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 Frank Anderson 1971   Justin Taylan 2007 |
Location Lat 8° 46' 0S Long 148° 13' 60E Popondetta is an inland town in New Guinea. Also known as simply "Pop" or "Town" to locals. Borders the Kokoda-Buna Road (Kokoda Highway). To the west is Sangara. To the southwest was Popondetta Airfield and beyond Mount Lamington. Prewar and during the Pacific War located in Northern District (Northern Province) in the Territory of Papua. Today located Popondetta Urban LLG in Ijivitari District in Oro Province in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Popondetta is the provincial capital of Oro Province. Prewar Popondetta was established as a small agricultural station planted with coffee trees. Wartime History During 1942, occupied by the Japanese Army and used as a headquarters area as they advanced westward to Kokoda and across the Kokoda Trail. Attacked by Allied aircraft until October 1942. By the middle of October 1942 Japanese forces withdrew from the Popondetta area to the north coast to Buna, Gona and Sanananda. American missions against Popondetta September 20, 1942–October 15, 1942 By November 1942, occupied by the Australian Army 7th Division supported by Popondetta Airfield. During the battle of the beachheads on the north coast of New Guinea, Popondetta became strategically important location. After the battle, the Popondetta area was developed into a Allied base area. By 1945, an Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit (ANGAU) Native Hospital with Australian superintends and native orderlies was established at this locaiton and a coffee mill. Postwar After 1945, Popondetta was rebuilt and became the provincial headquarters for Northern Province during the colonial era. Between January 18-21, 1951 nearby Mount Lamington erupted killing an estimated 3,000 people and destroyed the rebuilt town. Afterward, Popondetta became the center of recovery efforts and to distribute aid. Today Today Popondetta is the provincial capital of Oro Province and the center of commerce for the area. Also known as simply "Pop" or "Town" to locals. The Popondetta market table tops are made from Marston Matt (PSP) recovered from the nearby airfields and dump areas. An American propeller is display outside one of the buildings in town. Popondetta War Memorial (New War Memorial) There is a war memorial in the center of town, built in 1962. It includes plaques and relief map commemorating the Australian and American units that fought in the Buna, Gona and Kokoda areas. Two Japanese Type 88 75mm Anti-Aircraft guns displayed near the monument that were recovered from the Buna battlefield in 1962. In the early 2000s, the memorial was refurbished with Australian Government funding and rededicated in November 2002. The new memorial includes descriptive plaques under a partial shelter and circular rotunda for the old bronze battlefield plaques. 75mm Type 88 Anti-Aircraft Gun Recovered from Buna displayed in Popondetta at the war memorial. 75mm Type 88 Anti-Aircraft Gun Recovered from Buna displayed in Popondetta at the war memorial. Popondetta Airfield Built by the Allies and used to support the battle in the area. House of Kokichi Nishamura The residence of Kokichi Nishamura who served in the Japanese Army 144th Infantry Regiment in Oro Province and survived the war. After retirement, he left his family and life in Japan and relocated to Popondetta to devote himself to finding the remains of his comrades and sending them back to Japan. Also he works with locals and made donations for infrastructure improvements. References Field Guide to the Kokoda Track by Bill James (2006) pages 395 (map), 410, 412 (map), 417-418 Contribute
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