World War II Morotai island was the final island invasion in
Netherlands New Guinea before the liberation of the Philippines. The island was recaptured on 15 September 1944 during the
Battle of Morotai by the
31st Infantry Division, meeting only light opposition.
General MacArthur and Rear Admiral
Barbey landed on the day of the invasion to make an inspection. At the time, the island had only five hundred Japanese defenders. After the landings, Navy
Seabees constructed two airfields on the island, Wama and Pitu. Wama was constructed almost along the shoreline and was used as a fighter airfield. It was abandoned after the war. Pitu was built as a bomber airfield to the north inland, and is currently used as a commercial airport. After the war, the island was one of the largest
Fifth Air Force aircraft reclamation centers in the Pacific. A smelting operation was established, and USAAF planes from all over the region were flown there to be scrapped. Despite scrapping, the island was crammed full of aircraft and vehicles until 1988 when it was cleared in a final scrap drive. The scrap was taken to
Krakatau Steel Mill in Java.
Allied units stationed on Morotai •
38th Bombardment Group (15 October 1944 – 29 January 1945) •
310th Bombardment Wing (18 September-14 November 1944) •
8th Fighter Group (19 September – 20 December 1944) •
35th Fighter Group (27 September 1944 – 20 January 1945) •
418th Night Fighter Squadron (28 September – 26 December 1944)
West New Guinea dispute During the buildup in preparation of
Operation Trikora in early 1962, the Indonesian Air Force utilized Morotai airfield as one of the frontline airbases. In late June 1962, the air force deployed four to six
Tu-16 strategic bombers, six to ten
Il-28 medium bombers, two
UF-1 Albatross search-and-rescue seaplanes and two
Mi-4 helicopters at Morotai. Later the Il-28s were moved to
Laha and
Amahai due to insufficient range to the
Western New Guinea. The Indonesian Navy naval aviation also deployed eight
Gannet anti-submarine aircraft. an anti-aircraft unit equipped with Hispano-Suiza HS.804 cannons, and a company of base defense troops. The Indonesian Army also stationed an air-defense artillery unit from Pattimura Battalion. ==Airlines and destinations==