Sarmi

MapLat 1° 51' 0S Long 138° 43' 60E Located on small peninsula on the north coast of New Guinea (Irian Jaya), Sawar is to the SE.

History
Many of the Japanese defenders of Hollandia fled west toward the Wakde-Sarmi area, where 11,000 Japanese Army's 36th Division were dug in.

American Missions Against Sarmi
April 21, 1944 - November 5, 1944 (PARTIAL LIST)

Click For EnlargementThe 158th Regimental Combat Team, an independent unit created from the Arizona National Guard that came to be known as the "Bushmasters," was given the task of clearing out Japanese concentrations in the Wakde-Toem area. The 158th found itself in a dogfight in the rugged hilly region southwest of Maffin Bay. The 124th Infantry landed at Aitape as the reserve for Task Force PERSECUTION July 5, 1944.

The 36th Infantry Division's 155th and 167th Infantry Regiments fought in the Wakde-Sarmi area. Fighting was much lighter here and by 18 May the capture of Wakde was announced. These two regiments accounted for more than 1000 Japanese while on the Maffin Bay perimeter which guarded the airstrip.

Click For Enlargement33rd Infantry Division (Illinois National Guard) the division arrived in Hawaii July 12, 1943 and was assigned to defend the outer island July 18, 1943 in conjunction with jungle warfare training. They moved to Finschhafen on May 11, 1944 and engaged in additional jungle and amphibious training, detaching the 33rd Infantry Division's 123rd Infantry went to Maffin Bay on September 1, 1944 where it relieved the 31st Infantry Division. Also patrolled the Wakde Airfield and Toem-Sarmi sector until January 26, 1945.

Mondoeruaear Island
Small island located the SE of Sarmi.

F7B Liberator Serial Number 44-40422
MIA September 30, 1944

 

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