Index:
1. Dutch Military - KNIL
2. U.S. Navy
3. U.S. Airforce
4. U.S. Coastguard
5. U.S. Army
6. Links
1. Dutch Military - KNIL.
Koninklijk Nederlandsch-Indisch Leger, KNIL (Royal Dutch East Indies Army)
Originally the KNIL was part of the Dutch army. On March 10, 1830 the formation of the East Indies Army was
approved by Royal Decree, consisting of 8 Mobile Corps, each with a battalion of Infantry, a company of
Cavalry and four pieces mountain artillery, with a total strength of 600 European and 37 native officers and 12,905
non-commissioned officers and lower ranks. This grew to 20,000 in 1840, 29,800 in 1882 and 36,900 in 1930.
Some of the action it was involved in: Padri War, (West-Sumatra) 1821-1845; Java War, July 1825-1830,
Bali 1849; War of Aceh (Atjeh-oorlog) 1873-1901. After the pacification in the East Indies was completed,
the "Defense Principles of 1927" formulated the task of the KNIL as 1. maintaining Dutch authority in the
archipelago against unrest and resistance within its borders and guaranteeing order and calm; 2. performing
of military duty as member of the community of people against other peoples. Depression and the fact that
everything had to be imported made this a tough task. The newly formed Air Ministry of the KNIL however
received 117 bombers form the US.
In May 1940 KNIL consisted of 1,345 regular officers and 35,583 non-commissioned officers and lower
ranks. With reserve officers, local conscripts etc. the total could grow to 3,200 officers and and 73,000
non-commissioned officers and lower ranks. When The Dutch government declared war with Japan on December 8,
1941, KNIL was mobilized. On March 9, 1942 KNIL capitulated. Only a small units escaped to Australia.
On November 15, 1944, the First Battalion was formed and participated in some allied actions: Tarakan
(May 1, 1945), Balikpan (July 1, 1945). Together with the Second Battalion, consisting of released POW's,
they arrived on October 4, 1945 in the capital Batavia (Jakarta).
General S.H. Spoor combined the new KNIL with units from the Dutch Army and used it during both
police actions July 21-August 4, 1947 and December 21, 1948-January 5, 1949. Its name was changed in 1948
to "Koninklijk Nederlands Indonesisch Leger" (Royal Dutch Indonesian Army).
On July 26, 1950 KNIL seized to exist. Its members either became part of the Royal Dutch Army, or the
armed forces of Republik Indonesia Serikat, or were dismissed (with or without pension).
On July 1, 1950 a Royal Decree determined that "The tradition of the KNIL will be adopted and continued
by the Regiment Van Heutz"
(source: Winkler Prins Encyclopedie 19..).
Zie ook Het Vergeten Leger, Nederlandsch Indië 1945-1950,
KNIL,
KNIL Stamboeken,
KNIL in Wikipedia (Nederlands),
KNIL in Wikipedia (English),
KNIL history.
Links:
1940
April 19, Friday, 1940
Japanese government informs United States that Japan has no aggressive intentions toward the
Netherlands East Indies.
1941
December 7, Sunday, 1941
Japan attacks Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
December 8, Monday, 1941
U.S. declares war on Japan.
1942
January 11, Sunday, 1942
Japan declares war on the Netherlands; invasion of Netherlands East Indies begins as Japanese Central
Force (Vice Admiral Hirose Sueto) lands Army 56th Regimental Combat Group and 2d Kure Special [Naval]
Landing Force at Tarakan; naval paratroops (1st Yokosuka Special Landing Force) occupy Menado. Eastern
Force (Rear Admiral Kubo Kuji) then follows up the airborne assault on Menado with 1st Special Landing
Force going ashore at Menado and Kema, Celebes. These operations will secure control of the northern
approaches to the Java Sea.
January 15, Thursday, 1942
American-British-Dutch-Australian (ABDA) Supreme Command is established at the Grand Hotel, Lembang,
Java. General Sir Archibald Wavell, British Army, assumes supreme command of all forces in area;
Lieutenant General George H. Brett, USAAF, is deputy commander; Admiral Thomas C. Hart is to command naval
forces. ABDA Command is dissolved on March 1, as the fall of Java looms.
