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    Insoemanai Island (Insoemar) Sarmi Regency | Papua Province Indonesia
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90th BG 1944

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USAAF 1944
Location
Insoemanai Island is a small island to the southwest of Wakde Island, between the New Guinea mainland at Toem. Also spelled Nsoemanai or Insoemar. Also spelled Insoemanae in American records. 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
By May 1944, Insoemanai Island was defended by a battalion of Japanese marines using caves and tunnels for defense. On May 18, 1944 the 163rd Regimental Combat Team (163rd RCT) lands three companies of 1st Bn and Company F of 2d with the 27th Engineer Combat Battalion were landed on the south cf the island by E Company, 593d EBSR, supported by 4.2" mortar fire from the mainland. During the unloading, sniper fire harassed the solders continuously and caused casualties. The Japanese garrison of 500 were killed with eight captured. Ashore, a tank supported the infantry and the engineers used dynamite, bazookas, flame throwers, fragmentation grenades and M-15 W-R grenades.

References
Portable Flame Thrower Operations in World War II, pages 69-70

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Last Updated
August 24, 2023

 

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