Comes with a hand-signed C.O.A.

Size: 14 × 17 inches

Features all military airfields in the New Guinea - New Britain - New Ireland - Admiralty Islands region

This exceptionally rare, museum-grade World War II artifact is an original CONFIDENTIAL double-sided pilot’s flight airfield chart, dated January 1944, and specially produced by the Assistant Chief of Air Staff Intelligence - Headquarters Army Air Force (Washington, D.C.). Issued in extremely limited quantities, this chart was distributed only to USAAF Squadron Groups and Headquarters, intended for use aboard operational aircraft under the supervision of commanding officers.

Due to its highly sensitive nature, if an aircraft carrying this chart was forced down over enemy territory, the classified material was to be destroyed by burning. If ditched at sea, it was to be sunk “by the most practical method” to prevent it from falling into Japanese hands. Containing critical flight navigation and runway landing assistance for islands throughout the Pacific Theater, this chart was an essential tool for World War II pilots.

Titled "New Guinea" this U.S. Army Air Force flight chart provides detailed navigational aids, including the precise locations of airfields, seaplane anchorages, and elevations across this region of the Pacific Theater. The reverse side focuses specifically on the New Guinea “Port Moresby” and “Dobodura” region with strategically marked position of all Allied U.S. Army Air Force airfields with their CONFIDENTIAL designation names. These two zoomed in views were critical for USAAF pilots to determine their landing airfield for either operational or emergency landing purposes.

This artifact is a remarkable piece of aviation and military history, offering a rare glimpse into the intelligence materials that guided U.S. forces during World War II.

The U.S. Military in New Guinea: Combat Operations and Air Power in the Pacific (1944-1945):

The New Guinea campaign was one of the most grueling and strategically significant battles of the Pacific Theater during World War II. By 1944, U.S. forces, alongside Australian allies, had gained momentum in pushing Japanese forces out of key locations on the island. New Guinea's importance lay in its geographical position—its control was essential for securing Allied supply lines and launching future offensives into the Philippines and the Japanese-held Dutch East Indies. The campaign was characterized by difficult jungle warfare, amphibious landings, and heavy reliance on air power. From early 1944 through the end of 1945, the United States military played a dominant role in conducting operations to reclaim the island from Japanese forces, with a significant contribution from the U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF).

New Guinea, the second-largest island in the world, was a critical battleground in the Pacific Theater due to its proximity to Australia and the key supply routes in the region. Following the Japanese invasion of New Guinea in 1942, control of the island became a priority for both sides. The rugged terrain, dense jungles, and treacherous weather conditions made operations exceptionally difficult, but the Allies understood that securing New Guinea was essential for launching an eventual assault on the Philippines and neutralizing Japanese air and naval power in the Pacific.

By 1944, the U.S. military had taken a leading role in operations on the island, working closely with Australian and Dutch forces to dismantle Japanese defensive positions. Under the leadership of General Douglas MacArthur, the Supreme Commander of the Southwest Pacific Area (SWPA), the Allied forces adopted an aggressive strategy of leapfrogging Japanese strongholds rather than engaging in costly frontal assaults. This strategy, known as "island hopping," allowed U.S. forces to bypass heavily fortified enemy positions and isolate them, effectively starving them of supplies and reinforcements.

The primary U.S. Army force in New Guinea was the Sixth Army, commanded by General Walter Krueger. The Sixth Army led several successful campaigns in 1944 and early 1945, notably the battles for Hollandia, Aitape, and Biak. The capture of Hollandia in April 1944 was a turning point, as it provided the Allies with airfields and a logistical base necessary for future operations. The landings at Aitape and Biak shortly thereafter were part of MacArthur’s strategy to advance toward the Philippines while cutting off Japanese forces in western New Guinea.

One of the most intense battles occurred during the invasion of Biak Island in May 1944. The Japanese, expecting an assault, had constructed a series of defensive tunnels and strongholds in the island’s caves. The U.S. 41st Infantry Division faced heavy resistance, as the Japanese fought fiercely to prevent the Americans from securing the island's airfields. The battle lasted over a month, with U.S. forces ultimately prevailing after a combination of ground assaults and aerial bombardment. The airfields on Biak became crucial for supporting further operations, including the invasion of the Philippines later that year.

