Location
Located on Middleburg Island, to the north of Sansapor on the coast of New Guinea.
Construction
Built by the
Americans as a
fighter airstrip, it became operational on August 15, 1944.
American Units Based at Middleburg
198th Anti-Aircraft C-Battery 1944
347th FG 67th FS (P-38) Russell Aug 15, 44 - Feb 12,
45 Morotai
George T. Reed recalls:
"I was in the 5th Army Airways Communications System (AACS),
under Col. Nichols HQ Brisbane, and was "sent" up
to Sansapor. I was on the island the moment your first plane
landed. I think it was a P-38. We had a few raids when the
moon was full. Zero's and Bettys. I positively remember the
construction of the landing strip and when the first plane
landed. All was quiet until about October 1944 when the first
Japs came over. I would like to communicate with any one who
was on Sansapor or Middleburg. I was NCOIC (T/SGT) in charge
of 33 men with mission to establish AACS radio station on the
island. I was operating the station one night when the shrapnel
went through the radio shack. This was on the south side of
the runway!"
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