Airfield Labour Camp in Palao

Internees: prisoners of war
Number of internees: 3.000 (approximately)
Number of deceased: 386
Information: Prisoners of war were put to work near Palao (Pelauw) laying a new airfield. Initially the workforce comprised about 1,700 British and approximately 345 Dutch prisoners of war from Soerabaja, brought to Haroekoe via Ambon on the Amagi Maru and the Matsukawa Maru. The prisoners of war were housed in barracks they built themselves from bamboo and atap, surrounded by barbed wire. In October 1943, the Dutch prisoners of war who had laid an airfield near Amahei (Ceram) were brought to Palao (Pelauw). Between November 1943 and July 1944 the prisoners of war were taken in groups to Liang and other camps on Ambon, to be later taken by ship back to Java.
Commendant: sgt.-maj. Mori
Guards: Koreans
Camp leaders: sql. W.C. Pitts
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