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| Location Papua Province encompasses a portion of western New Guinea. Prewar and during the Pacific War, part of Dutch New Guinea (DNG) forming the western portion of the Netherlands East Indies (NEI). In December 1949, the Netherlands recognized Indonesia over the Netherlands East Indies (NEI) with the exception of Dutch New Guinea that they continued to administer but began to prepare the area for independence forming a parliament in 1961 with plans for independence nine years later. On August 15, 1962 became part of Indonesia after the New York Agreement. Afterwards, became known as West New Guinea. In 1963 the western portion was renamed West Irian (Irian Barat). In 1973 during the Suharto administration renamed Irian Jaya, meaning "to rise" or "rising spirit" in the Biak language but sometimes translated as "Glorious Irian". In 2002 renamed Papua Province (Provinsi Papua) and in 2003 the western half became West Papua Province (Papua Barat). Wartime History On March 5, 1942 Imperial General Headquarters under Navy Directive No. 62 ordered Commander-in-Chief, Combined Fleet, upon completion of the Java operation, to annihilate the remaining enemy force in the Dutch New Guinea and to occupy strategic points of that territory. The objectives of the occupation were to survey the country for possible sites for air bases, anchorages and oilfields, as well to secure a good communication and supply line with British New Guinea. The Japanese claimed zero casualties in their occupation of the area. The area was the site of several daring island hopping amphibious landings by Americans, but the history of operations in this region are less known than more "famous" battles in Papua New Guinea. Many of the Japanese troops in this area were isolated until the end of the war, to starve or otherwise bypassed by Allied island hopping and attacked from the air. Biak Numfor Regency Schouten Island Group (Schouten Archipelago) located in Geelvink Bay includes Biak, Yapen, Noemfoor Biak Island located north of New Guinea, liberated by U.S. Army developed into an airfield and base area Bosnik (Bosnek, Soriari) located on the southern coast of Biak, initial U.S. Army landing on May 27, 1944 Japanese Cave on Biak (Goa Jepang, Gojep) natural cave located on southern Biak Island Borokoe (Boroekoe, Borokoe) located on the southern coast of Biak includes Borokoe Airfield (Borokoe Drome) Sorido (Sorrido, Insirom, Insrom) located on the southern coast of Biak includes Sorido Airfield Mokmer located on the southern coast of Biak includes Mokmer Airfield (Frans Kaisiepo) Owi Island located north of New Guinea, liberated by U.S. Army and developed into Owi Airfield Noemfoor Island (Noemfoer Noemfor, Numfor) north of New Guinea liberated and developed into airfields Kamiri (Kamirt, Kamiri) located on the northwest coast of Noemfoor Island including Kamiri Airfield Kornasoren located on the northern coast of Noemfoor Island including Kornasoren Airfield (Yebrurro) Namber located on the western coast of Noemfoor Island including Namber Airfield Bani Point located on Noemfoor Island Mios Woendi atoll ten miles south of Biak, PT Boat base Geelvink Bay (Cenderawasih Bay) large bay between New Guinea and Biak Island Padaidori Island Group located to the southeast of Biak Island Nusi Island part of the Padaidori Island Group Jayapura Regency Hollandia (Jayapura) located on the north coast of western New Guinea, capital of Papua Province Cape Soeadja located on the northern end of Humboldt Bay Humboldt Bay (Yos Sudarso Bay) located to the east of Hollandia Tanahmerah Bay (Tanah Merah Bay) located to the east of Hollandia Cape Tanahmerah borders Tanahmerah on the north coast of New Guinea Sentani located to the southwest of Hollandia north of Lake Sentani Lake Sentani large freshwater lake near Sentani and Hollandia Cyclops located to the west of Hollandia| Pim located to the south of Hollandia Depapre located to the south of Tanahmerah Bay Poee (Pue) located at the southeast arm of Lake Sentani Tami located to the east of Humboldt Bay and Hollandia Jayawijaya Regency Balim known as ''Shangri-La'' a hidden valley in Highlands Merauke Regency Merauke located near the southern tip of New Guinea. Okaba located inland from the southern coast of New Guinea. Kombieti (Kombre, Kombere) located near the southern tip of New Guinea. Mimika Regency Timoeka (Timuka, Timika) located on the southern coast of New Guinea Keawkwa located on the southern coast of New Guinea Nabire Regency Nabire located on the north coast of New Guinea south of Biak Island. Puncak Jaya Regency Carstenz Range mountain range in central Irian Jaya. Sarmi Regency Sarmi (Sarmo, Kota Sarmi) located on the north coast of New Guinea includes postwar Sarmi Airport. Mondoeruaear Island located to the east of Sarmi. Sawar located to the southwest of Sarmi includes Sawar Airfield Maffin Bay located on the north coast of New Guinea. Maffin (Maffin No. 1) borders Maffin Bay on the north coast of New Guinea includes Maffin Airfield. Lone Tree Hill located to the west of Maffin overlooking Maffin Bay defended by the Japanese. Arara located on the north coast of New Guinea unopposed us landing, southeast of Maffin Bay. Toem (Tum) located on the north coast of New Guinea across from Wakde Island. Wakde Island captured by the U.S. Army and developed into Wakde Airfield. Insoemanai Island (Insoemar) small island near Wakde Island. Amisira inland village near the north coast of New Guinea. Supiori Regency Supiori Island located to the northwest of Biak Mapia Island Group (Mapia Atoll) located north of the equator Pegun Island (Mapia) located at the southern end of Mapia Island Group Waropeni Regency Teba located at the mouth of the Mamberamo River on the north coast of New Guinea Lake Rombebai inland lake along the Mamberamo River. Yapen Islands Regency Yapen (Japen) large island off the coast of New Guinea. Yapen Strait (Japen Strait) located between Yapen (Japen) and Biak Island. Seroei (Serui) located on the southern coast of Yapen. Contribute
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