MacArthur planned, instead of attacking Hansa Bay, to move the entire 800 km farther west by decisive maneuver only, bypassing Hansa Bay, even circumventing the major Japanese strongpoint of Wewak, to strike at Hollandia and Aitape bases, thereby entrapping the 40 000 Japanese troops located at Hansa Bay and Wewak. (Milo Hubáček - Ofenzíva v Pacifiku, Mladá fronta 2000)
Article on English Wikipedia (1)
Article on English Wikipedia (2)
Article on English Wikipedia (3)| Scenario in dates: |
| December 5, 1936: |
Dutch East Indies - A Dutch mountaineering-geological expedition reaches the glacier-covered ultra-prominent summit of Carstensz Pyramid, New Guinea´s highest mountain. Geologist Jean Jacques Dozy, a member of the expedition, discovers a deposit of copper ore and gold in the locality, which in the 1980s will turn into the mega-giant mine Grasberg, the largest gold mine and the third largest copper mine in the world, notable also for its unusual height above sea level, around 3000 m. The second time (and for the first time glacier free) the peak was achieved in 1962 by the Austrian alpinist and former member of the SS Heinrich Harrer, who is especially famous for his story described in the book Seven Years in Tibet. |
| October 15, 1943: |
In New Guinea - The Japanese mount an air attack on Allied positions in Oro Bay. Japanese planes suffer heavy losses. |
| March 4, 1943: |
In the Bismark Sea - The Japanese convoy carrying troops of the 51st Division is again struck by Allied planes from the 5th Air Force. PT-boats join the at attacks. Over the course of the three days, all the Japanese transport, as well as 4 destroyers are sunk and at least 3500 troops are lost. Australian and American air forces have shot down 25 planes for the loss of 5 of their own. This is considered a serious defeat by the Japanese and a setback for their defense of New Guinea. |
| March 9, 1943: |
In New Guinea - There are heavy Japanese attacks on Wau. |
| April 26, 1943: |
From Washington - New plans are approved for the Solomon Islands operatoins (code named "Cartwheel"). Admiral Halsey´s South Pacific Area forces are to advance through New Georgia and Bougainville. MacArthur´s Southwest Pacific Area is to continue its advance northwest along the coast of New Guinea until he and Halsey can link up to isolate the Japanese bases at Rabaul and Kavieng. |
| September 2, 1943: |
New Guinea - An American Fighter Ace Captain Georg Welch, who was one of the few to take off against attacking Japanese aircraft and shoot down most of them during the attack on Pearl Harbor, completes his last successful combat mission. In the ranks of the 80th Fighter Squadron, he shot down three Zeros over Wewak and later over Madang, another Japanese twin-engine reconnaissance aircraft Ki-46. In mid-September 1943, his third operational tour will ende and he will return to the United States with a final score of 16 confirmed victories. |
| September 27, 1943: |
In New Guinea - There are Allied air attack on Japanese airfields around Wewak. |
| September 28, 1943: |
In New Guinea - There are Allied air attack on Japanese airfields around Wewak. |
| January 2, 1944: |
In New Guinea - US Task Force 38 (Admiral Barbey) lands 2400 troops of the 126th Regiment (General Martin) of the 32nd Division at Saidor. Both the airfield and the harbor are secured. An Allied cruiser and destroyer force TF 74, led by British Admiral Crutchley, provides cover for the landing. To the east, Australian forces advance to Sialum. |
| January 11, 1944: |
In New Guinea - Elements of the US 32nd Division, at Saidor, complete repairs to the airfield. |
| January 23, 1944: |
In New Guinea - Australian forces in the Ramu valley advance up the Finisterre Range toward Shaggy Ridge, taking Kankiryo Saddle. Allied air superiority in the area influences the battle. |
| January 25, 1944: |
In New Guinea - Australian forces capture Shaggy Ridge, overlooking the Ramu valley. |
| February 10, 1944: |
In New Guinea - Australian forces advancing from Sio link up with American forces near Saidor. Allied forces now occupy most of the Huon Peninsula. |
| February 24, 1944: |
In New Guinea - American forces reach Biliau near Cape Iris. |
| March 5, 1944: |
In New Guinea - Two battalions of the US 126th Infantry Regiment land at Yalau Plantation, 30 miles west of Saidor. There is almost no Japanese opposition. |
| March 16, 1944: |
In New Guinea - US aircraft strike a Japanese convoy off Wewak. |
