Map Description

History Map of WWII:

The Western Pacific, New Guinea, and the Philippine Islands 1944 (PDF Version)


Illustrating:

Allied Operations

• Biak:
  
  The Allied assault on Biak was conducted under the code name Operation Horlicks. This was part of General Douglas MacArthur’s campaign to clear western New Guinea of Japanese forces and secure airfields for future operations toward the Philippines
  
  
• Noemfoor:
  
  The Allied landing on Noemfoor was known as Operation Cyclone. This operation aimed to quickly seize the island’s airfields and use Noemfoor as a staging base for further advances in the region.
  
  
• Mariana Islands:
  
  The overall Allied operation to capture the Mariana Islands, including Saipan, Tinian, and Guam, was known as Operation Forager.
  
  

Japanese Operations

• Operation Kon (KON):
  
  This Japanese operation was a limited effort to reinforce and relieve the garrison on Biak after the Allied landings.
  
  The operation began on 30 May 1944 with naval sorties intended to counter the Allied advance at Biak, but ultimately failed to achieve its objectives.
  
  
• Operation A-Go ("A" Go):
  
  As the Allies advanced into the Marianas, the Japanese initiated Operation A-Go (“A”号作戦, A-gō sakusen), a major naval plan intended to bring about a decisive battle against the U.S. fleet. This operation culminated in the Battle of the Philippine Sea (June 19–20, 1944), where the Japanese fleet suffered a catastrophic defeat.
  
  
• Operation Z:
  
  Prior to A-Go, the Japanese had developed Operation Z as the defensive plan for the Marianas, particularly Saipan. This plan was superseded by Operation A-Go as the situation became more urgent with the Allied landings.
  
  

Allied Advances to the Mariana Islands, Biak, and Noemfoor

22 April - 24 July 1944

During this period, Allied forces in the Pacific launched a series of major offensives aimed at capturing key islands held by Japan. The campaign began with landings at Hollandia (New Guinea) and continued with assaults on Biak and Noemfoor islands, both strategically located in the western Pacific. These operations aimed to secure airfields and staging areas to support further advances toward the Philippines and Japan. Simultaneously, the Allies initiated the Mariana Islands campaign, targeting Saipan, Tinian, and Guam. The capture of these islands provided vital airbases for B-29 bombers, enabling direct attacks on the Japanese home islands.

Japanese Kon and "A" Go Operations

30 May - 19 June 1944

In response to the Allied offensives, the Japanese launched two major counter-operations. Operation Kon was an attempt to reinforce and defend Biak Island against Allied invasion, but it failed due to effective Allied resistance and air superiority. Operation "A" Go was a larger naval operation intended to repel the Allied invasion of the Mariana Islands. This culminated in the Battle of the Philippine Sea (19-20 June 1944), where the Japanese fleet suffered devastating losses in aircraft and experienced pilots, effectively crippling Japan’s naval air power for the remainder of the war.

Credits

Courtesy of the United States Military Academy Department of History.

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