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 USAAF 1944  US Army April 22, 1944  George Walden 1945  5th AF Vets Assoc 1990 |
Location Humboldt Bay is located the north coast of western New Guinea near Hollandia (Jayapura). Borders Cape Soeadja and Challenger Cove and Hollandia (Jayapura) at the northwest end and Cape Djar at the southeast end. Beyond to the west is the Cyclops Mountains and Tanahmerah Bay. Prewar and during the Pacific War, located in Dutch New Guinea (DNG) in the Netherlands East Indies (NEI). During the Pacific War, misspelled "Humbolt Bay" by the Americans. In 1963 renamed Yos Sudarso Bay in honor of Indonesian Admiral Yos Sudarso who was killed in a naval engagement during 1962 against the Dutch at Vlakke Hoek (Etna Bay). Between 1963-2002 part of Irian Jaya. Today located in Jayapura Regency in Papua Province in Indonesia. Prewar On September 28, 1909 a Dutch navy vessel commanded by Captain F. J. P. Sachse landed at Humboldt Bay near the mouth of the Numbay River and established a camp named Kloofkamp at this location. At the eastern end of Humboldt Bay the Germans had established a settlement known as Germania-Huk (German Corner) that was later abandoned. On March 7, 1910 the Dutch established Hollandia at the edge of Humboldt Bay. Wartime History During April 1942 occupied by the Japanese Army and used as a Japanese anchorage. On April 22, 1944 during "Operation Reckless" the U.S. Army 41st Infantry Division made an amphibious landing at Humboldt Bay on beaches code named White Beach 1, White Beach 2 and White Beach 3. Afterwards, Humboldt Bay became a major American staging base area and for other amphibious operations in New Guinea and the Philippines. White Beach 1 On April 22, 1944 the U.S. Army 162nd Infantry Regiment landed at White Beach 1 and met only minor resistance. Quickly, they secured the heights overlooking Hollandia. Immediately, supplies were stacked onto the beach, cramming the area with cargo. Meanwhile, a single Japanese bomber managed to slip thorough the mountains to the south, avoided American air cover and appeared over White Beach 1. This aircraft dropped four bombs, one scored a hit on an ammunition dump, that in turn set a nearby gasoline dump on fire. Today, this area is known as "Tanjung Ria Beach" and is a popular beach with resorts and facilities. There are a few rusted hulks of American vehicles either disabled or abandoned on the beach. White Beach 2 On April 22, 1944 the U.S. Army, 186th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Battalion made an unopposed landing at this location. White Beach 3 On April 22, 1944 the U.S. Army, 186th Infantry Regiment along with the Regimental Cannon Company landed at this location and overcame slight resistance. In total, the Americans suffered six dead and 16 wounded, while the Japanese lost 48 killed an others were taken prisoner. On January 12, 1945 during the early morning, Japanese submarine I-47 entered Humboldt Bay and successfully launched four Kaiten manned torpedoes piloted by Kawakubo, Muramatsu, Sato and Hara beginning at 4:15am at 5 minute intervals. At 5:21 a single explosion rocked the anchorage, damaging the Liberty ship USS Pontus H. Ross. The three other Kaitens failed to do any damage. Veteran George Walden adds: "Coincidences like this keep amazing me; who would have thought I would live so close to where part of a ship was buried that was torpedoed in the same bay where our troop ship was anchored! It has taken me almost 60 years to find out what actually happened the morning of January 12, 1945 when we were jolted out of bed. I have tried to find the ship's log for the Holbrook, only to discover that all such logs were destroyed in the 1950's. The concrete filled bow of this ship is one of many buried in a Liberty Ship Memorial Park, Oregon on the southern bank of the Willamette river between the Freemont and Broadway bridges on Naito parkway." References During the Pacific War, sometime misspelled "Humbolt Bay" by the Americans. U.S. Army in World War II - The Approach to the Philippines Chapter III The Hollandia Operations pages 53-59 Contribute
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