Battle of Sansapor
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Sansapor (Operation Globetrotter) was an amphibous landing and subsequent operations around Sansapor, Dutch New Guinea on the Vogelkop Peninsula during World War II
.
The landings occurred on 30 July 1944, consisting of elements of the United States Army
's 6th Infantry Division at Cape Opmarai on the mainland, and on Middelburg and Amsterdam Islands to the northwest. The landings were unopposed apart from encounters with a few enemy stragglers. On 31 July, shore-to shore landings from Cape Opmarai were carried out at Sansapor.
The Japanese garrison at Manokwari
was cut off and attempted to retreat to Sorong. The operation was finalised on 31 August, with casualties of 34 killed and 85 wounded, plus nine dead from scrub typhus
.
, Middleburg Island
, Cape Opmarai
and a flying boat base at Amsterdam Island. A radar station was also set up at Mar.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
The landings occurred on 30 July 1944, consisting of elements of the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
's 6th Infantry Division at Cape Opmarai on the mainland, and on Middelburg and Amsterdam Islands to the northwest. The landings were unopposed apart from encounters with a few enemy stragglers. On 31 July, shore-to shore landings from Cape Opmarai were carried out at Sansapor.
The Japanese garrison at Manokwari
Manokwari
Manokwari is a city in Indonesia. It is the largest city and, since 2003, the capital of the province of West Papua, at the western end of New Guinea. The city has many resorts and is a major tourist area. It is one of the seats of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Manokwari–Sorong. It is also the...
was cut off and attempted to retreat to Sorong. The operation was finalised on 31 August, with casualties of 34 killed and 85 wounded, plus nine dead from scrub typhus
Scrub typhus
Scrub typhus or Bush typhus is a form of typhus caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi first isolated and identified in 1930 in Japan., accessdate: 16 October 2011...
.
Base development
Airfields were built at MarSansapor Airfield
Sansapor Airfield is a former World War II airfield located in the village of Mar, in West Irian Jaya Province, Indonesia. The airfield was abandoned after the war and today is almost totally returned to its natural state....
, Middleburg Island
Middleburg Airfield
Middleburg Airfield is a World War II airfield located on Middleburg Island, to the north of Sansapor in West Irian Jaya Province, Indonesia...
, Cape Opmarai
Cape Opmarai Airfield
Cape Opmarai Airfield is a disused airfield located near Sansapor, in Irian Jaya province, Indonesia. It is abandoned and overgrown, disused since 1944.-History:...
and a flying boat base at Amsterdam Island. A radar station was also set up at Mar.