Madang 

A beautiful and peaceful town on the sea, Madang had grown since the last time I visited in 1993. The town now had several grocery stores and all the modern comforts. Despite this, the flocks of flying foxes still roost in the trees above the market.

The remains of the Japanese occupation have all been erased from the town, but signs exists elsewhere, like in the rusting hulk of Japanese ships and transports sunk in the harbor. Or the present day airfield that was used by the Japanese and Australians after liberation.

Further north, up the North Coast Road is the Japanese Army airstrip at Alexishafen and Danip. Some aircraft wrecks remain despite the passage of time and scrapping. Review a sixty year history of one bomber, thur photographic chronology from 1944 to the year 2000.

At the Catholic Mission, Japanese Anti-Aircraft guns still point skywards as they did to defend against Allied bombers and fighters. These relics have remained because they were on mission property, and thus not scrapped or salvaged over the years.

Finally, an insightful interview with Michael Mon, a Papuan who was a boy during the Japanese occupation. He clearly remembers when the Japanese arrived, working for them and building the airstrip, then the approach of ground fighting.

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