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In April 1944, Allied forces under General Douglas MacArthur expanded their hold on New Guinea, reclaiming territory taken by the Japanese in 1942. MacArthur had captured several Japanese strongholds, including Salamaua, Lae, and Finschhaven in northeast New Guinea. He planned to capture the coastal villages of Wewak, Aitape, and Hollandia near the border in Dutch New Guinea. MacArthur planned to bypass Wewak and land behind the Japanese, trapping Imperial soldiers between Australian troops and newly landed American troops. Two landing zones were selected in the Hollandia area: Tanahmerah Bay and Humboldt Bay. MacArthur continued to maintain the illusion that his next objective was Wewak, launching aerial bombing runs and naval bombardments. The invasion convoys for Aitape and Hollandia diverged on Dday.

On April 22, 1944, the Japanese invasion fleets began their preinvasion bombardment, causing most enemy soldiers to flee into the jungle. American troops from the 24th Division stormed ashore at Red Beaches 1 and 2 and found no "old Dutch road" to get off the beaches and toward Lake Sentai airfields. The 41st Division troops moved north toward Hollandia town and west toward Lake Sentai and the airfields. The 24th Division commander General Irving decided to send followup supplies to Humboldt Bay on D+1. The 41st Division soldiers captured Pancake Hill and pushed on toward Hollandia, but faced resistance below the Cyclops Mountains. Mass confusion and beach congestion increased as more troops, vehicles, and supplies began pouring onto White Beaches 1 and 2. The 532nd Engineer Boat and Shore Regiment brought over 4,200 tons of ammunition, drummed fuel, rations, and other supplies to the beaches.

The fire in Pearl Harbor led to explosions and destruction of American supplies, resulting in the deaths of 18 men and seven officers. The 287th Ordnance Medium Maintenance Company and the 532nd Engineers worked tirelessly to evacuate the wounded and rescue supplies. The Collecting Platoon of Company B, 262nd Medical Battalion set up an aid station, and the 41st Division Military Police Platoon helped evacuate wounded soldiers. The lack of dispersal areas on White Beach 1 and the rush to unload ships led to the establishment of gasoline dumps, supply dumps, and ammunition dumps close to one another, resulting in significant losses to the Allies. Acts of heroism became commonplace on White Beach 1, with soldiers organizing rescue parties and rescuing wounded men. Even a war correspondent became a hero, treating wounded men himself and bandaging their wounds and burns.

On April 24, the White Beach fire at Hollandia was a terrifying sight for naval crewmen. The fire was fueled by gasoline, causing massive explosions and burning of oil, lubricants, vehicles, and miscellaneous stores. The fire was centered in munitions and provisions dumps, making it difficult to approach the beach. Despite efforts to save people and supplies, firefighting efforts were abandoned due to the heat and danger of exploding projectiles. The men worked to unload the 12 LSTs waiting offshore, but most of the ships grounded too far out in the bay. Most supplies and ammunition were carted across Jautefa Bay to White Beach 4.

The Hollandia operation in New Guinea was a disastrous battle involving fires and explosions that destroyed bulk supplies, vehicles, and Japanese material. The 41st Division lost 11 LST loads of equipment, estimated at $8 million in 1944 dollars, and 24 men were killed. The firestorm on the beach did not impede the movement of troops in the field, and infantry units were carried across Lake Sentai in LVTs and deposited on the shores below the three airfields. The three airfields were captured on the 26th, and within days, they were being used by General Kenney's Fifth Air Force planes. Despite the horrific fire, MacArthur's leap behind enemy lines had been a success, with fewer than 200 killed and 1,200 wounded. The Hollandia area proved to be an excellent deep water harbor, and the airfields were improved to handle hundreds of Allied planes.