January 22, Thursday, 1942
Allied forces evacuate Lae and Salamaua, New Guinea.
January 28, Wednesday, 1942
Japanese land on Rossel Island off New Guinea.
February 19, Thursday, 1942
Japanese carrier striking force (Vice Admiral Nagumo Chuichi) attacks Darwin, Australia; 189 planes
from carriers Akagi, Kaga, Hiryu and Soryu bomb shipping, airfields, and shore installations.
March 8, Sunday, 1942
Japanese naval force (Rear Admiral Kajioka Sadamichi) occupies Lae and Salamaua, New Guinea.
March 10, Tuesday, 1942
TF 11 (Vice Admiral Wilson Brown Jr.), which includes ships of TF 17 (Rear Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher),
on the heels of initial nuisance raids by RAAF Hudsons, attacks Japanese invasion fleet (Rear Admiral
Kajioka Sadamichi) off Lae and Salamaua, New Guinea. SBDs (VB 2, VS 2, VB 5, VS 5) and TBDs (VT 2, VT 5),
supported by F4Fs (VF 3 and VF 42) from carriers Lexington (CV-2) and Yorktown (CV-5) sink armed merchant
cruiser Kongo Maru, auxiliary minelayer Ten'yo Maru, and transport Yokohama Maru; and damage light cruiser
Yubari; destroyers Yunagi, Asanagi, Oite, Asakaze, and Yakaze; minelayer Tsugaru; seaplane carrier
Kiyokawa Maru; transport Kokai Maru; and minesweeper No.2 Tama Maru (which sinks March 13). One SBD (VS 2)
is lost to antiaircraft fire. USAAF B-17s and RAAF Hudsons conduct follow up strikes but inflict no
appreciable additional damage. In a message to Prime Minister Churchill, President Roosevelt hails the
raid as "the best day's work we've had." The success of the U.S. carrier strike (the first time in which
two carrier air groups attack a common objective) convinces Japanese war planners that continued
operations in the New Guinea area will require carrier support, thus setting the stage for confrontation
in the Coral Sea (see 4-8 May).
Japanese invade Finschhafen, New Guinea.
March 17, Tuesday, 1942
United States, in agreement with Allied governments, assumes responsibility for the strategic defense
of entire Pacific Ocean.
March 30, Monday, 1942
Pacific War Council representing United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand,
Netherlands, and China is established in Washington, D.C., to plan war policy.
Joint Chiefs of Staff order Pacific Ocean divided into two commands: Pacific Ocean Areas (Admiral
Chester W. Nimitz) and Southwest Pacific Area (Lieutenant General Douglas MacArthur).
April 3, Friday, 1942
Admiral Chester W. Nimitz is named Commander in Chief Pacific Ocean Areas (CINCPOA); his command
encompasses the North, Central, and South Pacific. He retains his position as Commander in Chief Pacific
Fleet (CINCPAC).
May 7, Thursday, 1942
Battle of the Coral Sea resumes as Rear Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher's Allied force turns north to
engage Japanese Carrier Strike Force (Vice Admiral Takagi Takeo). Support Group (Rear Admiral John G.
Crace, RN) detached to intercept Port Moresby Invasion Force (Rear Admiral Abe Koso) is attacked by
Japanese land attack planes carrying torpedoes (4th Kokutai) or bombs (Genzan Kokutai); destroyer Farragut
(DD-348) is damaged by friendly fire while engaged in repelling air attack. Later, mistaken for Japanese
Port Moresby Invasion Force, Crace's ships are bombed by USAAF B-26s that straddle Australian heavy
cruiser HMAS Australia (flagship) and near-miss heavy cruiser Chicago (CA-29) and destroyer Perkins
(DD-377).
The Battle of the Coral Sea is the first engagement in modern naval history in which opposing warships
do not exchange a shot; all damage is inflicted by carrier aircraft. In halting the Japanese push
southward and blunting the seaborne thrust toward Port Moresby, Coral Sea is a strategic U.S. victory.
Japanese occupy Hollandia, New Guinea.
June 4, Thursday, 1942
The Battle of Midway, one of the most decisive battles in naval history, marks the turning point of
the Pacific War.
