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 U.S. Army 1944  1998 |
Location Lat 1° 52' 2S Long 138° 44' 48E Sarmi is located on small peninsula known as Sarmi Point at an elevation of 3' above sea level on the north coast of New Guinea. Also known as Sarmo or Kota Sarmi. Sawar is to the southeast. Offshore to the east is Mondoeruaear Island. Prewar and during World War II, located in Dutch New Guinea (DNG) in the Netherlands East Indies (NEI). Today located in Sarmi Regency of Papua Province in Indonesia. Wartime History During late April 1944, many of the Japanese from Hollandia fled west toward the Toem-Wakde-Sarmi area, where the Japanese Army 36th Division was dug in with 11,000 troops including seventeen Type 95 Ha Go Light Tanks from the 36th Division's tank unit under the command of Captain Fujimura. Between late April 1944 until late 1944 attacked by Allied bombers and fighters. American missions against Sarmi April 22, 1944–November 5, 1944 On July 3, 1944 two Type 95 Ha Go light tanks encountered two amphibious tanks and fired on them, claiming one as destroyed and causing the other to flee. Several other minor tank engagements occurred in the Sarmi area, but tanks were largely ineffective in the jungle and not impact the outcome of the battles in the area. On July 5, 1944 the U.S. Army 124th Infantry arrived at Aitape as the reserve force for Task Force Persecution. The 158th Regimental Combat Team "Bushmasters" (158th RCT), an independent unit created from the Arizona National Guard was assigned the task of clearing out Japanese concentrations in the Wakde-Toem area. The 158th found itself in combat in the rugged hilly region southwest of Maffin Bay. The 36th Infantry Division's 155th Infantry Regiment and 167th Infantry Regiment fought in the Wakde-Sarmi area. By May 18, 1944 the Americans captured Wakde. At Sarmi, the fighting was less intense. Both regiments accounted for more than 1,000 Japanese while on the Maffin Bay perimeter which guarded Maffin Bay Airfield (Maffin Drome). On September 1, 1944 the 33rd Infantry Division "Illinois Division" 123rd Infantry Regiment landed at Maffin Bay to relieve the 31st Infantry Division "Dixie Division". They also patrolled Wakde Airfield and Toem-Sarmi sector until January 26, 1945. F-7B Liberator Serial Number 44-40422 Pilot Harms MIA September 30, 1944 Sarmi Airport Built postwar to the southeast of Sarmi Contribute
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