By the end of 1944, the Japanese forces on New Guinea were severely weakened, but they continued to fight from isolated pockets across the island. The Allies focused on mopping-up operations throughout 1945, engaging in fierce jungle warfare against Japanese holdouts in remote regions like Wewak and the Vogelkop Peninsula. While many Japanese soldiers perished due to starvation, disease, and combat, U.S. and Australian troops had to conduct numerous small-scale operations to clear the remaining resistance.

The U.S. Army Air Forces played a critical role in the New Guinea campaign, providing air superiority, close air support for ground troops, and logistical capabilities. The Fifth Air Force, under the command of Lieutenant General George Kenney, was the primary American air unit operating in the region. The challenging terrain of New Guinea meant that airpower was often the deciding factor in battle, as the dense jungles made ground movement slow and treacherous.

Kenney’s Fifth Air Force pioneered innovative air tactics, including skip bombing, where medium bombers flew at low altitude to release bombs that would skip across the water into Japanese ships. This tactic was particularly effective in the Battle of the Bismarck Sea in March 1943, where American bombers devastated a Japanese convoy attempting to reinforce New Guinea. By 1944, the Fifth Air Force had gained complete air superiority, enabling the successful execution of amphibious landings without the threat of significant Japanese aerial opposition.

One of the key air operations during this period was the aerial campaign against Japanese strongholds in western New Guinea. In preparation for ground assaults, U.S. bombers relentlessly attacked enemy airfields, supply depots, and troop concentrations. The capture of airfields at Hollandia, Wakde, and Biak allowed U.S. aircraft to extend their operational range, supporting MacArthur’s advance toward the Philippines.

American pilots in the region flew a variety of aircraft, including P-38 Lightnings, P-47 Thunderbolts, B-25 Mitchells, and B-24 Liberators. The P-38, in particular, was highly effective in New Guinea’s conditions due to its long range and ability to engage Japanese aircraft in dogfights. Notably, P-38 fighters were responsible for intercepting and shooting down Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto’s aircraft in 1943, a mission that was planned and executed from New Guinea-based airfields.

The transport and reconnaissance roles of the USAAF were also vital to success in New Guinea. The rugged and jungle-covered island made traditional supply lines nearly impossible, so C-47 Skytrains and other cargo aircraft became the lifeline for U.S. troops. These aircraft delivered food, ammunition, and medical supplies to remote outposts while also evacuating wounded soldiers from the front lines. Aerial reconnaissance played a key role in identifying Japanese troop movements, allowing the U.S. military to launch precise attacks.

By mid-1945, Japanese forces in New Guinea were effectively cut off from reinforcements and supplies. While some units attempted to hold out in remote areas, they were largely irrelevant to the broader Pacific War, as U.S. and Australian forces had bypassed them and continued their advance toward the Philippines and Borneo. Many Japanese soldiers perished due to starvation, disease, and exposure rather than direct combat, as their supply lines had been severed by the relentless Allied campaign.

The final months of the war saw continued air operations against Japanese positions, as well as U.S. efforts to secure the last remaining strategic points on the island. The airfields of New Guinea remained essential to the broader Allied campaign in the Pacific, serving as a launch point for missions into the Dutch East Indies and later the Ryukyu Islands.

The New Guinea campaign from 1944 to 1945 was a critical chapter in the Pacific War, showcasing the combined strength of the U.S. Army and the U.S. Army Air Forces. Through aggressive ground offensives and innovative air tactics, the U.S. military systematically dismantled Japanese resistance on the island. The victories at Hollandia, Aitape, Biak, and other key locations paved the way for the liberation of the Philippines and ultimately contributed to the collapse of Japan’s Pacific defenses.

The contributions of the Fifth Air Force and its pilots were instrumental in achieving air superiority and supporting ground operations in the region. The lessons learned from the New Guinea campaign—such as the importance of air mobility, precision bombing, and jungle warfare tactics—would influence U.S. military operations for decades to come. Ultimately, the hard-fought battles in New Guinea were a testament to the determination, resilience, and ingenuity of the U.S. military in the Pacific Theater.