In July 1944, the 345th Bomb Group moved from Nadzab to the newly acquired airfields on Biak. The move meant that the 345th spent more time flying over water as their missions were centered on the many islands between New Guinea, Borneo, and the Philippines.
The longer missions, such as those to Sandakan Harbor on Borneo or those into the Philippines, were usually staged through airfields on the island of Morotai.