June 9, Tuesday, 1942
Lieutenant Commander Lyndon B. Johnson, USNR, in the South Pacific theater on a congressional
inspection tour, accompanies USAAF bombing mission, scheduled to attack Japanese installations at Lae,
New Guinea. Johnson is to go along as a passenger in a B-26 (19th Squadron, 22d Bomb Group). Engine
trouble, however, compels the pilot of Johnson's Marauder ("Heckling Hare") to abort the mission; the
plane never sees combat. Inexplicably, however, Johnson receives Silver Star for "gallantry." He goes on
to become the 36th President of the United States.
July 21, Tuesday, 1942
Japanese forces occupy Buna, New Guinea, having been frustrated in their attempt to capture Port
Moresby by sea (first at Lae-Salamaua and then at the Battle of the Coral Sea) in the first step of an
overland campaign to take the same objective.
July 22, Wednesday, 1942
USAAF planes (B-17s, B-25s and B-26s are utilized in the attacks) attack Japanese shipping off Buna,
New Guinea, damaging destroyer Uzuki and sinking army cargo ship Ayatosan Maru, 08°50'S, 148°50'E.
July 27, Monday, 1942
USAAF B-26s damage Japanese transport Kotoku Maru off Buna, New Guinea (see 8 August).
August 7, Friday, 1942
Operation WATCHTOWER: 1st Marine Division (Major General Alexander A. Vandegrift, USMC) lands on
Florida, Tulagi, Gavutu, Tanambogo, and Guadalcanal, in the first American land offensive of the war.
(November 12-15, Naval Battle of Guadalcanal.)
August 25, Tuesday, 1942
Japanese occupy Nauru, Gilberts, and Goodenough Island, off southeast coast of New Guinea.
August 26, Wednesday, 1942
Japanese land at Milne Bay, New Guinea; USAAF B-17s, B-25s, B-26s, P-40s, along with RAAF Hudsons,
attack beaches and transports while Australian troops attack the invaders.
August 29, Saturday, 1942
Australian destroyer HMAS Arunta sinks Japanese submarine RO-33 ten miles southeast of Port Moresby,
New Guinea, 09°36'S, 147°06'E.
September 16, Wednesday, 1942
Japanese overland assault on Port Moresby, New Guinea, "grinds to a halt" at Ioribaiwa.
November 2, Monday, 1942
USAAF B-17s sink Japanese army cargo ship Yasukawa Maru off Buna, New Guinea, 07°16'S, 156°00'E.
November 16, Monday, 1942
U.S. Army 32nd Division and Australian 7th Division land south of Buna, New Guinea.
November 18, Wednesday, 1942
USAAF B-17s damage Japanese destroyers Umikaze and Kawakaze off Buna, New Guinea.
November 24, Tuesday, 1942
USAAF B-17s and B-25s and RAAF Beaufighters sink Japanese destroyer Hayashio in Huon Gulf between Lae
and Finschafen, New Guinea, 07°00'S, 147°30'E, and damage torpedo boats Otori and Hiyodori east of Lae.
December 1, Tuesday, 1942
Japanese destroyer Isonami is damaged by planes (USAAF B-25s, B-26s, A-20s, and P-400s are all
involved in raids on Buna) off Buna, New Guinea.
December 8, Tuesday, 1942
USAAF B-17s and B-24s damage Japanese destroyers Asashio and Isonami off Buna, New Guinea.
December 18, Friday, 1942
Submarine Albacore (SS-218) torpedoes and sinks Japanese light cruiser Tenryu just off Madang harbor,
eastern New Guinea, 05°12'S, 145°56'E, and torpedoes armed merchant cruiser Gokoku Maru, 05°10'S, 145°57'E. Albacore survives counterattacks by escorting destroyer (Sukukaze or Isonami).
1943
January 2, Saturday, 1943
U.S. Army I Corps (Lieutenant General Robert Eichelberger) captures Buna, New Guinea, significantly
reducing the threat to Port Moresby.
January 5, Tuesday, 1943
USAAF B-17s and B-24s bomb Japanese shipping at Rabaul, New Guinea.
January 7, Thursday, 1943
USAAF B-17s, B-24s, B-25s and B-26s, supported by P-38s and P-40s, and RAAF or RNZAF Hudsons and RAF
Catalinas, set upon Japanese convoy bound for Lae, New Guinea. During these attacks, army cargo ship
Nichiryu Maru is sunk off Lae, 06°30'S, 149°00'E, and army cargo ship Myoko Maru is forced aground south
of Arawe, 06°49'S, 147°04'E (see 8 January).
