Location
Located near Cape Boram, just inland from the coast. To the west of Wewak.

Construction
Built by the  Japanese, this airfield was developed around a single 4,600' runway (as of September 9, 1943) that ran parallel to the coastline, roughly east to west. 40 bomber and 24 fighter revetments, and 42 heavy AA, 33+ light AA, 21 searchlights in the Boram and Cape Wom vicinity. The southern side of the strip was the bomber dispersal area and (24) revetments, with a general camp area behind them. To the north-east were (6) bomber revetments. To the north side, closest to the sea were (24) fighter revetments and dispersal areas.

Japanese Units Based at Boram
68th Sentai (Ki-61)
78th Sentai (Ki-61)

American Missions Against Boram
April 10, 1943 - August 28, 1944

Battlefield
Neutralized from the air by Allied bombing attacks. The airfield remained in Japanese usage until late May 1945 when the Australian Army 2/8 Infantry Battalion supported by tanks advanced from the west reached the airfield area by May 20th. They encountered heavy opposition in the hills behind the airfield, before finally securing the area by May 22, 1945.

Australian Usage
After the battle, the runway was repaired and was used by the Australians to a limited capacity for the rest of 1945.

Postwar
On October 26, 1945, Australian General Blamey landed at Boram aboard B-24 A72-189 to inspect troops of the 6th Division. This was the first landing by a B-24 at the airfield.

Today
The airfield is still in use today by Air Niugini Fokker F-28 jets for air service to the Wewak area. Also, smaller secondary airlines and helicopters. Bomb craters still pockmark the surrounding area, and are clearly visible on take off and landing.

Anti-Aircraft Ridge
To the south of the airfield is a low ridge that offers a commanding view of the airfield. During the war, this ridge was heavily fortified with anti-aircraft gun pits, primarily the Army 75mm Type 88 Anti-Aircraft Gun. A dramatic series of low level photos of strikes by B-25 over this ridge were taken on the October 16, 1943 air raid. Today, three 75mm Type 88 anti-aircraft guns are still located on the ridge in their positions. Other 75mm guns were removed from this ridge for the memorial at Cape Wom, and export to overseas museums.

Ki-43 Oscar
Midway down the strip, on the south side is the wreckage of an upside down Oscar in a bomb crater. It is partially submerged in water during most of the year. At one point, the airfield maintenance staff attempted to remove the plane, but it would not budge.

A-20G Havoc 43-21428
Pilot Peterson crashed November 10, 1944

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Last Updated
October 6, 2009

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