Hollandia Airfield file photo [25750]

Hollandia Airfield Complex

Type   122 Air Base
Historical Name of Location   Hollandia, Dutch New Guinea, Dutch East Indies
Coordinates   -2.576944000, 140.516111000

Contributor:

ww2dbaseThe Dutch arrived at the town of Numbay on the northern coast of the island of New Guinea in Sep 1909, and in Mar 1909 it was renamed Hollandia. In Apr 1942, it was occupied by the Japanese Army, who developed a complex of three airfields about 5 miles in-land, about directly west of the town. The complex was completed by Oct 1943. It was consisted the main Hollandia Airfield, Sentani Airfield, and Cyclops Airfield. The main Hollandia Airfield was western-most, near Lake Sentani; it had two runways and featured several barracks and revetments for bombers. Sentani Airfield, which had one fighter strip was to Hollandia Airfield's east. Cyclops Airfield, closest to the town of Hollandia, was about 0.75 miles northeast of Sentani Airfield; it also had only a short strip suitable for fighters only. The main airfield was captured by US Army troops on 22 Apr 1944 as a part of Operation Reckless, followed by the capture of the two satellite fields four days later. Unlike most other Japanese strongholds that were captured by the Allies during the war, a large number of Japanese abandoned their defensive positions to escape through the jungles, while a few willingly surrendered. Between late Apr 1944 and Mar 1945, Hollandia Airfield Complex (Cyclops Airfield specifically) was Douglas MacArthur's headquarters, thus the airfields were busy with various activities. After the war, the main Hollandia Airfield was abandoned and became overgrown with vegetation. Sentani Airfield remained operational. Cyclops Airfield was also abandoned after the war; a number of residential buildings of the town of Sentani would occupy the site. As of 1962, the new United Nations-controlled coastal town was renamed Kota Baru. After a brief time as Sukarnapura, it was finally renamed Jayapura in late 1968. The neighboring Humboldt Bay had since been renamed Yos Sudarso Bay. The war time Sentani Airfield would became today's Sentani Airport, the main airport for the western half of New Guinea.

ww2dbaseSources:
Wikipedia
pacificwrecks.com

Last Major Update: Jun 2016



Hollandia Airfield Complex Interactive Map

Photographs

A-20 Havoc aircraft of US V Bombing Command targeting Japanese airfield of Ki-48 bombers, at Hollandia, New Guinea, 1942A Marine Corps TBM-1C Avenger of the 7th Fleet Command undergoing some maintenance at the Cyclops aerodrome, Hollandia, New Guinea, Jul-Aug 1943. Note the Jeep and the tail of an Army A-24 Banshee painted as a target tug.A-20 aircraft of 13th Bomb Squadron of USAAF 3rd Bomb Squadron, Hollandia, Dutch New Guinea, 1944Close-up view of T30 rocket launchers mounted under the wing of an A-20 Havoc aircraft of 90th Attack Squadron, US 3rd Attack Group, Hollandia, New Guinea, mid-1944
See all 10 photographs of Hollandia Airfield Complex

Maps

Map of Hollandia Airfield Complex

Hollandia Airfield Complex Timeline

22 Apr 1944 US Army troops captured the main Hollandia Airfield on the northern coast of Dutch New Guinea.
26 Apr 1944 Sentani Airfield and Cyclops Airfield near Hollandia, Dutch New Guinea was captured by US 186th Infantry Regiment.




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Visitor Submitted Comments

1. Tina Pratt says:
14 Oct 2015 10:21:31 PM

My father Navy Sept. 14 1944. The pilots here took Navy sailors up for rides when the tested the planes after repairs. My father is Nicholas John Tostanoski. He built Quonset huts and other buildings . Building Sampson Navy and Air Force base was his boot camp. They didnt even have boats there yet. The base is a museum and the winter photos show when he was there . His building was by the lake. But IF any one has info or photos of this time frame It would be so AWESOME to get a copy I will pay for this at a Walmart Dad was also at Los Negros and Mandis building He helped build 3 bases in Plesington CA and the site of the World Fair also. Thank you all and I am PROUD of my Dad and all your familys service <3
2. joseestaneil says:
27 Jan 2017 03:10:32 PM

I am a world war 2 enthusiast. I passed through and lived papua new guinea for many years as missionary priest.i relived the times of the great war in this exotic, paradise like island of new guinea and surrounding island.
3. SJD says:
9 Oct 2017 12:15:27 PM

My grandfather was in Hollandia at MacArthur's HQ at Hollandia. I am trying to locate on a map the HQ. Problem: there are at least two Hollandias. This article does not differentiate between them and so is pretty useless except for dates. Seems to me, for instance that Sentani airport is WSW or W of Hollandia (depending on which one we're talking about, the this article has it east.

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More on Hollandia Airfield Complex
» Jack Heyn Photo Journal: Hollandia

Modern Day Location
WW2-Era Place Name Hollandia, Dutch New Guinea, Dutch East Indies
Lat/Long -2.5769, 140.5161
Hollandia Airfield Complex Photo Gallery
A-20 Havoc aircraft of US V Bombing Command targeting Japanese airfield of Ki-48 bombers, at Hollandia, New Guinea, 1942
See all 10 photographs of Hollandia Airfield Complex


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