Wewak in WW2 History | World War II Database

19 Jan 1943

Australian New Guinea

Japanese troops landed at Wewak, New Guinea. ww2dbase [New Guinea-Papua Campaign, Phase 2 | Wewak | CPC]

20 Jan 1943

Australian New Guinea

A US B-24 bomber on a routine reconnaissance mission over Wewak on the island of New Guinea surprisingly found a large concentration of Japanese shipping and a newly arrived contingent of Zero fighters. Six of the fighters arose and shot down the bomber, killing 2; 6 of the crew survived. ww2dbase [New Guinea-Papua Campaign, Phase 2 | Wewak | CPC]

26 Feb 1943

Australian New Guinea

Juzan Maru, Shinkyo Maru, and Aratama Maru arrived at Wewak, Australian New Guinea at 1130 hours with Yugure, Satsuki, and Fumizuki in escort. ww2dbase [Yugure | New Guinea-Papua Campaign, Phase 2 | Wewak | CPC]

28 Feb 1943

Australian New Guinea

Yugure took on ground support crews of carrier Zuiho and departed Wewak, Australian New Guinea at 1200 hours. ww2dbase [Yugure | Zuiho | Wewak | CPC]

14 Mar 1943

Australian New Guinea

At 0045 hours, Japanese destroyer Akigumo completed the rescue of the survivors of Momoyama Maru (fatally damaged by a US 5th Air Force B-17 bomber on the previous day) and scuttled the ship with a torpedo northwest of Wewak, Australian Territory of New Guinea. ww2dbase [Wewak | CPC]

11 Aug 1943

Australian New Guinea

US 8th Photo Reconnaissance Squadron detected a Japanese airfield at Wewak, Australian New Guinea. ww2dbase [Wewak | CPC]

13 Aug 1943

Australian New Guinea

A F-4 and a F-5 aircraft of US 8th Photo Reconnaissance Squadron detected 199 Japanese aircraft and 4 air strips at Wewak, Australian New Guinea. ww2dbase [Wewak | CPC]

17 Aug 1943

Australian New Guinea

As a build up to the landings at Lae, Australian Papua the US 5th Air Force commenced a two-week blitz on the Japanese airfield in the Wewak area in Australian New Guinea. 12 B-17 and 26 B-24 bombers from Jackson Field and Ward's Strip at Port Moresby, Australian Papua hit the two Japanese airfields at Wewak starting at about 0000 hours; the Americans lost 3 B-24 bombers while the Japanese suffered 13 aircraft destroyed, 20 heavily damaged, 34 slightly damaged, and 70 men killed. At 0600 hours, 61 modified B-25 bombers, with fighter escort, were launched from Port Moresby; although 21 aircraft turned back due to poor weather, the remainder hit Wewak between 0750 and 0845 hours, destroying about 30 aircraft that were parked in rows in preparation of the arrival of a high ranking Japanese officer. The series of blitz paved the way for the autumn invasion that resulted in the capture of the western flank of Rabaul, New Britain. ww2dbase [New Guinea-Papua Campaign, Phase 3 | Wewak | AC, CPC]

18 Aug 1943

Australian New Guinea

US bombers attacked the four Japanese airfields at Wewak, Australian New Guinea (Boram, Wewak, But, and Dagna). The Americans lost two B-25 bombers and one P-38 fighter; the Japanese lost 30 aircraft and suffered damage to the airstrips. ww2dbase [Wewak | CPC]
At Wewak, New Guinea, Major Ralph Cheli leading his B-25 squadron of the 38th Group was attacked by a Japanese Nakajima Ki-43 aircraft while making his run-up to the target, which shot up the starboard engine and set it on fire. With the flames spreading rapidly to the wings he held his course aiming for a line of parked Zero fighters on the airfield. Only when he had pressed home his attack did Major Cheli call his wing man to take over command of the squadron. Then, within moments, the doomed aircraft rolled over and, before the horrified eyes of his fellow airmen, crashed into the sea and exploded. For his heroic sacrifice Major Cheli would ultimately be awarded a posthumous Medal of Honor. ww2dbase [Wewak | AC]

11 Oct 1943

Australian New Guinea

Neel Kearby led a fighter sweep over Wewak, Australian New Guinea; his flight shot down several Japanese aircraft, including one carrying Lieutenant Colonel Tamiji Teranishi, commanding officer of 14th Flying Brigade. ww2dbase [New Guinea-Papua Campaign, Phase 3 | Wewak | CPC]

16 Oct 1943

Australian New Guinea

The Americans conducted a heavy attack by air against the Japanese base at Wewak, Australian New Guinea. ww2dbase [New Guinea-Papua Campaign, Phase 3 | Wewak | CPC]

13 Sep 1945

Australian New Guinea

General Hatazo Adachi surrendered the remnants of his 18th Army to the Australians near Wewak in Australian Territory of New Guinea. Of his original force of 100,000 men, only 13,000 survived, sick and half starved after being abandoned without supplies for months. ww2dbase [Hatazo Adachi | Wewak | AC, CPC]

14 Jan 1946

Australian New Guinea

Allied repatriation ship Hikawa Maru arrived at Wewak, New Guinea and embarked Japanese personnel. ww2dbase [Hikawa Maru | Wewak | CPC]

16 Jan 1946

Australian New Guinea

Allied repatriation ship Hikawa Maru departed Wewak, New Guinea. ww2dbase [Hikawa Maru | Wewak | CPC]

Timeline Section Founder: Thomas Houlihan
Contributors: Alan Chanter, C. Peter Chen, Thomas Houlihan, Hugh Martyr, David Stubblebine
Special Thanks: Rory Curtis

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