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 USAAF May 27, 1944 475th FG July 1944  c1950  5th AF Assoc 1990 |
Location Lat 1° 11' 24S Long 136° 6' 29E Mokmer Airfield is located to the west of Mokmer village less than 100 yards from the beach parallel to the southern coast of Biak Island bordering Yapen Strait (Japen Strait). Also known as "Mokmer Drome", the eastern most of the three coastal airfields on the island. To the west is Borokoe (Boroekoe, Borokoe) and Sorido (Sorrido, Insirom, Insrom). Today located in Biak Numfor Regency, Papua Province in Indonesia. Construction Built by the Japanese as a single coral surfaced runway with taxiways and ravetments to the north of the runway. Wartime History Used by the Japanese until the U.S. Army landing on Biak May 27, 1944. During the middle of 1944 attacked by American bombers to netralize the runway. American missions against Mokmer May 4 - June 24, 1944 During late May 1944, Mokmer was liberated by the U.S. Army but entrenched Japanese troops from the 222nd Infantry in the high ground and caves above the airfield delayed the use of the airfield for American aircraft. Repaired, the airfield was used by fighters and medium bombers. U.S. Army APO 920. Tower code name "Lordship". American units based at Mokmer 49th FG, 9th FS (P-38) Hollandia arrives June 26, 1944–October 24, 1944 departs Tacloban 475th FG, 433rd FS (P-38) Hollandia July 14, 1944 - Nov 11, 1944 Dulag 475th FG, 431st FS (P-38) Hollandia July 15, 1944 - Nov 9, 1944 Dulag 345th BG, HQ Nadzab July 1944 - Nov 11, 1944 Dulag 345th BG, 498th BS (B-25) Nadzab July 13 - Nov 11, 1944 Dulag 345th BG. 501st BS (B-25) Nadzab July 23 - Nov 12, 1944 Dulag 345th BG, 500th BS (B-25) Nadzab July 23 - Nov 9, 1944 Dulag 345th BG, 499th BS (B-25) Nadzab July 24 - Nov 11, 1944 Dulag Postwar Mokmer Airfield became a major reclamation area for all types of surplus Allied aircraft abandoned on Biak. During the 1950s until the early 1960s, Mokmer Airfield was used as a refueling point for jet airliners flying from the United States to Indonesia, prior to non-stop transpacific flights. Still in use today as a civilian airport known as "Frans Kaisiepo International Airport" or "Frans Kaisiepo Airport" but also remains known as Mokmer Airport. Airport codes: ICAO: WABB and IATA: BIK. The single runway is oriented 29/11 and measures 11,715' x 150' surfaced with asphalt. References Frans Kaisiepo International Airport Biak official website Contribute
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