| March 18, 1944: |
In New Guinea - Allied destroyers bombard the Japanese base at Wewak during the night (March 18-19). |
| March 21, 1944: |
In New Guinea - US forces moving west from Yalau Plantation link up with Australian forces advancing north, from inland, on the Huon Peninsula. |
| April 12, 1944: |
Over New Guinea - Captain Richard Ira Bong, flying his P-38 "Marge" fighter, shots down his 26th and 27th Japanese aircraft, surpassing as first US pilot Eddie Rickenbacker´s American record of 26 credited victories in World War I. He became an US "Ace of Aces" and will stay on the top until the end of war with final score 40 Japanese aircraft downed. |
| April 13, 1944: |
In New Guinea - Australian forces capture Bogadjim. |
| April 21, 1944: |
In New Guinea - US Task Force 58 (Admiral Mitscher) attacks Wakde Island, Sawar, Sarmi and Hollandia. The American force includes 12 carriers and cruisers. Aircraft strike during the day and cruisers bombard the Japanese positions at night. |
| April 22, 1944: |
In New Guinea - American forces begin operations against Japanese positions at Hollandia and nearby. The US I Corps (General Eichelberger) lands at Aitape, Tanahmerah Bay and Humboldt Bay. The American force totals 84,000 men. Task Force 77 (Admiral Barbey) provides transport for the landing force. Cruiser forces under the command of Admiral Crutchley and Admiral Berkey provide a covering force. Task Force 58 (Admiral Mitscher) provides additional naval support. The Japanese forces number 11,000 under the command of General Adachi. The operation proves a surprise and the Japanese retire inland. |
| April 23, 1944: |
In New Guinea - Advancing US forces capture Hollandia without a fight. Tadji airfield is also taken. The advance inland encounters resistance near the village of Sabron. There is congestion on the beachheads. |
| April 24, 1944: |
In New Guinea - American forces reach Lake Sentani near Hollandia. To the east, Australian forces advancing from the Huon Peninsula capture Madang. |
| April 25, 1944: |
In New Guinea - Allied forces continue to advance. There are reinforcements landed at Humboldt Bay. |
| April 26, 1944: |
In New Guinea - The American beachheads at Tanahmerah Bay and Humboldt Bay are linked up. Australian forces, to the east, capture Alexishafen, west of Madang. |
| April 27, 1944: |
In New Guinea - US troops occupy the main airstrip at Hollandia. |
| April 28, 1944: |
In New Guinea - American and Japanese forces, moving west from Wewak, engage near Aitape. |
| April 29, 1944: |
In New Guinea - Captured Japanese airfields at Hollandia and Aitape become operational. |
| May 6, 1944: |
Dutch East Indies - In the Celebes Sea, the USS Gurnard (SS-254) submarine is attacking a Japanese transport ships convoy Take-Ichi carrying reinforcements from China to New Guinea. In one of the most devastating attacks of a single submarine against a heavily defended convoy, 3 Japanese transport shipsof total 20,000 tons are sunk. The shipped Japanese 32nd and 35th Infantry Divisions of experienced veterans are decimated and the Japanese High Command decides to abandon further strengthening of western New Guinea based on the convoy´s fate. |
| May 9, 1944: |
In New Guinea - Japanese forces skirmish with American forces on the beachheads around Hollandia. |
| May 10, 1944: |
In New Guinea - Japanese forces continue to skirmish with American forces on the beachheads around Hollandia. |
| May 11, 1944: |
In New Guinea - Japanese forces continue to skirmish with American forces on the beachheads around Hollandia. |
| May 12, 1944: |
In New Guinea - Japanese forces continue to skirmish with American forces on the beachheads around Hollandia. |
| May 13, 1944: |
In New Guinea - Japanese forces continue to skirmish with American forces on the beachheads around Hollandia. |
| May 16, 1944: |
In New Guinea - American forces move from Hollandia toward Wakde Island. |
| May 17, 1944: |
In the Dutch East Indies - Allied aircraft carriers HMS Illustrious and Saratoga (CV-3) raid oil installations at Surabaya, on Java, as part of Operation Transom, timed to coincide with the Wakde landings. Battleships of the British Eastern Fleet (Admiral Sommerville) provide escort. The Japanese lose 1 freighter and 12 aircraft on the ground. Only 1 Allied plane is lost. During the night, land-based Liberator bombers raid the installations again. After the attack, Saratoga is called to Pearl Harbor back to the US Navy. |
| May 17, 1944: |
