[16], By the end of the campaign, the Australians had lost 442 men killed and 1,141 wounded in battle. Aitape, Tadji, Battle of the Driniumor River: May 3rd - July 18th, 1944. Battlefield "Battle of the Driniumor River" Aitape - West Sepik. The captured airfield was ready for use within 48 hours of the attack and was soon in use by Kittyhawks from No.78 Wing, RAAF. The Battle of Driniumor River, also known as The Battle of Aitape, 10 July – 25 August 1944, was part of the Western New Guinea campaign of World War II. Japanese forces attacked United States forces on the Driniumor River, near Aitape in New Guinea. The landing was unopposed, as any Japanese troops on the coast had fled at the start of the naval bombardment. - Contact Us - Search - Recent - About Us -  Subscribe in a reader - Join our Google Group Jump to: General, Art, Business, Computing, Medicine, Miscellaneous, Religion, Science, Slang, Sports, Tech, Phrases We found one dictionary with English definitions that includes the word battle of aitape: Click on the first link on a line below to go directly to a page where "battle of aitape" is defined. Flotilla,[10] under the command of Bill Dovers, captain of Swan. Remembering the war in New Guinea Aitape–Wewak, 1944–45 (Photographs), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Aitape–Wewak_campaign&oldid=992691269, South West Pacific theatre of World War II, Battles and operations of World War II involving Japan, Battles and operations of World War II involving Papua New Guinea, Battles and operations of World War II involving Australia, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 6 December 2020, at 16:28. [8] While the advance was under way, the 17th Brigade was assigned the task of building a defensive position around the airfield and base facilities at Aitape, while the 16th Brigade was held back in reserve. The first unit to arrive was the 2/6th Cavalry Commando Regiment and they began patrolling operations almost immediately. Action During the Night of 10-11 July. [8], Initially tasked with the defence of the port, airfield and base facilities at Aitape, the 2/6th Cavalry Commando Regiment was ordered to advance towards Wewak to destroy the remnants of the Japanese 18th Army. On 16 March 1945, the airfields at But and Dagua on the coast were occupied, although fighting continued further inland from there over the course of the following fortnight as the Australians fought to gain control of the Tokuku Pass. Aitape Wewak World War II map When the Australians took over from the Americans at Aitape in September–November 1944, they found that their allies had followed a policy of staying within a relatively small perimeter and not mounting major offensives against the Japanese. [22], Nevertheless, at the time that the operation was planned there was no way for the Australian commanders to know when the war would come to an end and there were political and operational reasons to carry out the campaign. A week later, on 24 January 1945,[13] the 16th Brigade relieved the 19th, while the 17th Brigade continued the advance towards the west through the Torricellis. This site uses cookies to deliver our services, improve performance, for analytics, and (if not signed in) for advertising. Invasion Beach Aitape Aitape - West Sepik. The Battle of the Driniumor River Once Aitape was secured, 163 Regiment was pulled out for operations further west. The Battle of Driniumor River, also known as the Battle of Aitape, 10 July – 25 August 1944, was part of the Western New Guinea campaign of World War II. New Guinea during Throughout 1943 and into 1944, the Allies began a series of offensives in New Guinea and the surrounding area as they sought to reduce the main Japanese base around Rabaul on New Britain, as part of a general advance towards the Philippines that was planned for 1944 and 1945. The battle should not be co… During World War II Gallatin was commander of Aitape Attack Force in April 1944, commanded a Naval Attack Group during the battle of Wakde in May 1944, and was Commander of Amphibious Group Eight, during operations against enemy forces in Mindanao and Balikpapan in … A TEAM of Australian Army personnel have completed the exhuming of war casualties at Vokau village in Aitape, West Sepik, with the unveiling of a … [14], In the Torricelli Mountains, the 17th Brigade continued its advance against stubborn Japanese defence. The heaviest fighting came on 28-29 April when a small outpost was attacked by 200 Japanese troops, losing three dead and two wounded, but killing ninety of the Japanese in return. Both landings caught the Japanese entirely by surprise. The landings at Aitape were on a smaller scale than the landings at Hollandia, where most of two divisions were used. Aitape is a small town of about 18,000 people on the north coast of Papua New Guinea in the Sandaun Province. the Second World War The Japanese had built two airfields at Aitape. As a result, the Australian planning staff believed they faced three Japanese divisions—the 20th, 41st and 51st Divisions—all of which had been reduced to brigade-strength. Between November 1944 and the end of the war in August 1945, the Australian 6th Division, with air and naval support, fought the Imperial Japanese 18th Army in northern New Guinea. 