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 5th AF February 28, 1943  5th AF March 31, 1944  5th AF April 28, 1944  U.S. Army May 15, 1944   USAAF June 6, 1944    5th AF c1944  U.S. Army Signal Corps September 9, 1944 |
Location Wakde Airfield is located on Wakde Island. To the southwest is the smaller Insoemanai Island (Insoemar, Nsoemanai). Beyond further to the south is the north coast of western New Guinea. Also known as Toem Drome for nearby Toem (Tum) on the on the north coast of western New Guinea. Prewar and during World War II, part of Dutch New Guinea (DNG) in the Netherlands East Indies (NEI). Today located in the Sarmi Regency of Papua Province in Indonesia. Construction In early 1943, the Japanese began construction of a runway at the center of Wakde Island. On February 26, 1943 the partially completed runway was first detected by American photographic reconaissance and photographed. By June, 1943 the Japanese completed a single coral surfaced runway measuring 5,400' x 390' with dispersal areas off the northern side and a barracks area on the south side By September 1943, the Japanese had expanded the base further with a radio station and quarters for 1,000 personnel. Wartime History Used by the Japanese Army Air Force (JAAF). as a forward airfield for medium bombers and light bombers. Japanese units based at Wakde 61st Hiko Sentai (Ki-49) arrives November 1943–April 1944 101st Sentai (Ki-21 Air Transport Unit) arrives November 1943 1st Air Route Department 20th Airfield Battalion 6th Navigational Aid Unit 6th Mobile Air Repair Squadron 60th Hiko Sentai (Ki-21) arrives January 1944–April 1944 Biak 45th Hiko Sentai (Ki-45) Babo arrives February 1944 208th Hiko Sentai (Ki-48) Wewak arrives then returns Wewak Starting in early April 1944 targeted by American bombers and fighters until the U.S. Army landing on May 15, 1944 and continued to be targeted until the island was secure on May 18, 1944. American and Japanese missions against Wakde April 7, 1944–June 8, 1944 On May 15, 1944 during "Operation Straight Line" the U.S. Army 41st Infantry Division, 163rd Regimental Combat Team (163rd RCT) with the 3rd Engineer Special Brigade, 593d Engineer Boat and Shore Regiment (EBSR) lands on Wakde Island. For the next several days, the Japanese mounded a vigorous defense that required savage fighting and moping up. In total, the Americans suffered 40 Killed In Action (KIA) and 107 Wounded In Action (WIA). Nearly the entire Japanese garrison died in the battle with 759 Killed In Action (KIA) with only four captured as Prisoners Of War (POWs). On May 18, 1944 Wakde was declared secured and construction began to repair Wakde Airfield. Once repaired, immediately put into use by 5th Air Force (5th AF) as a forward operating base for fighters and bombers. Flying from Wakde, long range bombers flew the first reconnaissance mission over Mindanao in the Philippines since American forces surrender in early May 1942. Wakde Airfield was known to the U.S. Army Post Office 719 (APO 719). American units based at Wakde HQ 348th FG, 341st FS, 342nd FS (P-47) Saidor arrives May 22, 1944–? 71st TRG, 17th TRS (B-25) Finschafen arrives May 25, 1944 - July 1944 departs Biak 348th FG, 340th FS (P-47) Saidor arrives May 26 - Aug 24, 1944 departs Noemfoor 348th FG, 341th FS (P-47) Saidor arrives May 26 - Aug 24, 1944 departs Noemfoor 421st NFS, 5th Fighter Command (P-38, P-70, P-61) Nadzab arrives May 28, 1944–Sept 21, 1944 5th BG HQ (B-24) Momote arrives August 17 - Sept 22, 1944 departs Noemfoor 5th BG, 72nd BS (B-24) Momote arrives August 19, 1944–? departs Noemfoor 5th BG, 394th BS (B-24) Momote arrives August 25, 1944–? 403rd TCG, 64th TCS (C-47) Biak arrives Oct 2, 1944–Oct 29, 1944 departs Biak 403rd TCG, 13th TCS (C-47) Los Negros arrives October 4, 1944–October 19, 1944 departs Biak 403rd TCG, 63th TCS (C-47) Biak Oct 4, 1944–Oct 29, 1944 departs Biak 13th Bomber Command HQ Los Negros Sept 3, 1944–Oct 17, 1944 departs Morotai 307th BG, 424th BS (B-24) Los Negros Aug 22, 1944–Nov 10, 1944 departs Morotai 307th BG, 371st BS (B-24) Los Negros Aug 22, 1944–Nov 10, 1944 departs Morotai 307th BG, 372st BS (B-24) Los Negros Aug 22, 1944–Nov 10, 1944 departs Morotai 307th BG, 370th BS (B-24) Los Negros Aug 22, 1944–Nov 15, 1944 departs Morotai 307th BG HQ (B-24) Los Negros Aug 24, 1944–October 18, 1944 departs Morotai 1094th Signal Company Aitape May 24, 1944–November 1, 1944 departs Leyte 303rd Airdrome Squadron Tami May 8, 1944–November 5, 1944 departs Leyte Japanese air raids against Wakde During early June 1944, Japanese bombers attacked Wakde on many occasions. Japanese missions against Wakde June 1-10, 1944 On June 6, 1944 during the early morning hours, two G4M Bettys from 732 Kokutai (732 Air Group) led by Ensign Isao Sunayama bombed Wakde Airfield with each bomber targeting parked planes on each side of the runway. Salvoing their bombs, the Japanese estimated they destroyed dozens of American planes. Later reconnaissance photographs seemed to show 76 aircraft burned or damaged near the runway. In fact, their bombs resulted in six planes destroyed and eighty others damaged. Destroyed was B-24J "Turtle Money" 42-109968, P-38J 43-28839, P-38J 43-28486, P-38J 43-28838, P-47D Thunderbolt, L-4B Cub. Also damaged were PB4Y-1 "Baby Shirley" 32150 from VPB-115, PB4Y-1 32177 from VPB-115, PB4Y-1 32255 from VPB-115, PB4Y-1 38789 from VPB-104 and PB4Y-1 32275 from VPB-104. Today Since the Pacific War, Wakde Airfield was disused as an airfield. References Japanese operations at Wakde Airfield on Wakde Island (2005) by Richard Dunn Thanks to Eugene Salternik, Richard Dunn and Bob Livingstone for additional information Contribute
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