In New Guinea - US forces land on Insoemanai Island, the smaller one of two islands consisting Wakde Islands, and at Arare on the mainland nearby. British admiral Crutchley and US Admiral Berkey command two task forces of US and Australian cruisers and destroyers covering the landings. |
| May 18, 1944: |
In New Guinea - The US 163rd Infantry Regiment (General Doe) lands on Insoemoar Island under cover fire from Insoemanai Island and advance to capture Wakde airfield. |
| May 19, 1944: |
In New Guinea - On Insoemoar Island, the remnants of the Japanese garrison falls back to the northeast corner of the island. |
| May 20, 1944: |
In New Guinea - American forces have eliminated the Japanese garrison on Wakde. On the mainland, nearby, Japanese forces conduct weak attacks near Arare. |
| May 21, 1944: |
In New Guinea - The American beachhead at Arare is reinforces and the airfield at Wakde is repaired. |
| May 22, 1944: |
In New Guinea - Japanese forces attack US positions around Aitape. American forces make some withdrawals. |
| May 23, 1944: |
In New Guinea - American forces encounter heavy resistance in their advance westward from Arare toward Sarmi. At Aitape, Japanese attacks continue to force the Americans to fall back. |
| May 25, 1944: |
In New Guinea - American forces advancing from Arare cross the Tirfoam River after engaging Japanese defenders. |
| May 27, 1944: |
In New Guinea - On Biak Island, the US 41st Infantry Division (General Fuller) lands near Bosnek. Naval escort for the landing is provided by cruisers and destroyers under the command of Admiral Fechteler. The forces of Admiral Crutchley and Admiral Berkey provide support. The Japanese garrison, led by Colonel Kuzume, numbers about 11,000 men but it does not resist the landings. On the mainland, American troops make limited gains in their advance toward Sarmi. |
| May 28, 1944: |
From Sydney - General MacArthur announces that, strategically, the campaign for New Guinea has been won although there is still some hard fighting to be done. |
| May 28, 1944: |
In New Guinea - On Biak Island, the US 41st Infantry Division begins to expand its beachhead. There is heavy fighting near the village of Mokmer, where an airfield is located, and the American battalion pulls back. |
| May 29, 1944: |
In New Guinea - On Biak Island, as well as Arare on the mainland, the American beachheads are heavily attacked by Japanese forces. The Japanese garrison on Biak makes use of tanks to force the US 162nd Regiment back towards its landing zone. |
| May 31, 1944: |
In the Bismarck Sea - The destroyer USS England (DE-635) sinks the Japanese submarine RO-105, northwest of the island of New Ireland. This is the sixth successful attack on a submarine by this vessel in twelve days. Her sinking of six Japanese submarines (I-16, RO-106, RO-104, RO-116, RO-108, RO-105) in twelve days is a feat unparalleled in the history of antisubmarine warfare. |
| May 31, 1944: |
In New Guinea - US forces reduce their perimeter near Arare. All the American beachheads on the north coast experience significant Japanese attacks. Meanwhile, to the east, Australian forces capture Bunabum. |
| June 1, 1944: |
In New Guinea - On Biak Island, American forces resume their offensive and the infantry gain some ground with armored support. On the mainland, Japanese forces continue their attacks around the Aitape beachhead and the American defenders continue to fall back. |
| June 2, 1944: |
In New Guinea - Fighting continues on Biak Island. American forces aim to capture the airfields in the center of the island. These airfields have been used as the base for Japanese attacks on island group Wakde. |
| June 3, 1944: |
In New Guinea - Japanese forces make an unsuccessful attempt to ship reinforcements to the garrison on Biak Island. US forces on Biak advance against heavy resistance. |
| June 5, 1944: |
In New Guinea - On Biak, elements of the US 41st Division continue to advance, reducing pockets of Japanese resistance. On the mainland, near Aitape, American forces evacuate one of their beachheads because of continuing Japanese attacks. The Japanese forces are sustaining heavy losses. |
| June 6, 1944: |
In New Guinea - On Biak, elements of the US 41st Division prepare to advance on Mokmer Airfield while other elements are engaged near Ibdi. On Wakde Islands, two Japanese Betty bombers from base on Moluccas, manage to counter over Wakde Airfield in bad weather and drop a chain of bombs between rows of parked American planes. 6 bombers and fighters are destroyed and 80 are damaged. At this stage of the war, it is an extraordinary success of the Japanese Air Force. |