4 Squadron. It suffered repeated bombing attacks by the United States and Royal Australian Air Forces, most notably on 17 August 1943, when heavy bombing and strafing by 150 Allied aircraft destroyed an estimated 50 percent of the Japanese aircraft on the ground. Recaptured by an American landing on 22 April 1944, it was developed as a base area to support the continuing drive towards the Philippines. With Japan on the verge of defeat, such casualties later led to the strategic necessity of the campaign being called into question. HMAS Hobart, Arunta, Warramunga, Swan and HMS Newfoundland (of the British Pacific Fleet) as well as the RAAF bombarded the Wewak defences. Most of the rest were the staff from the airfields, including ground crews and air crews, but five Allied air raids against the area in late March and early April had eliminated the vast majority of the Japanese aircraft, so the airmen could only be used as impromptu infantry. Elsewhere, the 19th Brigade had begun its assault on Wewak in early May. Flickr photos, groups, and tags related to the "aitape" Flickr tag. There was very little resistance in the area. Following this it was developed as base from which to support the continuing Allied drive towards the Philippines. Japanese forces attacked United States forces on the Driniumor River, near Aitape in New Guinea. [15], Following this, the remaining Japanese in the area withdrew into the Prince Alexander Mountains to the south of Wewak. SC-107 pointed to the Canadians as the weak link in the mid-ocean. Palazzo 2001, p. 184. The Aitape–Wewak campaign was one of the final campaigns of the Pacific Theatre of World War II. General Adachi was now totally isolated at Wewak and Hansa Bay. The main Allied effort came on the eastern flank, where troops were pushed some way east to watch for any Japanese troops approaching from Wewak. Largely these forces stayed inside a small defensive area around the airfield, and apart from the Battle of Driniumor River in July, the fighting was limited. The Japanese put up very little resistance at Aitape. Help - F.A.Q. The Landing at Aitape (code-named Operation Persecution) was a battle of the Western New Guinea campaign of World War II.American and Allied forces undertook an amphibious landing on 22 April 1944 at Aitape on northern coast of Papua New Guinea.The amphibious landing was undertaken simultaneously with the landings at Humboldt and Tanahmerah Bays to secure Hollandia to isolate the … Aitape had also been attacked by aircraft from the fast carriers of Admiral Mitscher's Task Force 58. [2][20], During the course of the campaign, the strategic necessity of the operation was called into question as it became clear that the fighting would have little impact upon the outcome of the war. It was replaced by 32 Division (Gill) on 4 May 1944. The Aitape - Wewak campaign was one of the final campaigns of the Pacific Theatre of World War II. [17][16] At this stage, word was received that the Japanese government had begun discussing terms for a possible surrender and so offensive operations were brought to a halt. The airfield at Tadji was securely in Allied hands and Aitape could now be used for a staging area to support further operations. On 22 April 1944, however, United States Army forces landed and recaptured the area. During the fighting, Japanese forces launched several attacks on United States forces on the Driniumor River, near Aitape in New Guinea, over the course of several weeks with the intention of retaking Aitape. Following their defeat on the Driniumor River in July, the Japanese commander, General Hatazo Adachi, withdrew his forces from their forward positions and in the lull that followed, Adachi's forces focused upon foraging operations into the Torricelli Mountains and Wewakas hunger and disease began to take its toll on the Japanese force. They had 1,000 men in the area, but only 200 or so were infantry. As preparations began for this drive, it was decided that defence of the area would be passed to Australian forces in order to release the American troops for service elsewhere. Considered a "mopping up" operation by the Australians, and although ultimately successful for them with the Japanese forces cleared from the coastal areas and driven inland, amidst difficult jungle conditions, casualties from combat and disease were high. A series of minor actions followed, but no significant engagements took place, and at the end of four