Sansapor was a little known place on the northern shore of the Birds Head peninsula of Dutch New Guinea. In July 1944 the Allies landed there to create an airbase as a stepping stone to reach the Philippines (next stop: Morotai). Both on shore of New Guinea as well as on the little island of Middelburg (often spelled as Middleburg) airbases were build, called Sansapor-Mar (on shore) and Middleburg Island.
Another small island, Amsterdam Island, was also used as a base. Maps location: 0°25'08.8"S 132°11'23.8"E · Werur, Sausapor, Tambrauw Regency, West Papua, Indonesia
A friend of mine lives in West Papua, has a diving resort, and is very much interested in the WWII air war over this area of the SWPA. During the 25 years he lives there now, he has collected numerous objects and aircraft parts, most recently this gun blister of a Mitsubishi G4M3 bomber.
In the next few years, he is planning to build a small museum in Sansapor, together with the local Papua people. Both to have a museum on the war in this part of the world and also to have a place to train young people in several trades like metal work, welding, restoration, exhibitions etc etc. The museum will be next to the Sansapor air strip.
He is now searching for more information on the airbases during the war: pictures (there are not that many to be found online), maps, construction information (US Army Engineers? Seabees?), operations etc etc.
Anyone who can help me find this stuff or point out where information might be found, please let me know.
Another small island, Amsterdam Island, was also used as a base. Maps location: 0°25'08.8"S 132°11'23.8"E · Werur, Sausapor, Tambrauw Regency, West Papua, Indonesia
A friend of mine lives in West Papua, has a diving resort, and is very much interested in the WWII air war over this area of the SWPA. During the 25 years he lives there now, he has collected numerous objects and aircraft parts, most recently this gun blister of a Mitsubishi G4M3 bomber.
In the next few years, he is planning to build a small museum in Sansapor, together with the local Papua people. Both to have a museum on the war in this part of the world and also to have a place to train young people in several trades like metal work, welding, restoration, exhibitions etc etc. The museum will be next to the Sansapor air strip.
He is now searching for more information on the airbases during the war: pictures (there are not that many to be found online), maps, construction information (US Army Engineers? Seabees?), operations etc etc.
Anyone who can help me find this stuff or point out where information might be found, please let me know.
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