Leo Wattimena Airport

Leo Wattimena Airport, formerly known as Pitu Airport (IATA: OTI, ICAO: WAEW (formerly WAMR)) is a private airport located on the southern coast of Morotai Island, North Maluku, Indonesia.

Leo Wattimena Airport

Bandar Udara Leo Wattimena
Summary
Airport typePublic, Military
OperatorGovernment
ServesMorotai
LocationMorotai Island, North Maluku, Indonesia
Elevation AMSL49 ft / 15 m
Coordinates02°02′45.76″N 128°19′29.28″E
Map
OTI
Location of airport in Maluku
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
09/27 7,874 2,400 Asphalt
09R/27L 7,949 2,423 Asphalt
Source: World Aero Data[1]

History
Aerial view of Pitu (left) and Wama (right) airfields in 1945

Moratai island was the final island invasion in Netherlands New Guinea before the liberation of the Philippines. The island was recaptured by the 31st Infantry Division on 15 September 1944, meeting only light opposition. General MacArthur and Rear Admiral Barbey landed on the day of the invasion to make an inspection. At the time, the island had only five hundred Japanese defenders.

After the landings, Navy Seabees constructed two airfields on the island, Wama and Pitu. Wama was constructed almost along the shoreline and was used as a fighter airfield. It was abandoned after the war. Pitu was built as a bomber airfield to the north inland, and is currently used as a commercial airport.

After the war, the island was one of the largest Fifth Air Force aircraft reclamation center in the Pacific. A smelting operation was established, and USAAF planes from all over the region were flown there to be scrapped. Despite scrapping the island was crammed full of aircraft and vehicles until 1988 when it was cleared in a final scrap drive. The scrap was taken to Krakatau Steel Mill in Java.

Allied units stationed on Moratai

Airlines and destinations
AirlinesDestinations
Wings Air Manado[2]
Dimonim Air Ternate
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See also

References
  1. "Pitu". World Aero data.
  2. "Wings Air Ekspansi Rute ke Sulawesi dan Maluku". Tribun Binis (in Indonesian). Tribunnews.com. 16 April 2016.

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

  • Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-89201-092-4.



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