Sorido Airfield

Military capture, redevelopment, and consolidation. Sorido Airfield was not 'closed' in a traditional sense but was captured by United States forces from the Japanese during World War II and immediately integrated into a much larger airbase complex.

The site of the original Sorido Airfield is now fully integrated into the modern, active Frans Kaisiepo International Airport (ICAO: WABB, IATA: BIK). The coordinates provided point to the western portion of this active airport. The original Sorido runway and taxiways have been absorbed and redeveloped over the decades, likely now forming the western parallel taxiway, apron space, or the military-use section of the current airport. The identifier 'ID-0192' is a non-standard, historical, or database-specific code and is not the official ICAO code for the active airport.

Sorido Airfield was one of three crucial airfields (along with Mokmer and Borokoe) constructed by the Imperial Japanese Army on Biak Island during World War II. Its strategic location made Biak a prime target for Allied forces. The bloody Battle of Biak (May-August 1944) was fought specifically to capture these airfields to use as a forward base for the invasion of the Philippines.

After its capture in June 1944, US Army engineers rapidly repaired and expanded the field. Sorido, along with the nearby Mokmer field, was developed into a massive airbase known as 'Mokmer Drome'. This complex became a major base for the USAAF Fifth Air Force, hosting numerous bomber (like the B-24 Liberator) and fighter (like the P-38 Lightning and P-47 Thunderbolt) groups. From Biak, the Allies launched devastating air raids against Japanese targets in the Philippines and the Dutch East Indies, playing a critical role in the Pacific Campaign.

Not applicable. The airfield as a separate entity ceased to exist in 1944. Its grounds have been continuously used and developed as part of a major, active international and military airport (Frans Kaisiepo International Airport) ever since. There are no plans or prospects for 'reopening' Sorido Airfield as it is fundamentally part of an existing, operational facility.