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| Location Manus Island is the largest Island in the Admiralty Island Group (Admiralty Islands) surrounded by the Bismarck Sea. Borders Seeadler Harbor and to the east is Los Negros Island. Prewar and during the Pacific War part of the Territory of New Guinea. Today located in Manus Province in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Wartime History On April 8, 1942 Japanese forces land at Lorengau on Manus and established a relatively small base on the island and had minimal contact with locals, aside from hiring villagers from Rossum as guides and scouts. The locals were told by the Japanese that "the war was a fight amongst outside nations and the local people were best advised to stay in the safely of the hinterland." A German colonist who remained on the island when then Japanese arrived was either imprisoned or killed. On March 25, 1944 U.S. Army soldiers landed on Manus and met sporadic resistance that was quickly overcome. Immediately, Seadler Harbor were developed into a huge U.S. Navy (USN) anchorage with shore facilities built at Lorengau and Lombrum on Manus Island. This base area was designated "Navy 3205" for Manus Island, Admiralty Islands. Rapidly, the U.S. Navy built one of the largest harbors and base area in the Pacific region. Thousands of buildings, shops and sheds were erected in the area. At Lorengau, supply and repair facilities were created. Wharves and docks constructed at the edge of Seadler Harbor. The area supported Navy operations in the South West Pacific Area (SWPA) and as a staging area for future operations in Netherlands East Indies (NEI) and later the Philippines. Postwar In the years after the Pacific War, harvesting timber in the vicinity was dangerous because of shrapnel and bullets still lodged into the trees around the battlefield areas. Manus Island Locations Lorengau (Lorangau, Rorengau, Lorungau, Losa or Leronguan) located on Manus includes Lorengau Airfield Lugos Mission located to 2 1/2 miles west of Lorengau. Rossum (Rossun) inland village near the northeast corner of Manus Island. Lombrum (Lombrum Point) located on the northeast tip of Manus Island bordering Seeadler Harbor. Seeadler Harbor borders Manus and Los Negros sometimes incorrectly referred to as Manus Harbor. Manus Island Airfields/Seaplane/Naval Base Lorengau Airfield located at Lorengau on the north coast of Manus Island. Lombrum Seaplane Base located at Lombrum on the north coast of Manus Island. Lombrum Naval Base (HMPNGS Tarangau) located at Lombrum on the north coast of Manus Island. Contribute
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