weeks the Australians had reached Wallum, about 45 miles (72 km) east of Aitape. Between November 1944 and the end of the war in August 1945, the Australian 6th Division, with air and naval support, fought the Imperial Japanese 18th Army To counter this, the 16th Brigade was dispatched to follow them up, and push them towards the 17th Brigade which advanced towards the east towards Maprik. Progress was slowed by the difficulties of transporting supplies overland or by barge and the flash flooding of a number of the rivers the Australians had to cross. In 1942, the Japanese occupied the Aitape region in northern New Guinea as part of their general advance south. Hollandia had the best natural harbour on that part of the coast, and was the point from where MacArthur wanted to turn north to attack the Philippines, but it was a long way past the most advanced Allied positions. [7] Upon the arrival of the Australians, however, the 6th Division's commander, Major General Jack Stevens, decided to begin offensive operations, albeit on a limited scale, to clear the Japanese forces from the coastal area. [6], The Japanese troops in Aitape consisted of approximately 30,000 to 35,000 men from the Japanese 18th Army. Between November 1944 and the end of the war in August 1945, the Australian 6th Division, with air and naval support, fought the Imperial Japanese 18th Army in northern New Guinea. During this period there had been very little contact between the Japanese and US forces in the area, and US forces had remained on a primarily defensive footing, restricting their oper… The decisive battle of the Atlantic war was looming and any weakness in Allied escort forces had potentially disastrous consequences. After this he pulled back into Wewak, where he was left alone until the Australians took over the sector later in 1944 and carried out a fresh offensive. General Adachi made one attempt to restore the situation, or at least regain some pride, and launched an attack on the Americans positions on the Driniumor River east of Aitape (10 July -25 August 1944), but … … When they formed up as a group, that’s when the enemy opened fire. The name Battle of Aitape or Aitape campaign may refer to any one of three military actions in proximity to Aitape in the Western New Guinea campaign of 1944-45:. [15] These operations continued until 11 August, by which time the 16th Brigade had reached Numoikum, about 23 kilometres (14 mi) from Wewak, while the 17th Brigade had captured Kairivu, 24 kilometres (15 mi) from Wewak. At that point in time, I was running … a 2-inch mortar* crew. We lost most of our platoon right there. [16] Meanwhile, the 19th Brigade came up against strongly defended positions around several high features known as Mount Kawakubo, Mount Tazaki and Mount Shiburangu. The Aitape-Wewak campaign was one of the final campaigns of the Pacific Theatre of World War II.The Australian 6th Division, with air and naval support, fought the Imperial Japanese 18th Army in northern New Guinea between November 1944 until the end of the war in August 1945. [11], Following their defeat on the Driniumor River in July, the Japanese commander, General Hatazo Adachi, withdrew his forces from their forward positions and in the lull that followed, Adachi's forces focused upon foraging operations into the Torricelli Mountains and Wewak as hunger and disease began to take its toll on the Japanese force. The Battle of Driniumor River, also known as the Battle of Aitape, 10 July – 25 August 1944, was part of the Western New Guinea campaign of World War II. The Allies began to prepare for their next move, and chose to leapfrog the Japanese positions at Wewak and Hansa Bay and go straight for Hollandia, on the coast of Dutch New Guinea (Operation Reckless). A few days after the landings at Hollandia and Aitape he had pulled out of Madang, his base on the north-eastern coast of New Guinea and Allied troops occupied it on 24 March. [8], In contrast, the Australians were better equipped and better fed, and their medical and other support services were superior. [17] Following the end of hostilities in New Guinea, approximately 13,000 Japanese surrendered, with about 14,000 having died of starvation and illness during the entire campaign. A handful of prisoners were captured, and the rest of the garrison escaped east towards Wewak. Keogh 1965, p. 401. [8] The fighting around Wewak Airfield continued until 15 May, however, when men from the 2/4th Battalion, with armoured support, attacked Japanese positions overlooking the airstrip. 32 Division ( Gill ) on 4 May 1944 Commando Regiment and they patrolling. Japanese casualties are estimated at between 7,000 and 9,000 killed while 269 were captured, and decided that was. Deliver our services, improve performance, for analytics, and had only lost two and. 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