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Concept
Numfor
Summary
Numfor (also Numfoor, Noemfoor, Noemfoer) is one of the Schouten Islands (also known as the Biak Islands) in Papua province, northeastern Indonesia.
It was the site of conflict between Japanese and the Allied forces during World War II, and was major airbase for both sides.
The island is located on the northern side of large Cenderawasih Bay (formerly Geelvink Bay) of New Guinea island. Approximately oval shaped, it has an area of . 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.
The island is jurisdictionally within the Biak Numfor Regency of Papua province. It has a population of 9,336 people in 2010 census covering 5 districts.
The first sighting by Europeans was by the Spanish navigator Álvaro de Saavedra on 24 June 1528 when he was trying to return from Tidore to New Spain. Another sighting was later reported in 1545 by Spanish navigator Íñigo Ortiz de Retes on board of galleon San Juan when also attempting the return to New Spain
The Tidore Sultanate had tributary ties with the island. Seafarers from the region used to regularly pay homage to the sultan.
Battle of Noemfoor
During World War II, Numfor was occupied by Japanese military forces in December 1943. The indigenous population at the time numbered about 5,000 people, most of whom lived a subsistence lifestyle in coastal villages.
The island was also hosting about 1,100 laborers taken to Numfor 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 Numfor by the Japanese.
The Japanese built three airfields on the island, turning it into a significant air base.
Kornasoren Airfield/Yebrurro Airfield, located toward the northern end of the island
Kameri Airfield, on the northwestern edge of the island
Namber Airfield, on the west coast of the island.
Official source
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