Biak : small island located in Cenderawasih Bay near the northern coast of Papua
Biak Biak is a small island located in Cenderawasih Bay near the northern coast of Papua, an Indonesian province, and is just northwest of New Guinea. Biak is the largest island in its small archipelago, and has many atolls, reefs, and corals. The largest population centre is at Kota Biak on the south coast. The rest of the island is thinly populated with small villages. Biak is part of the Biak Islands. In World War II, a strategic airfield of the Imperial Japanese Army was located there, serving as a base for operations in the Pacific theatre. American forces eventually captured the island during the Battle of Biak . On May 29, 1944, the 1st tank vs. tank battle in the Pacific Theatre occurred. The captured airfield was renamed Mokmer Airfield and later transferred to the Royal Australian Air Force. It was transferred from New Guinea, in the 1960s. Dutch rule, along with half of - On July 1, 1998 Biak was the scene of what is commonly known as the ' Biak Massacre' or ...