| June 7, 1944: |
In New Guinea - On Biak Island, elements of US 41st Division capture Mokmer Airfield. Japanese resistance continues. |
| June 8, 1944: |
In New Guinea - Fighting continues on Biak Island. A Japanese attempt to ship reinforcements to Biak is intercepted by the cruiser squadron commanded by Admiral Crutchley. It is forced to retreat. On the mainland, at the American beachhead around Aitape, US forces begin counterattacking. |
| June 13, 1944: |
In New Guinea - On Biak, American forces reduce the scattered Japanese resistance from caves in the east of the island. US aircraft are operating from Mokmer Airfield. |
| June 15, 1944: |
In New Guinea - On Biak Island, the Japanese conduct an unsuccessful counterattack. On the mainland, farther east, Australian forces occupy Hansa Bay. |
| June 19, 1944: |
In New Guinea - On Biak, the reinforced US 41st Division launches attacks against Japanese strongpoints in the west of the island. |
| June 20, 1944: |
In New Guinea - On Biak, there is fighting among the Japanese-held caves in the west of the island. The airfields and villages at Borokoe and Sorido are overrun by American forces. |
| June 22, 1944: |
In New Guinea - On Biak, American forces conduct a series of attacks which are believed to clear Japanese resistance in the west but experience renewed Japanese activity during the night. On the mainland, fighting continues near Aitape and Sarmi. |
| June 28, 1944: |
In New Guinea - On Biak, the American divisional force, now commanded by General Doe, clears the Japanese-held caves in the western part of the island. |
| June 29, 1944: |
In New Guinea - Australian forces advancing from Wewak reach the Sepik River, 70 mile to the west. On Biak, American forces mop up lingering Japanese resistance. |
| July 2, 1944: |
In New Guinea - There are Allied landing on Numfoor Island. About 7100 troops, including elements of the US 168th Infantry Division and Australian forces, under the command of US General Patrick establish a beachhead on the north coast near Kamiri Airfield. There is no Japanese resistance. Admiral Fechteler commands the naval support with US Task Force 74 and Task Force 75 providing escort and a preliminary bombardment. On Biak Island, remnants of the Japanese force continue to resist. |
| July 3, 1944: |
In New Guinea - On Numfoor, the Allied forces expand their beachhead. A parachute battalion is dropped at Kamiriz Airfield which is captured with heavy casualties. |
| July 4, 1944: |
In the Mariana Islands - Elements of US Task Force 58 attack Guam Island with carrier aircraft. |
| July 4, 1944: |
In New Guinea - On Numfoor Island, the Kornasoren airfield is captured by Allied forces. A second parachute battalion is dropped and suffers heavy casualties. |
| July 5, 1944: |
In New Guinea - On Numfoor, the Japanese garrison counterattacks the Allied beachhead but fails to make progress. American forces prepare to assault the third airfield on the island, at Namber. |
| July 6, 1944: |
In New Guinea - On Numfoor, American forces capture Namber airfield. Allied fighter aircraft are flown in. |
| July 10, 1944: |
In New Guinea - Around Aitape, Japanese forces begin new attacks along the line of the Driniumor River. |
| July 11, 1944: |
In New Guinea - American forces around Aitape pull back from the Driniumor River under pressure from Japanese forces. |
| July 13, 1944: |
In New Guinea - Around Aitape, the US 128th Regiment falls back to the Driniumor River. On Numfoor the final pockets of Japanese resistance are being cleared. |
| July 14, 1944: |
In New Guinea - Task Force 74 (Commodore Collins) bombards Japanese positions near Aitape, between Yakamul and But. |
| July 21, 1944: |
In New Guinea - Japanese forces launch further attacks over the Driniumor River, near Aitape. American forces hold the offensive. |
| July 26, 1944: |
In New Guinea - The fighting around Aitape continues. On the islands of Biak and Numfoor, Japanese resistance continues as well. |
| July 28, 1944: |
Moluccas - during a P-38 bomber escort mission with the 433rd Fighter Squadron in the Ceram area, Charles Lindbergh shoots down a Mitsubishi Ki-51 "Sonia" observation plane, piloted by Captain Saburo Shimada, commanding officer of the 73rd Independent Chutai. During six months service in Pacific as a civilian technical advisor, Lindbergh introduced engine-leaning techniques to P-38 pilots, greatly improving fuel consumption at cruise speeds, enabling the long-range fighter aircraft to fly longer range missions. |
