Location
Lat 1° 0' 0S Long 136° 0' 0E  The island today is somewhat developed as a tourist destination. Many parts of the island are off limits to visitors. It has a large Indonesian naval base, with an infrastructure that is better than in most other places in the province.

History
Fierce fighting occurred on this island. After the turn of events in the rest of New Guinea, the Japanese began fortifying the island unbeknownst to the American Army units, primarily the 41st Infantry Division on May 27, 1944. The only tank vs. tank battle in New Guinea occurred on Biak, where Japanese Ha-Go light tanks were knocked out by American Sherman tanks. Japanese soldiers were well entrenched in the interior of the island in limestone caves and fortifications, a trend that would be seen again in islands like Palau. These entrenched troops fought an excellent defense, delaying the reopening of Mokmer Drome with their fire. The casualties at Biak were high - for the American Army, 435 KIA and 2,360 WIA.  The Japanese lost an estimated 6,125 KIA, with  460 POWs, and 360 Formosan POWs. American forces then developed the island into a large airbase after occupation.

Japanese Missions Against Biak
May 27, 1944

Base H (Biak)
US Army letter base designation.

Japanese Cave (Goa Jepang)

1999 1990 Goa Jepang (Japanese Cave) is the local name for a cave which used to be used as a defense fortress by Japanese soldiers. The Japanese discovered the three-kilometer-long cave in 1943. Its gate is located in Paray beach in Paray village, Biak city. Japanese soldiers entered the cave from Paray beach. The soldiers occupied three large rooms built inside the cave. The Japanese soldiers managed to shoot down a U.S. plane from their hiding place. However, eventually the US army came to know where the Japanese soldiers were hiding. So in the early morning of July 7, 1944, the US Army attacked the cave.  The cave was bombarded. The Americans also dropped drums of gasoline into the hideout and blasted them from the air, setting the cave into fire. The cave burned for several months. Some 3,000 Japanese soldiers were trapped and killed in the attack. Located in a forest, the cave is one of Biak main tourist attractions. According to Yusuf Rumaropen, an Irianese who has been taking care of the cave for 20 years, the forest is kept intact; tree cutting is strictly forbidden to keep the historic site as it is. The cave is surrounded by fences.

Ambroben
Japanese caves are found near this village.

Mokmer Aerodrome (Mokmer Drome)
Japanese airfield liberated by the US Army and used by the USAAF, still in use today

Borokoe Aerodrome (Borokoe Drome)
Japanese airfield liberated by the US Army and used by the USAAF

Sorido Aerodrome (Sorido Drome)
Japanese airfield liberated by the US Army, today a housing area

Biak Museum
Small outdoor museum with several relics on display.  It contains some old vehicles, guns, equipment, memorials and war relics.

P-47D Thunderbolt Serial Number 42-75940
Pilot Frankfort crashed April 27, 1944

Ki 43-II Oscar
Crashed on Biak

Ki-43 Oscar
Crashed on Biak

Ki-43 Oscar
Crashed on Biak

P-39 Aircobra
Crashed on Biak

C-47 Dakota Serial Number 00728
Crashed on Biak, full details unknown

C-47A Serial Number 42-10047
Pilot McDowell crashed January 9, 1945

Ki-48 Lily
Ditched off Biak, attempted salvage in 1990s, accidentally destroyed

Ki-45 Nick
Pilot Takada crashed May 27, 1944 (first 'planned' Kamikaze suicide attack on an enemy ship

PBY Catalina
Sunk off Biak Harbor

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Last Updated
May 13, 2009