Pityilu Island

Pityilu Island

Pityilu Island is part of Manus Province in northern Papua New Guinea and part of the Admiralty Islands. It is off the northern coast of Manus Island and is nearly 4.8 km long and varies in width from 76 to 198 metres.

History

Pityilu Island was occupied by the Imperial Japanese forces in 1942.

On 30 March 1944, the island was assaulted by the reinforced 1st Squadron of 7th Cavalry of the United States Army. 59 Imperial Japanese were killed and 8 cavalrymen were killed with 6 wounded in the assault.

Pityilu Island was selected to become an airstrip for the use of the United States Navy with a Rest & Recreation facility designed to accommodate up to 10,000 servicemen. The facilities were constructed by the 140th Naval Construction Battalion in June 1944. Pityilu Airstrip consited of a single runway, made of crushed coral convert|5300|ft|m x convert|150|ft|m.

References

* [http://www.btinternet.com/~faahistoryweb/Nabaron_BGRD.htm Background of US Navy Airfields on Ponam & Pityilu]
* [http://www.pacificwrecks.com/airfields/png/pityilu/index.html Pityilu Airstrip]


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