|  |
|
| |
|
| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
| Chronology | Locations | Aircraft | Ships | Submit Info | How You Can Help | Donate |
|
 5th AF c1943  345th BG Jan 30, 1944  3rd BG c1944  Colin Jermy 1979  Justin Taylan Nov 2003 |
Location Hansa Bay is located on the north coast of New Guinea. On the western side of the bay is Awar Point (Condor Point). The eastern side of the bay is near Nubia. Inside Hansa Bay is Laing Island and located to the southeast is Manam Island. To the southwest is Bogia and further south is Madang. To the east is Stephan Strait. To the northwest is the mouth of the Sepik River and Wewak. Wartime History During January 1943, occupied by the Japanese Army. Hansa Bay was developed into a major base area and barge shuttle point between Wewak and Madang and locations further to the southeast along the New Guinea coast. Two airfields were built by the Japanese in the area Awar Airfield (Hansa North) and Nubia Airfield (Hansa South). Coastal defenses and gun encampment defended the area. For over a year between April 12, 1943 until July 31, 1944, Hansa Bay was targeted by Allied aircraft that bombed and strafed the Hansa Bay area to neutralize barge traffic and defense in the area. At least 35 Japanese ships and several aircraft were lost in the Hansa Bay area. Allied missions against Hansa Bay April 12, 1943–July 31, 1944 On July 25, 1943 Japanese convoy "Hansa No. 5" from Palau included Hankow Maru, Aden Maru, Denmark Maru, Nagano Maru, Yubae Maru and Shinto Maru No. 1 escorted by Shirataka and subchaser CH-34 arrives at Hansa Bay at 1:25am and afterwards returns to Palau. During June 1944, the Japanese withdrew from the Hansa Bay area, abandoning stores and equipment in the area. On June 12, 1944 patrols from the Australian Army 35th Battalion advancing from the southeastt reached Hansa Bay and were able to probe as far as the Sepik River. At Hansa Bay, a large quantities of Japanese Army military stores and equipment were found, the most captured in the New Guinea up to that point of the war. Today Since the war, Hansa Bay has returned to a quite anchorage used by local vessels and small ships. During October 2017, a group from Project Recover to performed an underwater side scan sonar search covering nearly 27 square kilometers of the sea floor and located the wreckage of a B-24D Liberator they claimed to be B-24D 'Heaven Can Wait' 42-41216. 75mm Anti-Aircraft Gun Type 88 Emplaced on the beach on the eastern side of Hansa Bay, missing the barrel Sydney Maru (Shishi Maru) Sunk in Hansa Bay by American bombers April 12, 1943 B-25D "Reluctant Dragon" 41-30345 Tail Y Pilot Widener crashed August 28, 1943 due to bomb blast into eastern Hansa Bay B-25D "Arkansas Traveler" 41-30594 Pilot Manders MIA January 30, 1944 hit by anti-aircraft fire, exploded and crashed in Hansa Bay Vengeance A27-275 Pilot Burnell MIA February 24, 1944 B-24D "Heaven Can Wait" Serial Number 42-41216 Pilot Tennyson crashed March 11, 1944 B-24J "Super Mouse" 42-73338 Pilot Taylor crashed April 9, 1944 P-39 Airacobra Ditched into Hansa Bay Harbor at a depth of 90' upright on the seafloor Contribute
Information Last Updated
|
 Photo Archive |
| Discussion Forum | Daily Updates | Reviews | Museums | Interviews & Oral Histories |
|
