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Cyclops Airfield (Cyclops Drome) Jayapura Regency | Papua Province Indonesia

USAAF April 12, 1944

Merchant 1944

USAAF c1944

Location
Lat 2° 34' 37S 140° 30' 59E Cyclops Airfield is located to at Cyclops inland from Hollandia (Jayapura) on the north coast of western New Guinea. Also known as "Cyclops Airdrome", "Cyclops Drome" or "Cyclops Strip". Prewar and during the Pacific War located in Dutch New Guinea (DNG) in the Netherlands East Indies (NEI). Between 1963-2007 part of Irian Jaya. Today located in the Jayapura Regency in Papua Province in Indonesia.

To the north was the Depopre-Aerodrome Track, today a sealed road known as Jalan Raya Airport Sentani (Sentani Airport Highway) and further to the north was the Cyclops Mountains. To the east is Hollandia (Jayapura) and to the south is Lake Sentani. To the southwest is Sentani Airfield roughly 3/4 of a mile away and further to the west is Hollandia Airfield.

Construction
Built by the Japanese Army as a single runway with taxiways.

Wartime History
Used by the Japanese Army Air Force (JAAF) as a fighter strip. Attacked by American aircraft until neutralized by late April 1944.

On April 26, 1944 captured by the U.S. Army 41st Infantry Division, 186th Infantry Regiment. Captured along the runway were several largely intact Japanese aircraft including: Ki-43-II Oscar 33rd Sentai, Ki-43-II Oscar 77th Sentai and Ki-43-II Oscar 59th Sentai (Racoon Special / XJ004).

Afterwards, the runway was deemed serviceable for light planes only, with the possibility for further expansion. Rapidly, the runway was repaired.

On April 27, 1944 the first C-47 landed at Cyckios Airfield. After repairs and expansion, the single runway was oriented ESE to WNW and measured 4,000' x 100' surfaced with compacted oil and gravel suitable for all weather operations. During August 1944, hardstands for aircraft and support buildings were added.

On May 21, 1944 the 84th Airdrome Squadron took over operations of Cyclops Drome and maintained sole operations of that field until June 20, 1944 when they were also given responsibility for Sentani Drome. The group remained in charge of day to day operations and maintenance at these both fields until November 1, 1944.

American units based at Cyclops
84th Airdrome Squadron May 21, 1944 - November 1, 1944
List of units at Hollandia area airfields

By July 1, 1945 Cyclops Drome was listed as a reserved military airfield and the tower not manned. A portion of the runway measuring 2,500' remained in fairly good condition only suitable for transport aircraft. The rest of the runway was described as being in very poor condition.

Today
The Cyclops Airfield area is overgrown since the war. The area has been partially developed and incorporated into Jayapura.

Gene Strine visited Cyclops Airfield in the late 1980's:
"No one knew exactly where it was because it had become completely overgrown. After walking to the approximate area, I was able to find overgrown anti-aircraft gun revetments. One of the guns was still in its revetment. I discovered a fuse for a shell, and a Japanese liquor bottle."

References
Index to Air Bases - Research Report No. 85, I.G. No 9185 - July 30, 1944
Airdromes Guide Southwest Pacific Area - 1 July 1945
J-Aircraft - The Captured Oscars of Hollandia (photos)

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Last Updated
July 19, 2024

Area Map July 1945

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July 1945

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