January 8, Friday, 1943
USAAF B-17s, B-24s, B-25s and A-20s, supported by P-38s, attack Japanese convoy unloading off Lae,
New Guinea. Army cargo ship Myoko Maru, forced aground south of Arawe, 06°49'S, 147°04'E, the previous
day, is destroyed by bombs.
January 17, Sunday, 1943
Naval Base and Naval Air Station, Brisbane, Australia, are established. The Brisbane base will
eventually become the largest Navy facility in Australia. It will not be disestablished until 14 January
1946.
January 19, Tuesday, 1943
Japanese land at Wewak, New Guinea.
January 23, Saturday, 1943
Japanese planes bomb U.S. shipping in Milne Bay, New Guinea; fragments from near-misses damage
freighter Stephen Johnson Field. One Armed Guard sailor and one merchant crewman are injured; there are no
other casualties among the 23-man Armed Guard and 43 merchant seamen.
January 24, Sunday, 1943
Submarine Wahoo (SS-238) damages Japanese
destroyer Harusame eleven miles west of Wewak, New Guinea, 03°23'S, 143°34'E.
January 26, Tuesday, 1943
Submarine WAHOO (SS-238) attacks Japanese
convoy about 270 miles north of Dutch New Guinea and torpedoes and sinks army cargo ships Buyo Maru and
No.2 Fukuei Maru, 02°00'N, 139°14'E. After dispatching the freighters, which are serving as transports,
Wahoo (Lieutenant Commander Dudley W. Morton) surfaces to recharge her batteries and mans her guns. Firing
er 4-inch gun at the largest of the craft draws Japanese return fire from automatic weapons. As Morton
later writes, "We then opened fire with everything we had." Subsequently, Wahoo pursues and torpedoes
armed merchant cruiser Ukishima Maru, 02°37'N, 139°42'E, and army cargo ship Pacific Maru, 02°30'N,
139°44'E (see 27 January).
January 27, Wednesday, 1943
Japanese ship No.2 Choko Maru rescues about 1,000 survivors of army cargo ship Buyo Maru, sunk the
previous day by submarine Wahoo (SS-238).
February 2, Tuesday, 1943
USAAF B-24s (5th Air Force) sink Japanese cargo vessel Kenkoku Maru while en route from Kokope to New
Guinea, between Lolobau Island and New Britain, 04°58'S, 151°12'E.
February 14, Sunday, 1943
Submarine Runner (SS-476) unsuccessfully
attacks Japanese cargo vessel Tokyo Maru north of Biak, New Guinea, 07°31'N, 134°21'E.
03/02 Tuesday.
Battle of the Bismarck Sea (2-5 March) opens as United States Army and Australian aircraft bomb 8
Japanese transports escorted by 8 destroyers in Bismarck Sea en route to Lae, New Guinea. Aircraft and
motor torpedo boast attacks continue until all transports and four destroyers are sunk.
03/17 Wednesday.
United States naval vessels sunk:
Motor Torpedo Boat
PT-67
and PT-119, by fire, eastern New
Guinea area, 09 d. 02' S., 149 d. 20' E.
08/08 Sunday.
United States naval vessel lost:
Motor Torpedo Boat
PT-113, by grounding, eastern New
Guinea area, 09 d. 12' S.,146 d. 29' E.; beached and abandoned.
09/04 Saturday.
United States naval force (Rear Adm. D. E. Barbey) lands Australian troops on Huon Peninsula, near Lae,
New Guinea. United States naval vessels damaged:
Destroyer CONYNGHAM (DD-371)
by dive bomber, eastern New Guinea, 07 d. 28' S., 147 d.44' E.
Tank Landing Ship LST 471 and
Tank Landing Ship LST 473, by torpedo and dive
bombers, eastern New Guinea area, 07 d. 45' s., 148 d. 01' E.
09/08 Wednesday.
Four United States destroyers bombard Lae, New Guinea.
09/12 Sunday.
