Madang Airport
Encyclopedia
Madang Airport , is an airport located in Madang
, Papua New Guinea
.
, occupied by the Imperial Japanese Army
in January 1943, as a forward operating airfield for aircraft based at Wewak
. Later expanded to a 3250' x 240' runway with a single taxiway with 31 revetment
area. Bombed by the allies during late 1943 and early 1944 the airfield became unserviceable.
forces on 24 April 1944. A large amount of high octane fuel was captured and used by the Australians for use in the Royal Australian Navy
motor launch boats. The airfield was repaired and used by the Royal Australian Air Force
until the end of the war.
Madang
Madang is the capital of Madang Province and is a town with a population of 27,420 on the north coast of Papua New Guinea. It was first settled by the Germans in the 19th century....
, Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
.
Airlines and destinations
World War II
During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, occupied by the Imperial Japanese Army
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
in January 1943, as a forward operating airfield for aircraft based at Wewak
Wewak
Wewak is the capital of the East Sepik province of Papua New Guinea. It is located on the northern coast of the island of New Guinea. It is the largest town between Madang and Jayapura. It is the see city of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wewak....
. Later expanded to a 3250' x 240' runway with a single taxiway with 31 revetment
Revetment
Revetments, or revêtements , have a variety of meanings in architecture, engineering and art history. In stream restoration, river engineering or coastal management, they are sloping structures placed on banks or cliffs in such a way as to absorb the energy of incoming water...
area. Bombed by the allies during late 1943 and early 1944 the airfield became unserviceable.
Imperial Japanese Army Air Force Units at Madang
Imperial Japanese Army Air Force- 59th Sentai (Ki-43 Oscar)
- 68th Sentai (Ki-61 Tony)
- 248th Sentai (Ki-43-III Oscar)
Allied Liberation
Liberated by Australian ArmyAustralian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
forces on 24 April 1944. A large amount of high octane fuel was captured and used by the Australians for use in the Royal Australian Navy
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
motor launch boats. The airfield was repaired and used by the Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
until the end of the war.
Royal Australian Air Force Units at Madang
- Headquarters, RAAF Northern Command (NORCOM)
- No. 4 Squadron RAAFNo. 4 Squadron RAAFNo. 4 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force squadron responsible for training forward air controllers. The squadron was previously a fighter and army co-operation unit active in both World War I and World War II.-World War I:...
(CAC BoomerangCAC BoomerangThe CAC Boomerang was a World War II fighter aircraft designed and manufactured in Australia between 1942 and 1945. The Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation produced Boomerangs under the production contract numbers CA-12, CA-13, CA-14 and CA-19, with aircraft supplied under each subsequent contract...
) - No. 8 Communication Unit RAAF
- No. 15 Squadron RAAFNo. 15 Squadron RAAFNo. 15 Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force light bomber and maritime patrol squadron of World War II. The squadron was formed in January 1944 and initially flew anti-submarine patrols off the east coast of Australia. From September that year elements of the squadron took part in the New...
(Bristol BeaufortBristol BeaufortThe Bristol Beaufort was a British twin-engined torpedo bomber designed by the Bristol Aeroplane Company, and developed from experience gained designing and building the earlier Blenheim light bomber....
) - No. 111 Air-Sea Rescue Flight RAAFNo. 111 Air-Sea Rescue Flight RAAFNo. 111 Air-Sea Rescue Flight was a Royal Australian Air Force unit of World War II.It was formed at Madang in New Guinea on 13 December 1944 and was equipped with Consolidated Catalinas....
(PBY CatalinaPBY CatalinaThe Consolidated PBY Catalina was an American flying boat of the 1930s and 1940s produced by Consolidated Aircraft. It was one of the most widely used multi-role aircraft of World War II. PBYs served with every branch of the United States Armed Forces and in the air forces and navies of many other...
) - No. 120 (Netherlands East Indies) Squadron RAAFNo. 120 (Netherlands East Indies) Squadron RAAFNo. 120 Squadron was a joint Dutch and Australian squadron of World War II. The squadron was first formed in December 1943 as part of the Royal Australian Air Force , and saw combat in and around New Guinea during 1944 and 1945 equipped with P-40 Kittyhawk fighters. Following the war, No...
- No. 2 Medical Receiving Station RAAF
- No. 109 Mobile Fighter Sector Headquarters RAAF
Accidents and incidents
- On 11 April 1972, Douglas C-47 VH-PNB of Trans Australia AirlinesTrans Australia AirlinesTrans Australia Airlines or TAA, was one of the two major Australian domestic airlines between its inception in 1946 and its sale to Qantas in May 1996. During that period TAA played a major part in the development of the Australian air transport industry...
overran the runway on landing, ending up in the sea damaged beyond economic repair. - On 17 July 1972, Douglas C-47A VH-MAE of Ansett Airlines of Papua New Guinea was damaged beyond economic repair when the starboard undercarriage collapsed on landing. The aircraft was operating a domestic cargo flight from Wapenamanda AirportWapenamanda AirportWapenamanda Airport is an airport in Wapenamanda, Enga Province, Papua New Guinea ....
. - On 30 October 1972, Douglas C-47B VH-PNA of Ansett Airlines of Papua New Guinea overran the runway on landing. The aircraft was subsequently withdrawn from use and used for fire practice, eventually being scrapped in 1978.