Pacific Wrecks
Pacific Wrecks    
  Missing In Action (MIA) Prisoners Of War (POW) Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)  
Chronology Locations Aircraft Ships Submit Info How You Can Help Donate
 
    Haroekoe Airfield (Harakoe, Pelauw) Maluku Province Indonesia
Click For Enlargement
42nd BG c1944
Location
Lat 3° 31' 0" S Long 128° 27' 0" E  Haroekoe Airfield was located near Pelauw on Haroekoe Island off the coast of Seram Island (Ceram Island) in the Moluccas Island Group (Moluccas Islands). Also known as "Harakoe Airfield" or "Pelauw Airfield". Located roughly twelve miles to the west is Liang Airfield on Ambon. Prewar and during the Pacific War located in the Netherlands East Indies (NEI). Today located in Maluku Province (Provinsi Maluku) in Indonesia.

Construction
Built by the Japanese using Prisoner Of War (POW) laborers from Haroekoe POW Camp and Tantoei POW Camp on Haroekoe Island. They labored to build a single runway with taxiways surfaced with crushed coral.

Veteran Cyril Morris Royal Air Force (RAF) prisoner at Haroekoe POW Camp recalled:
"Dawn to dusk hard labor building an airstrip [Haroekoe Airfield]. The brutality, disease and malnutrition resulting in a death rate of ten burials a day."

Wartime History
Used by the Japanese as a military airfield. Starting in December 1943 until December 1944 attacked by Allied aircraft and neutralized. Occupied by Japan until the official surrender of Japan in September 1945.

American missions against Haroekoe Airfield (Harakoe, Pelauw)
December 7, 1943–December 30, 1944

References
Index to Air Bases - Research Report No. 85, I.G. No 9185 - July 30, 1944

Contribute Information
Do you have photos or additional information to add?

Last Updated
July 19, 2024

 

Map
Map
Fallingrain
  Discussion Forum Daily Updates Reviews Museums Interviews & Oral Histories  
 
Pacific Wrecks Inc. All rights reserved.
Donate Now Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram