Image description: Map of the Morotai invasion in September 1944. (Source: US Army Center of Military History File:Morotai 1944 - reports of Gen MacArthur.jpg - Wikimedia Commons)
As the New Guinea campaign neared strategic completion, General MacArthur recognized that a base of operations closer to the Philippine Islands was necessary in order to fulfil his promise of returning. From that base, the US Army could stage and provide air support for its long-anticipated invasion of the archipelago.
Source: Google Maps. The red marker indicates the location of Morotai.
For this purpose, MacArthur and his planners selected the Halmahera area, now part of Indonesia, which was the mid-point between northwestern Dutch New Guinea (now also part of Indonesia) and Mindanao, the southern-most island of the Philippines. (Note: originally, MacArthur was planning his return via Mindanao, though plans changed, and Allied forces ultimately invaded at Leyte Gulf in the Philippines’ mid-eastern region.) Planners identified the island of Morotai as the choice mid-point destination. This was due to several factors. First, the location of the island is relatively close to Mindanao (340 miles from Davao, Mindanao’s capital city). Second, although Morotai is smallish in size- running only about 40 miles north to south and 25 miles east to west- it was thought to have the necessary space in its southwestern plain area for airfield construction. Finally, Japanese presence on the island was estimated at only 500 men, and of all the islands in the area, Allied planners felt it had the least likelihood of Japanese reinforcement and counter attacks.
The invasion- to be known as Operation Tradewind- was set to begin on September 15, 1944. The original drafts of the invasion plan actually included participation of Norman’s 593rd Engineer Boat and Shore Regiment (EBSR). However, at the time, Company C and others of the regiment were spread throughout New Guinea and still actively engaged in “mopping up” Japanese forces. Thus, SWPA planners decided to allow the 593rd to stay and complete their operations in New Guinea, ultimately replacing the 593rd with the 544th and 534th EBSRs of the 4th Engineer Special Brigade.
Image description: Landing at Morotai on September 15, 1944. Note the soldiers disembarking from their ship into water up to their chests or shoulders. (Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Landing_at_Morotai_Island_(34674932072).jpg )
Nearly 40,000 troops carried out the operation. Prior to invasion, in order to maintain the element of surprise, there had been no air nor naval bombardment of the island. Allied air forces had previously bombed Japanese airbases within striking distance of Morotai, in order to reduce the presence of Japanese aircraft on D-Day. They succeeded, as enemy aircraft were notably absent. However, even without an air assault, initial beach landings proved to be tricky. According to Army historian Robert Ross Smith, the landing beaches were “undoubtedly the worst encountered in the Southwest Pacific Area throughout the entire war.” The presence of extensive coral reefs and coral boulders prevented the approach of landing craft and necessitated their infantrymen passengers to wade through deep water toward the shore. Smith also noted, “the reef was so rough that at one step an infantryman would have little more than the soles of his shoes under water, but at the next he would find himself up to his shoulders.” When the soldiers finally reached the beach, the sand turned out to be a light cover to deep layers of clay and mud, which bogged down the men, as well as vehicles and other important equipment. Fortunately, survey parties were sent out upon arrival and located less problematic landing beaches nearby. Operation Tradewind then proceeded more efficiently.
Image Description: "General Douglas MacArthur at Morotai island. Note the wet trousers after having to land in relatively deep water." (Source: Australian War Memorial/Public Domain File:Gen MacArthur Morotai.jpg - Wikimedia Commons)
In addition to their absence in the sky, the small number of Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) soldiers stationed on the island did not engage with the Americans, but instead chose to attempt escape. Perhaps this unwillingness to defend was due to the majority of the island’s IJA personnel being Formosan (Taiwanese), people subjugated by the Japanese, whom probably did not have the same fiendish devotion to the emperor. Some of these soldiers fled by barges to the neighboring island of Halmahera in order to join the larger Japanese garrison there. Unfortunately for them, Allied PT (Patrol-Torpedo) boats were waiting and sunk a number of the craft. An estimated 104 IJA soldiers were killed during Operation Tradewind, compared to 30 among the Allies.
Image Description: "Members of 31st Infantry Division (nicknamed the "Dixie Division") coming ashore on Morotai in Indonesia." (Source: US Army/Public Doman File:31st Division landing on Morotai.jpg - Wikimedia Commons)
As Operation Tradewind unfolded in September 1944, Norman Nigh and Company C of the 593rd were still based in the Madang area on the northern coast of New Guinea. From there they were moving supplies and Australian infantry along the coast and inland waterways from Milne Bay, the eastern tip of New Guinea, westward to Hollandia, located near the mid-point of the large island’s northern coast. After assisting the Australian 6th Division at Aitape, New Guinea in February, Company C was sent to Morotai. On April 15, 1945, Company C left Aitape, and headed west. Their journey lasted nearly three weeks. The men traveled in their own LCMs for the entirety of their journey, which was unusual- typically the LCMs would have been carried on a larger landing craft, such as an LST (Landing Ship Tank) for this type of journey. Refueling stops took place at Hollandia, Noemfoor, Wakde, Biak and Sansapor, (on or near the western, now-Indonesian/pre-war-Dutch area of the island). The men arrived in Morotai on May 4, 1945.
Image description: "Our boat taken at Morotai while staging for invasion of Borneo." (Personal collection of Norman Nigh.) The photo was taken sometime between May 4 and June 9, 1945.
Upon arrival, Norman and Company C of the 593rd boat battalion prepared for their next assignment: the liberation of the island of Borneo. For this mission, the men staged with the Australian 9th Division. Companies A and B were also to assist the 9th Division in other areas on Borneo; collectively it was to be known as Operation Oboe. Company C would leave Morotai for Labuan Island- located in Brunei Bay off the northern coast of Borneo- in June for their participation in Oboe VI. There, they would ride out the rest of the war.
Image description: "Morotai, our base." (Personal collection of Norman Nigh.)
Image description: "Crash boat Morotai."(Personal collection of Norman Nigh.)
Image description: "Natives Morotai."(Personal collection of Norman Nigh.)
References:
Casey, Hugh J. Engineers of the Southwest Pacific 1941-1945 Vol. IV: Amphibian Engineer Operations (Office of the Chief Engineer General Headquarters Army Forces Pacific, Washington: 1959)
Dormaier, Alfred A. "Brief History of Company C" (U.S. Army War College, Historical Records Branch:1945)
Paquette, Ernest W. Our Business is Beachheads: The 3rd ESB and 593rd EB&SR, (Self-Published:1993)
Smith, Robert Ross. The Approach to the Philippines. (Center of Military History, US Army, Washington:1953)