Size: 9 x 12 inches

This rare bombing and reconnaissance panoramic type ‘RESTRICTED’ 5th Air Force photograph comes from the bring back collection of Sgt. Eugene Thompson. While Sgt. Thompson served as an air gunner on combat missions aboard the infamous B-17 and B-25 in the South Pacific against the Japanese these air reconnaissance photographs show a birds eye view shot down at Japanese airfields, gun emplacements, planes, naval ships, etc. Photographs such as these provided generals and intelligence officers with vital information that they used to direct future bombing missions, amphibious landing sites and strategical advantages needed to out-guess the enemy. Thousands of pilots and aircrew throughout the war risked their lives to take photographs such as this one right here.

This reconnaissance photograph is extremely rare as this panoramic photograph shows a detailed look at the Hollandia Japanese Airfield. This photograph would have been used in the bombing and strategical capture of the three Japanese airfields during the Battle of Hollandia. In Apr 1942, it was occupied by the Japanese Army, who developed a complex of three airfields about 5 miles in-land, about directly west of the town. The complex was completed by Oct 1943. It was consisted the main Hollandia Airfield, Sentani Airfield, and Cyclops Airfield. The main Hollandia Airfield was western-most, near Lake Sentani; it had two runways and featured several barracks and revetments for bombers. Sentani Airfield, which had one fighter strip was to Hollandia Airfield's east. Cyclops Airfield, closest to the town of Hollandia, was about 0.75 miles northeast of Sentani Airfield; it also had only a short strip suitable for fighters only. The main airfield was captured by US Army troops on 22 Apr 1944 as a part of Operation Reckless, followed by the capture of the two satellite fields four days later. Unlike most other Japanese strongholds that were captured by the Allies during the war, a large number of Japanese abandoned their defensive positions to escape through the jungles, while a few willingly surrendered. Between late Apr 1944 and Mar 1945, Hollandia Airfield Complex (Cyclops Airfield specifically) was Douglas MacArthur's headquarters, thus the airfields were busy with various activities. After the war, the main Hollandia Airfield was abandoned and became overgrown with vegetation. Sentani Airfield remained operational.

Battle of Hollandia (Operation Reckless):

The Battle of Hollandia (code-named Operation Reckless) was an engagement between Allies of World War II and Japanese forces during World War II. The majority of the Allied force was provided by the United States, with the bulk of two United States Army infantry divisions being committed on the ground. Air and naval support consisted largely of U.S. assets, although Australia also provided air support during preliminary operations and a naval bombardment force.

The battle took place between 22 April and 6 June 1944 and formed part of the New Guinea campaign. The operation consisted of two landings, one at Tanahmerah Bay and the other at Humboldt Bay, near Hollandia. The landings were undertaken simultaneously with the amphibious invasion of Aitape ("Operation Persecution") to the east. The battle was an unqualified success for the Allied forces, resulting in a withdrawal by the Japanese to a new strategic defense line in the west of New Guinea and the abandonment of all positions in the east of the island.

5th Air Force History:

This air force lost most of its men and equipment in the defense of the Philippines after 7 Dec 1941. Later in Dec 1941 headquarters and some crews and planes moved to Australia, and in Jan 1942 they were sent to Java to help delay Japanese advances in the Netherlands Indies. The Fifth did not function as an air force for some time after Feb 1942 (the AAF organizations in the Southwest Pacific being under the control of American-British-Dutch-Australian Command and later Allied Air Forces). Headquarters was remanned in Sep 1942 and assumed control of AAF organizations in Australia and New Guinea. The Fifth participated in operations that stopped the Japanese drive in Papua, recovered New Guinea, neutralized islands in the Bismarck Archipelago and the Netherlands East Indies, and liberated the Philippines. When the war ended in Aug 1945 elements of the Fifth were moving to the Ryukyus for the invasion of Japan. After the war the Fifth, a component of Far East Air Forces, remained in the theater, and from Jun 1950 to Jul 1953 it was engaged in the Korean War.