Wewak Radio (VJN)

Wewak is located about 120 kilometres south of Aitape, on the northeastern coast of New Guinea. The station operated as a communications point for lonely outstations in the region and had direct contact with Rabaul.

The station was the last of the Island Radio Stations to be in operation during World War II. After all the other stations had gone off the air, Wewak still managed to get messages through. Although the Japanese did not bomb Wewak, the District Officer ordered the evacuation of the town during the first weeks of 1942.

For six months, the radio operator and other evacuees wandered from village to village in the highlands of New Guinea, constantly sending messages. They then returned to Wewak, but again abandoned the town, only to return yet again until they were forced to leave once more with the arrival of a Japanese convoy in December 1942.

Wewak Radio was re-opened by OTC shortly after it took over the Coastal Radio Service in 1947.