Lat
9° 28' 60S Long 147° 10' 60E City on the south coast
of New Guinea, capital of PNG.
History
Prior
to WWII, Port Moresby was a small administrative center for the Australian
territories of Papua and New
Guinea. During the war it was the strategic objective of the Japanese
during the Battle
of Coral Sea and the overland during the Kakoda
Trail campaign. Japanese invasion attempts were unsuccessful,
but area was subjected to many air attacks. The area became a major
American and Australian staging area and airfield complex in support
of the Allied push to the north of New Guinea.
Today
Capital
of Papua New Guinea (PNG). The town has grown and many traces of the
war have been removed or dissapeared, but airifelds and dive sites
still remain. Also, the city is home to the PNG
National Museum with a collection of war relics and artifacts.
Everywhere you look, there are pieces of Marston
Matting, or PSP (Pierced Steel Planking) used as fences, sidewalks
and animal pens!
Japanese Air
Raids Against Port Moresby
February 2, 1942 - April 12, 1943 (plus later nightime harrasment
raids).
Port Moresby City Areas
Nearly the entire city has some connections with World War II
|
Prewar town and wharf area |
|
Northern area of the town |
|
North of Konedobu |
|
former 5-Mile Wards Drome and the PNG goverment |
|
South-east of Waigani PNG Modern History Museum |
|
Located to the east of town |
|
Area to the north of the present day University of PNG. |
|
East of Port Moresby town, former 3-Mile Drome |
|
Peak behind Port Moresby |
|
Port Moresby's Harbor |
|
Inlet to the east of Port Moresby |
|
Inlet to the west of Port Moresby, Roku village |
|
Bay to the east of Port Mresby, Local Island |
Port
Moresby Gun Emplacements & Fortifications
There are a number of abandoned gun emplacements, bunkers
and fortifications. These were constructed by Australian Engineers in
1944, but never used, then abandoned after the war.