United States naval vessel damaged: Tank
Landing Ship LST 455, by dive bomber, eastern New Guinea area, 08 d. 59' S., 149 d. 10' E.
09/17 Friday.
United States naval vessel sunk:
PT-136, damaged by grounding,
eastern New Guinea area, 05 d. 55' S., 148 dl 01' E.; sunk by United States forces.
09/22 Wednesday.
United States naval force of destroyers and landing craft (Rear Adm. D. E. Barbey) puts Australian
troops ashore at Finschhafen, New Guinea.
09/30 Thursday.
PT-68, damaged by grounding,
eastern New Guinea area, 05 d. 56' S., 147 d. 18' E.; sunk by United States forces.
10/03 Sunday.
United States naval vessel sunk:
Destroyer HENLEY (DD-391), by submarine
torpedo, eastern New Guinea area, 07 d. 40' S., 148 d. 06' E.
11/19 Friday.
United States naval vessel sunk:
PT-147, damaged by grounding,
eastern New Guinea area, 05 d. 55' S., 147 d. 20' E.; sunk by United States forces.
11/23 Tuesday.
United States naval vessel sunk:
PT-322, by grounding, eastern New
Guinea area, 06 d. 09' S., 147 d. 36' E.; sunk by United States forces.
01/01 Saturday.
United States naval vessels damaged:
Destroyers SMITH (DD-378), by collision,
eastern New Guinea area, 05 d. 00' S., 146 d. 00' E. LST 446, and
Destroyer HUTCHINGS (DD-476) by
accidental explosion, Solomon Islands area, 06 d. 15' S., 155 d. 02' E.
01/02 Sunday.
Army troops land at Saidor, New Guinea, under cover of cruisers and destroyers (Rear Adm. D. E. Barbey).
01/04 Tuesday.
United States naval vessel sunk:
PT-145, damaged by grounding,
eastern New Guinea area, 05 d. 34' S., 146 d. 10' E.; sunk by United States forces.
01/26 Wednesday.
Cruiser and destroyer task group (Rear Adm. R. S. Berkey) bombards enemy installations in Madang-
Alexischafen area of New Guinea.
02/01 Tuesday.
United States Naval Base, Finschhafen, New Guinea, is established.
02/10 Thursday.
United States naval vessel damaged:
Tank Landing Ship LST 170, by horizontal bomber,
eastern New Guinea area, 08 d. 39' S., 148 d. 27' E.
02/28 Monday.
United States naval vessel damaged:
Destroyer ABNER READ (DD-526), by
grounding, eastern New Guinea area, 08 d. 44' S., 148 d. 27' E.
03/01 Wednesday.
United States Naval Base, Milne Bay, New Guinea is established.
03/07 Tuesday.
United States naval vessel sunk:
PT-337, by coastal defense gun,
eastern New Guinea area, 04 d. 09' S., 144 d. 50' E.
03/18 Saturday.
Destroyers bombard enemy in Wewak area, New Guinea; bombardment continues on 19 March.
03/20 Monday.
Japanese naval vessels sunk: Auxiliary submarine chasers Nos. 47 and 49, by Army aircraft, north of
New Guinea, 02 d. 55' S., 143 d. 40' E.
04/21 Friday.
Naval task force (Vice Adm. M. A. Mitscher), including carriers, battleships, cruisers, and destroyers,
bombs and bombards enemy airfields and defensive positions at Hollandia, Wakde, Sawar, and Sarmi areas of
New Guinea; attacks continue on 22 April.
Some of the US Navy ships which supported the Hollandia Landings April 21-24, 1944 (Source:
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, DANFS):
Baltimore (CA-68) cruiser,
Bataan (CVL-29) carrier,
Belleau Wood (CVL-24), carrier,
Biloxi (CL-80) cruiser,
Brown (DD-546) destroyer,
Case (DD-370) destroyer,
Chenango (CVE-28) escort aicraft carrier,
Cowpens (CVL-25) carrier,
Dyson (DD-672) destroyer,
Ellet (DD-398) destroyer,
Hale II (DD-642) destroyer,
Levy (DE-162) escort aicraft carrier,
Massachusetts (BB-59) battleship,
Pyro (AE-1) ammunition ship,
Swanson (DD-443) destroyer.
04/22 Saturday.
