Leo Wattimena Airport

Boeing SB-17G "Ready Teddy," Morotai Island, 1945 (Courtesy of the City of Coffs Harbour, Accession Number mus07-8837).

Aerial view of Pitu (left) and Wama (right) airfields in 1945

Morotai island was the final island invasion in Netherlands New Guinea before the liberation of the Philippines. The island was recaptured by the 31st Infantry Division on 15 September 1944, 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 center 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.

• 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)

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.[2][3] Later the Il-28s were moved to Laha and Amahai due to insufficient range to the Western New Guinea.[4] The Indonesian Navy naval aviation also deployed eight Gannet anti-submarine aircraft.[3] For the airbase defenses, the air force stationed six MiG-17 as interceptor and air defense,[4][3] a Polish-built Nyasa radar unit as early warning system,[5] an anti-aircraft unit equipped with Hispano-Suiza HS.804 cannons, and a company of base defense troops.[6] The Indonesian Army also stationed an air-defense artillery unit from Pattimura Battalion.[7]