Between 1943 and 1945, during World War II, Wewak was the site of the largest Japanese airbase in mainland New Guinea. The base was subjected to repeated bombing by Australian and U.S. planes, most notably in one massive attack on 17 August 1943. Directly to the west of the town centre is a peninsula known as Cape Wom, which was the site of the surrender of Japanese forces in New Guinea, and now houses a small memorial. The Japanese airfield is still used to this day. In August 1945 two war crimes trials were held near Wewak for mutilation and cannibalism. One of the accused was convicted and sentenced to death (later commuted to 5 years imprisonment with hard labour) and the other accused was acquitted