Army forces land at Aitape, Tanahmerah Bay, and Humboldt Bay in New Guinea. The assault operation is
under the control of Rear Adm. D. E. Barbey and supported by gunfire and carrier-based aircraft from Vice
Adm. M. A. Mitscher's carrier task force.
04/27 Thursday.
United States naval vessel sunk: Cargo ship
ETAMIN (AK-93), by aircraft torpedo, western New Guinea area, 03 d. 09' S., 142 d. 24' E.
05/17 Wednesday.
Army troops land at Wakde-Toem area, New Guinea, preceded by cruiser and destroyer bombardment (Rear
Adm. R. S. Berkey).
05/27 Saturday.
Army forces land on Biak in the Schouten Islands off New Guinea under cover of naval gunfire from
cruiser and destroyer force (Rear Adm. W. M. Fechteler). United States naval vessel sunk:
PT-339, damaged by grounding in
western New Guinea area, 04 d. 01' S., 144 d. 41' E.; sunk by United States forces. United States naval
vessel damaged: Submarine chaser SC-699, by suicide plane, western New Guinea area, 01 d. 12 S., 136 d.
13' E.
05/28 Sunday.
United States naval vessel damaged:
Destroyer STOCKTON (DD-646), by coastal
defense gun, Biak Island, Schouten Islands, off New Guinea, 01 d. 00' S., 136 d. 00' E.
06/03 Saturday.
United States naval vessel damaged:
Destroyer REID (DD-369), by dive bomber,
western New Guinea area, 01 d. 13' S., 136 d. 13' E.
06/04 Sunday.
Japanese aircraft attack Allied cruiser and destroyer force (Rear Adm. V.A.C. Crutchley, RN) off Biak,
New Guinea; two United States light cruisers area damaged. United States naval vessels damaged:
Light cruiser NASHVILLE (CL-43), by
horizontal bomber, western New Guinea area, 01 d. 05' S., 136 d. 05' E.,
Light cruiser PHOENIX (CL-46),
by horizontal bomber, western New Guinea area, 01 d. 00' S., 136 d. 00' E.
06/07 Wednesday.
United States Naval Advanced Base, Hollandia, New Guinea, is established.
06/08 Thursday.
Beginning shortly before midnight and continuing on 9 June, an Allied naval force (Rear Adm. V.A.C.
Crutchley, RN), including 2 United States light cruisers and destroyers, intercepts and turns back 5
Japanese destroyers attempting to reinforce Biak Island, in the Schouten Islands off New Guinea. Japanese
naval vessel sunk: Destroyer HARUSAME, by Army aircraft, Biak area, New Guinea.
06/11 Sunday.
United States Naval Base, Biak Island, Schouten Islands, is established.
06/12 Monday.
United States naval vessel damaged:
Destroyer KALK (DD-611), by horizontal
bomber, western New Guinea area, 01 d. 19' S., 136 d. 19' E.
06/24 Saturday.
United States naval vessel sunk:
PT-193, damaged by grounding,
western New Guinea area, 00 d. 55' S., 134 d. 52' E.
07/02 Sunday.
Allied naval force (Rear Adm. W. M. Fechteler, USN) lands Army troops on Noemfoor Island off
Netherlands New Guinea.
07/15 Saturday.
United States naval vessel sunk:
PT-133, coastal defense gun,
eastern New Guinea, 03 d. 28'S., 143 d. 34'E.
07/30 Sunday.
Naval task force (Rear Adm. W. M. Fechteler) lands Army troops near Cape Opmarai, northwest New
Guinea, and on off- shore islands of Amsterdam and Middleburg. The following day troops make shore to
shore movement to Cape Sansapor.
10/11 Wednesday.
United States naval vessel sunk:
PT-368, by grounding, western New
Guinea area, 01 d. 59'N., 127 d. 57'E.
11/07 Tuesday.
United States naval vessel damaged:
PT-301, by accidental explosion,
western New Guinea area, 01 d. 15'S., 136 d. 23'E.
Other ships that supported the operations in New Guinea: Bataan (CVL-29) Belleau Wood (CVL-24) Bunker Hill (CV-17) Cassiopeia (AK-75) (Hospitalship) Comfort (AH-6) Long Beach (PF-34) Phoenix (CL46) Skowhegan (PCE-843).
