Losuia Airport
Losuia Airport is an airport in Losuia, on the island of Kiriwina, Papua New Guinea.[1][2]
Losuia Airport | |
|---|---|
| Summary | |
| Location | Losuia, on the island of Kiriwina, Papua New Guinea |
| Opened | 1943 |
| Elevation AMSL | 21 ft / 6 m |
History
Kiriwina Airfield was a coral surfaced 6,000 feet (1,800 m) long x 150 feet (46 m) wide single runway, built by US Army Engineers with assistance from combat troops shortly after occupying the island on 30 June 1943 during World War II. A C-47 was the first aircraft to land at the airfield on 2 August 1943. US Navy Seabees from the 60th Naval Construction Battalion expanded the airfield constructing a 7,000 feet (2,100 m) taxiway, 25 fighter hardstands, a 5,300 feet (1,600 m) taxiway and 16 bomber hardstands.[3] Also known as South Drome, upon completion of North Drome on the northern part of Kiriwina.
Allied Units based at Kiriwina Airfield
- No. 22 Squadron RAAF - Douglas Boston
- No. 30 Squadron RAAF - Bristol Beaufighter
- No. 76 Squadron RAAF - Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk
- No. 78 Squadron RAAF - Kittyhawks
- No. 79 Squadron RAAF - Supermarine Spitfire
- No. 6 Mobile Works Squadron RAAF
- No. 12 Repair and Salvage Unit RAAF
- No. 114 Mobile Fighter Sector RAAF
References
- Airport information for AYKA at Great Circle Mapper.
- Accident history for LSA at Aviation Safety Network
- Building the Navy's Bases in World War II History of the Bureau of Yards and Docks and the Civil Engineer Corps 1940-1946. US Government Printing Office. 1947. p. 291.
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