Battle of Sansapor

The Battle of Sansapor (Operation Globetrotter) was an amphibious landing and subsequent operations around Sansapor, Dutch New Guinea on the Vogelkop Peninsula during World War II.

The landings occurred on 30 July 1944, consisting of elements of the United States Army's 6th Infantry Division at Cape Opmarai on the mainland, and on Middelburg and Amsterdam Islands to the northwest. The landings were unopposed apart from encounters with a few enemy stragglers. On 31 July, shore-to shore landings from Cape Opmarai were carried out at Sansapor.

The Japanese garrison at Manokwari was cut off and attempted to retreat to Sorong. The operation was finalised on 31 August, with casualties of 34 killed and 85 wounded, plus nine dead from scrub typhus.

Base development
Airfields were built at Mar, Middleburg Island, Cape Opmarai and a flying boat base at Amsterdam Island. A radar station was also set up at Mar.