Angaur
by Allan H. Kelly
Angaur is a small island and a state of the Republic of Palau which lies about 800km (500 miles) east of Mindanao. After WWI Japan was awarded the mandate of the Palau Islands taken from Germany by the Allies and developed them economically and militarily.
In 1944, in Operation Stalemate II Angaur and Peleliu were taken from the Japanese by a force comprising the First Marine Division (Reinforced) and the US Army's 81st "Wildcat" Division. The 81st's 321st and 322nd Regimental Combat Teams were landed on Angaur on 17 September 1944 and on the morning of 20 September, Division Commander Maj. Gen. Paul J. Mueller announced that the island was secure. Construction of the airstrip began that day, and by early November B-24s of the Seventh Air Force's 494th Heavy Bomb Group were flying bombing missions from Angaur.
In 1987 I visited Angaur with my father and one of my brothers. I'd like to acknowledge the assistance of my father, Robert H. Kelly, in the preparation of this article. Photographs taken in 1987.
Angaur Airstrip
Both Peleliu and Angaur were subsequently developed as allied air
bases, and while Peleliu's airstrips were only ever made of crushed and
compacted coral, Angaur received a 7000' x 150' coral strip later surfaced
with tarmac which exists to this day. The airstrip is aligned NE/SW
Angaur was the base of the 494th Bomb Group, 7th Air Force with four squadrons of Liberator B-24s (864th, 865th, 866th and 867th Bomb Squadrons.). They began operations from Angaur on 2 November 1944. From October & November 1944 three USMC fighter squadrons, VMF-114, VMF-121 and VMF-122 were based permanently in the Palau Islands at Peleliu and Angaur aerodromes. A flight of Grumman Hellcat F6F-3N night fighters of VMF-541 was also based on Peleliu.
Aircraft Dump
A few hundred metres northwest of the northern end of the strip is an
aircraft dump. It is located between the road and the sea, in amongst
the trees. Here we found the remains of a Corsair, 3 or 4 B-24 Liberators,
and a C-47.
B-24 Wreckage
Undercarriage parts abound, and there is even a ball
turret there, as well as many other bits and pieces. But being so close
to the pounding surf (Angaur does not have a reef) corrosion is taking
its toll.
F4U Corsair
The Corsair is believed to be an F4U-1 from VMF-114 which made a forced
landing. The Corsair is relatively intact, while the C-47 and B-24s are
largely in pieces.
C-47 Transport
On a beach (Blue Beach) to the east of the strip is the remains of a
C-47, and the sea has again contributed to the destruction of this wreck.
The forward fuselage is still there, along with the engines and other parts.
Another C-47 wreck belonged to the 19th Troop Carrier
Squadron, 7th Air Force as it had Southern Cross Airlines on the fuselage,
making it 19th TCS.