3. U.S. Airforce
USAF Museum - WWII Combat Pacific -
Victory in New Guinea 1943-1944
4. U.S. Coastguard
The Coast Guard and the Pacific War
Hollandia
In April 1944, MacArthur decided to push 250 miles to the northwest of Finschafen, and seize the
coastal area at Hollandia and Aitape. At dawn April 22, amphibious forces landed on the shores of Humbolt
Bay and Tanahmerah Bay with little or no opposition. The Coast Guard had 21 manned or partially manned
LSTs (Tank Landing Ships), transports and
frigates attached to the invasion forces. These landings completely surprised the Japanese who fled into
the interior and lost towns and airfields with little or no fight.
On the night of April 21, 1944, the Coast Guard-manned cargo ship
Etamin (AK-93), sailed as part of a 161-vessel
task force, including 20 other Coast Guard vessels, organized to make landings at Hollandia, Tanahmerah
Bay and Aitape. At 5:45 a.m. the vessel entered the harbor with the rest of the Eastern Attack Group.
On the night of April 27, Japanese torpedo planes attacked the amphibious vessels at anchor. At 11 p.m.
one swung in low off the starboard side of the Etamin and released a torpedo. It struck the starboard side
about 10 feet above the keel in the number-five hold and ruptured the shell plating and the shaft alley.
The blast sprayed gasoline over the after part of the ship, but the gas did not immediately catch fire.
As the hold and the engine room flooded, gas fumes came in contact with the boilers and ignited. The
engine room exploded in flames and all hands fought the fire as the stern rapidly settled. The crew
abandoned ship with the loss of only two of the ship's complement of 200 Coast Guardsmen and 150 Army
troops. Fortunately, this was the only serious damage suffered by any of the naval vessels during the
Hollandia operation.
In May, naval units approached Wakde Island, 115 miles west of Hollandia. On May 17, American and
Australian warships bombarded the island before the Naval and Coast Guard LSTs amphibious units landed
their men. There was no opposition to the landing and by evening the Allies established an eight-mile
beachhead. The Americans had to kill the Japanese to the man before finally securing the island and its
airfield on the evening of May 19.
On July 2, several weeks after the Normandy invasion and with a great amphibious force striking the
Marianas, the Coast Guard participated in the landings at the island of Noemfoor which lies between Biak
Island and New Guinea. Here eight Coast Guard-manned LSTs landed troops. At the edge of the reef that lay
around the island, cargoes had to be transferred from the LSTs into smaller and more shallow-draft
LCIs
(Landing Craft Infantry).
The Coast Guard-manned frigates El Paso (PF41),
Orange (PF43) and
San Pedro (PF37) also served to screen the
landing operations from enemy submarines and aircraft, and provided close fire support. On July 2, the
landings went off as planned and the island and its three airfields were in Allied hands within four days.
Mopping-up actions lasted until the end of August.
At the end of July, MacArthur sent an amphibious expeditionary force to Cape Sansapor, New Guinea. By
doing so he made a 200-mile jump from his previous most advanced position. For all purposes this would
finish his amphibious operations in New Guinea and he would be ready to strike the Philippines and fulfill
his earlier promise to the Philippine people to return. The Coast Guard-manned
LSTs
18,
22, 26, 66, 67, 68, 170,
202, 204 and
206 all took part in the landings and the
follow-up activity. The Coast Guard-manned frigates
Bisbee (PF46),
Coronado (PF38),
Eugene (PF40),
Gallup (PF47),
Glendale (PF36),
Long Beach (PF34),
San Pedro (PF37),
Van Buren (PF42) performed offshore patrols
during the landings.
The conquest of the Marianas and New Guinea cleared the approaches to the Philippines except for two
groups of islands. Before proceeding, the Allies needed to capture the Caroline group that included
Peleliu, Angaur, Ngesbus, Ulithi and Ngulu, and the islands of Morotai and Halmahera in the Moluccas.
5. U.S. Army.
WWII: War against Japan American
Military History, Office of the Chief of Military History, Unites States Army
Invasion of Wakde Island,
American Army troops of the 163rd Infantry Regiment storm the beach. May 17, 1944.
Last updated May 19, 2005 |
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