Noemfoor

Infobox Islands
name = Noemfoor


image caption = Noemfoor in Schouten Islands
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location = South East Asia
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archipelago = Schouten Islands
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area =
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country = Indonesia
country admin divisions title =
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Noemfoor (also Numfoor, Numfor, Noemfoer) is one of the Biak Islands (formerly Schouten Islands) in Papua province, Indonesia. It was the site of conflict between Japanese and the Allied forces during World War II, and was major airbase for both sides.

Geography

The island is situated just north of the large Cenderawasih Bay (formerly Geelvink Bay). Approximately oval shaped, it has an area of km2 to mi2|335. It is mostly surrounded by coral reefs, with the exception of some points on the southeastern coast. Also found on the southeastern coast are low, steep cliffs. Most of the interior is composed of forest. [Citation
date = 1944-07-04
title = Doughboys Land on Numfor, Swiftly Win Main Airfield
last = KLUCKHOHN
first = FRANK L.
publisher = New York Times
ISBN = 1504727
url = http://hn.bigchalk.com/hnweb/hn/do/document?set=searchera&start=1&rendition=x-article-image&inmylist=false&urn=urn%3Aproquest%3AUS%3BPQDOC%3BHNP%3BPQD%3BHNP%3BPROD%3Bx-article-image%3B86869165&mylisturn=urn%3Aproquest%3AUS%3BPQDOC%3BHNP%3BPQD%3BHNP%3BPROD%3Bx-citation%3B86869165
accessdate = 2007-12-26]

World War II

During World War II, Noemfoor was occupied by Japanese military forces in December 1943.cite web
url = http://www.pacificwrecks.com/provinces/irian_noemfor.html
title = Noemfoor (Noemfoer) Island
accessdate = 2007-12-26
publisher = Pacific Wreck Database ] The indigenous population at the time numbered about 5,000 people, most of whom lived a subsistence lifestyle in coastal villages. cite book
last = Smith
origdate =
first = Robert Ross
title = United States Army in World War II: The War in the Pacific; The Approach to the Philippines
origyear = 1953
origmonth =
url = http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-P-Approach/USA-P-Approach-17.html
accessdate = 2008-01-22
edition =
series = Chapter XVII
date =
publisher = Center Of Military History, United States Army
location = Washington, D.C.
pages = 397
chapter = Operations on Noemfoor Island
chapterurl = http://ftp1.us.proftpd.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-P-Approach/USA-P-Approach-17.html
quote =
ref = ]

The island was also hosting about 1,100 laborers taken to Noemfoor by the Japanese: 600 members of a Formosan (Taiwanese) auxiliary labor unit and 500 Indonesian civilian forced laborers. These were the survivors of more than 4,000 laborers taken to Noemfoor by the Japanese. cite book
last = Smith
origdate =
first = Robert Ross
title = United States Army in World War II: The War in the Pacific; The Approach to the Philippines
origyear = 1953
origmonth =
url =
accessdate = 2008-01-22
edition =
series = Chapter XVII
date =
publisher = Center Of Military History, United States Army
location = Washington, D.C.
pages = 421-2
chapter = Operations on Noemfoor Island
chapterurl =
quote =
ref = ]

The Japanese built three airfields on the island, turning it into a significant air base.Citation
date = 1944-07-08
title = Last Noemfoor Air Base Seized
publisher = Chicago Daily Tribune
ISBN = 6033702
url = http://hn.bigchalk.com/hnweb/hn/do/document?set=searchera&start=1&rendition=x-article-image&inmylist=false&urn=urn%3Aproquest%3AUS%3BPQDOC%3BHNP%3BPQD%3BHNP%3BPROD%3Bx-article-image%3B462465422&mylisturn=urn%3Aproquest%3AUS%3BPQDOC%3BHNP%3BPQD%3BHNP%3BPROD%3Bx-citation%3B462465422
accessdate = 2007-12-26]
*Kornasoren Airfield/Yebrurro Airfield, located toward the northern end of the island
*Kamiri Airfield, on the northwestern edge of the island
*Namber Airfield, on the west coast of the island.

