But the Hollandia base was developed on a very large scale and is inseparably associated with the Philippines operations. Base F at Finschhafen, which had a deeper harbor, continued to be first. Base G, however, never became the major supply base in New Guinea. 3Ĭlose to the coast near Humboldt Bay the shelters for Base G depots were being built with prefabricated materials shipped from Australia. Planning for MIKE I and KING II went on simultaneously at Hollandia. That was the purpose of the landing on the Leyte coastal plain-the KING II operation. But first, airfields and bases for the ultimate assault had to be established. The primary objective was Luzon-the MIKE I operation. 2 General MacArthur intended to lead in person the return to the Philippines.

For a time the entire output of one mill was reserved for General MacArthur's headquarters, located inland on beautiful Lake Sentani against the backdrop of the towering Cyclops Mountains. By midsummer of 1944 'the clans were gathering at Hollandia,' observed General Eichelberger, 'A sure sign always that a major campaign is ahead.' 1 Late in June Headquarters, Sixth Army (the designation ALAMO Force had been dropped in May), arrived from Cape Cretin and by August the Engineers' two sawmills were whirring to turn out lumber for buildings to house also the headquarters of the Southwest Pacific Area United States Army Forces in the Far East United States Army Services of Supply Base G Far East Air Force and General Eichelberger's Eighth Army (activated on 7 September 1944).

The marquis inferno torrent