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Location Lat 5° 4' 60S Long145° 48' 0E Alexishafen is located on the north coast of New Guinea. Borders Sek Harbor to the east borders Sek Harbor including Megas Island, Admosin Island and Sek Island. To the west is Alexishafen Airfield and to the northwest is Danip and Danip Airfield (Alexishafen II). Connected via the North Coast Road southward to Madang. To the north is Bostrem Bay. Also spelled "Alexishaven" in prewar or wartime references. Today located in Madang Province in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Prewar During the German administration of New Guinea, the Catholic chuch estabilshed the Alexishafen Catholic Mission at Alexishafen. Wartime History During the night of December 18, 1942. the Japanese Army occupied Madang. During the night of December 23, 1942 the Japanese landed in barges at Alexishafen without opposition. Initially, the Japanese Army officer assigned to the assured the Catholic missionaries were unharmed and allowed to go about their business, but were guarded by the Japanese. The Japanese Army developed the Alexishafen area into a base and airfield area. The Japanese occupied and explanded Alexishafen Airfield (Danip, Alexishafen II) and built a larger runway to the south for bombers known as Alexishafen Airfield (Alexishafen I). The Alexishafen area was defended by anti-aircraft gun batteries. During late 1942 until April 1944, Allied aircraft bombed and strafed the area, destroying the Alexishafen Catholic Mission Cathedral and netralized both airfields. During the middle of April 1944, as Australian forces neared, the Japanese mined and set booby traps along the North Coast Road then withdrew from the area. American missions against Alexishafen December 18, 1942–April 15, 1944 On April 26, 1944 the Australian Army 5th Division, 30th Battalion liberated Alexishafen, without resistance, while the 35th Battalion continuing to advance northward along the coast. Many supply dumps and abandoned equipment were captured in the area. Afterwards, the Allies used Alexishafen and Sek Harbor to support operations along the north coast. Today References North
Coast Road Alexishafen Airfield (Alexishafen
I, Strip No. 2) Danip Airfield (Alexishafen II, Strip No 1) Ki-61 Tony Half
Track Alexishafen Catholic Mission (St.
Fidelis College) During the war, the Japanese had a battery of four 75mm Type 88 Anti-Aircraft guns emplaced at the point overlooking Sek Harbor. The mission was totally destroyed by air raids and retreating Japanese. They had stripped the mission building and destroyed many of its relics. B-25D "Jelly Belly 2nd" 41-30516 Contribute
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