Maffin (Maffin Bay)

MapLocated between Arare to the SE and Sarmi to the NW.

History
Many of the Japanese defenders of Hollandia fled west to the the Sarmi area, west of Maffin Bay where 11,000 battle-hardened soldiers of the Imperial Japanese Army's 36th Division were dug in. 33rd Infantry Division (Illinois National Guard) 123rd Infantry Regiment fought at Maffin Bay. The 1st Field Artillery participated in the amphibious assault at Maffin Bay.

     Maffin Aerodrome

Location
Located to the NW of the Snaky River, and SE of the Woske River.

Click For EnlargementConstruction
This single strip was used by the Japanese Army Air Forcem but abandoned as Americans aproached the area. Occupied by American Army forces.

American Missions Against Maffin Bay
April 29, 1944 - August 16, 1944

Bob Rocker adds:
"As you can see in the photo, there are still logs in the runway. I think I read some where that the Japanese put the logs on the runway so Allied aircraft could not land there unless troops landed there to clean up the runway."

 

Lone Tree Hill
A fortified hill between the Snaky River and Maffin Aerodrome that was defended b the Japanese 224th Infantry and 16 Engineers, with machine guns and artillery guns.  They attacked the aproaching 158th RCT on May 30, 1944.

 

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