentani Airfield remained operational. Cyclops Airfield was also abandoned after the war; a number of residential buildings of the town of Sentani would occupy the site. As of 1962, the new United Nations-controlled coastal town was renamed Kota Baru. After a brief time as Sukarnapura, it was finally renamed Jayapura in late 1968. The neighboring Humboldt Bay had since been renamed Yos Sudarso Bay. The war time Sentani Airfield would became today's Sentani Airport, the main airport for the western half of New Guinea.

ww2dbaseSources:

Wikipedia

pacificwrecks.com



Last Major Update: Jun 2016

Hollandia Airfield Complex Interactive Map

Hollandia Airfield Complex Timeline

22 Apr 1944 US Army troops captured the main Hollandia Airfield on the northern coast of Dutch New Guinea. 26 Apr 1944 Sentani Airfield and Cyclops Airfield near Hollandia, Dutch New Guinea was captured by US 186th Infantry Regiment.

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