| July 29, 1944: |
In the Mariana Islands - On Tinian, the American forces now occupy more than half the island. Japanese resistance is increasing. |
| July 29, 1944: |
On New Guinea - On Biak the last pocket of organized Japanese resistance, around Ibdi, is eliminated. On the mainland, near Aitape, American forces fall back at Afua under pressure from Japanese forces. |
| July 30, 1944: |
In New Guinea - The US 6th Division (Sibert) lands unopposed on the islands of Amsterdam and Middleburg, off Cape Sansapor. Task Force 78 (Admiral Berkey) provides naval support. |
| July 31, 1944: |
In New Guinea - An American battalion is landed west of Cape Sansapor from the offshore islands. At Aitape, American forces counterattack the Japanese forces along the Driniumor River. |
| August 17, 1944: |
In New Guinea - Near Aitape, American forces extend their line in a general advance against light Japanese resistance. On Numfoor, the last significant Japanese force is brought to battle by American forces and destroyed. |
| August 20, 1944: |
In New Guinea - Americans announce that Japanese resistance on Biak Island has ended. The Japanese have suffered 4700 killed and 220 captured. US casualties are listed at 2550. |
| August 23, 1944: |
In New Guinea - The last Japanese resistance on the island of Numfoor is overcome and most of the American force is redeployed. |
| September 2, 1944: |
South Africa - In the town of Klerksdorp, Hendrikus Albertus Lorentz, a Dutch explorer who participated and later led several expeditions to the unexplored interior of New Guinea in the Dutch East Indies, dies. In New Guinea, the Lorentz River bears his name. |
| November 15, 1944: |
In the Mapia Atoll (on the North from New Giuneas peninsula Voglekop) - the 167th Regiment of the US 31st Infantry Division lands and eliminates the small Japanese garrison. Naval support is provided by an Anglo-American force commanded by British vice-admiral Baron Ashbourne. |
| December 31, 1944: |
In the Philippines - On Leyte, various Japanese counterattacks in the northwest are repulsed by American forces. Up to this point, the Japanese have suffered about 70,000 casualties, almost all killed, in the battles on Leyte. American casualties number 15,500 dead and wounded. The US 6th Army is being withdrawn from the island, in preparation for the invasion of Luzon, and the US 8th Army is replacing it. In the hills above Silad Bay, a tragic event occurs when the commander of the 32nd US Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop (Mechanized) Herman Bottcher dies during a Japanese mortar attack. Bottcher´s men had spent more than 40 days behind enemy lines when they were suddenly attacked by Japanese troops. Captain Herman Bottcher, who also achieved the rank of captain in the Republican Army during the Spanish Civil War, distinguished himself as a hero of the Battle of Buna in New Guinea. His merits stand out especially in light of the fact that he was a German who had only held American citizenship for one year at the time of his death. |
| July 30, 1945: |
In New Guinea - The Japanese 18th Army makes a last stand at the village of Numbogua. General Adachi, commanding the army, orders his troops "to die in honorable defeat." |
| August 24, 1945: |
In New Guinea - Forces of the Japanese 18th Army have been ordered to ceasefire but their commander says that he cannot order them to surrender until he receives instructions from Marshal Terauchi, the commander of the southern region. |
| August 27, 1945: |
In New Guinea - An armed truce has been declared. |
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| Literature sources: |  | najdr, Miroslav: Airacobra v amerických slubách : USAAF 1941-1944 (Aircobra in US service), Votobia, 1996, Olomouc |  | Jordan, David, Wiest Andrew: Atlas Of World War II., Ottovo nakladatelství, 2006, Praha |  . | Swanston, Alexander & Malcolm: The Historical Atlas of World War II, Columbus, 2007, Praha |  | Hubáček, Milo: Ofenzíva v Pacifiku (Offensive in Pacific), Mladá fronta, 2000, Praha |  | Hrbek, Jaroslav, Hrbek Ivan: Vítězství přichází z moře (Victory comes from sea), Nae vojsko, 1999, Praha | Dvořák, Pavel: Commonwealth Boomerang, HPM No. 3 a 4/1996
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