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 U.S. Army Jan 2, 1944  US Army January 2, 1944 |
Location Lat 5° 37' 60S Long 146° 28' 0E Saidor is located inland from the north coast of New Guinea. To the northeast is Sawoi (Suai) on the north coast. Beyond to the north is the Vitiaz Strait and beyond Long Island. Beyond to the east is Dekays Bay. To the west is the Nankina River. The Japanese referred to the Saidor area as Gumbi or Gumbo for Gumbi to the northwest. To the southeast roughly 110 miles beyond is Finschafen. Roughly 8-9 miles to the northwest is Biliau (Beliau). Today, located in Rai Coast District of Madang Province in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Wartime History During 1943, occupied by the Japanese Army with a small garrison of roughly 50 personnel at Saidor. On January 2, 1944 another 120-150 transients were present that fled inland when the preinvasion bombardment began. American and Japanese missions against Saidor April 18, 1943–March 4, 1944 On January 2, 1944 "Operation Michaelmas" LCVP (LCVP) landing craft land at Saui Beaches landing the U.S. Army, 6th Army, 32nd Infantry Division, 126th Regimental Combat Team (126th RCT) under the command of General Martin with the 120th Field Artillery plus other elements from the 32nd Infantry Division. The landing bypassed the Japanese garrison at Sio to the east. At Saidor, the U.S. Army used carrier pigeons for the last time in their history to deliver messages from offshore boats to troops ashore, delivering messages before radios were setup. Approximately 200 Japanese defended the Saidor area, but most fled inland and withdrew over inland trails towards Madang. Afterwards, the Americans developed Saidor into a base area and Saidor Airfield into an important forward airfield. The US Navy was established along Dekays Bay. Saidor Airfield Built prewar captured by U.S. Army on January 2, 1944. Yamai Airfield (Saidor #2, Tarlitce, Biliau) American built forward airfield Biliau (Beliau) Village located on the coast, west of Saidor at Yamai References The U.S. Army Campaigns of World War II - New Guinea pages 17, 29 The Coast Guard at War - Chapter X New Guinea - Saidor pages 57, 59 U.S. Army in World War II - Cartwheel: The Reduction of Rabaul Chapter XIV Crossing the Straits pages 273, 295-305 The 32D Infantry Division in World War II The ‘Red Arrow’ The New Guinea Campaign - Saidor Contribute
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