Bombing of the island by United States and Australian aircraft began as early as April 1944.cite web
url = http://www.pacificwrecks.com/airfields/indonesia/kornasoren/missions-noemfoor.html
title = American Missions Against Noemfoor Island [General References]
accessdate = 2007-12-26
publisher = Pacific Wreck Database ]

Allied units landed on the island, from July 2, 1944.cite web
url = http://ww2db.com/battle_spec.php?battle_id=48
title = WW2DB: New Guinea Campaign
accessdate = 2007-12-26
last = Chen
first = Peter C.
publisher = World War II Database] Although the island is surrounded by "an almost solid ring" of coral, newspapers reported "almost no loss" of troops in reaching the shore. Troops initially landed around Kamiri Airfield on the northwest edge of the island. Although there were extensive Japanese defensive preparations in the Kamiri area,cite book
last = Smith
origdate =
first = Robert Ross
title = United States Army in World War II: The War in the Pacific; The Approach to the Philippines
origyear = 1953
origmonth =
url =
accessdate = 2008-01-22
edition =
series = Chapter XVII
date =
publisher = Center Of Military History, United States Army
location = Washington, D.C.
pages = 411
chapter = Operations on Noemfoor Island
chapterurl =
quote =
ref = ] there was little resistance at Kamiri Airfield.cite book
last = Smith
origdate =
first = Robert Ross
title = United States Army in World War II: The War in the Pacific; The Approach to the Philippines
origyear = 1953
origmonth =
url =
accessdate = 2008-01-22
edition =
series = Chapter XVII
date =
publisher = Center Of Military History, United States Army
location = Washington, D.C.
pages = 408
chapter = Operations on Noemfoor Island
chapterurl =
quote =
ref = ] In the words of the US Navy official history: "Japanese encountered around the airfield were so stunned from the effects of the bombardment that all the fight was taken out of them." [cite book
last = Morison
first = Samuel Eliot
title = History of United States Naval Operations in World War II
origyear =
url = http://books.google.com/books?id=R-KfgdHvv88C
accessdate = 2008-01-22
accessyear =
accessmonth =
edition =
series = Volume Eight
year = 2002
publisher = University of Illinois Press
location =
pages = 138
chapter = New Guinea and the Marianas, March 1944 - August 1944
chapterurl = ]

The following day, as a precaution against Japanese resistance elsewhere, 2,000 US paratroopers were dropped onto the island.

The second base captured by US forces, Yebrurro Airfield, was secured by July 4.

On July 5, there was an unsuccessful Japanese counter-attack. That same day, a detachment of US forces from Noemfoor also secured the smaller neighboring island of Manim. Namber Airfield came under Allied control, without resistance, on July 6. The island was officially declared secure on July 7. However, individual Japanese soldiers continued guerrilla activities, and it was August 31 before all fighting had ceased.cite book
last = Gill
first = G. Hermon
series = Australia in the War of 1939–1945
title = Royal Australian Navy, 1942–1945" (1st edition)
origyear = 1968
url =
accessdate = 2008-01-22
edition =
date =
publisher = Australian War Memorial
location = Canberra
isbn =
pages = 443
chapter = Chapter 14—The Assault Armadas Strike
chapterurl = http://www.awm.gov.au/cms_images/histories/25/chapters/14.pdf
quote =
ref = ]

By August 31, the Allies had lost 66 killed or missing and 343 wounded. It had killed approximately 1,714 Japanese and taken 186 prisoners.cite book
last = Gill
first = G. Hermon
series = Australia in the War of 1939–1945
title = Royal Australian Navy, 1942–1945" (1st edition)
origyear = 1968
url =
accessdate = 2008-01-22
edition =
date =
publisher = Australian War Memorial
location = Canberra
isbn =
pages = 442
chapter = Chapter 14—The Assault Armadas Strike
chapterurl =
quote =
ref = ]

According to the US Army official history, only 403 of the original 3,000 Javanese civilian laborers were alive by August 31. cite book
last = Smith
origdate =
first = Robert Ross
title = United States Army in World War II: The War in the Pacific; The Approach to the Philippines
origyear = 1953
origmonth =
url =
accessdate = 2008-01-22
edition =
series = Chapter XVII
date =
publisher = Center Of Military History, United States Army
location = Washington, D.C.
pages = 421-2
chapter = Operations on Noemfoor Island
chapterurl =
quote =
ref = ] About 10-15 were reported to have been killed accidentally by Allied forces. The rest had died from maltreatment before the invasion.

About 300 Formosan labor troops had died before the invasion. Others fought the Allies, allegedly as a result of Japanese coercion. Over 550 surrendered; more than half of these were suffering from starvation and tropical diseases. Less than 20 were reported killed by Allied action.

According to the US Army historian, Allied personnel found evidence that human bodies, of Japanese, Formosan and Allied personnel, had been partly eaten by starving Japanese and Formosans.

References