Lae Airfield

Lae Airfield
Lae Airfield;
Part of Fifth Air Force
Located in Oro Province, Paupa New Guinea Lae Airfield Lae Airfield (Papua New Guinea)
Coordinates	06°43′59″S 146°59′45″E / 6.73306°S 146.99583°E
Type	Civilian/Military Airfield
Site information
Controlled by	United States Army Air Forces
Site history
Built	1930s (prewar airport)
In use	1942–1945

Lae Airfield is a former World War II airfield and later, civilian airport in Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea. The airport was closed in the 1980s, in favor of Lae Nadzab Airport, which was able to accommodate larger jet aircraft. The facility is now being redeveloped.

History

Built in the 1930s the airport was known as Lae Drome or Lae Aerodrome. The largest aircraft to use the airport prewar were Junkers G 31 Tri-Motor that serviced the gold fields at Bulolo. The problem with Lae's east/west runway was that it ran directly into hills, limiting the size of aircraft able to land.

This airfield is probably most famous for its pre war distinction as being the place where Amelia Earhart's Lockheed Model 10 Electra took off before disappearing on her around the world flight. It was the last stop she made before going missing, to this day her plane has never been found. There is a small Amelia Earhart plaque at the former airport.

Occupied by the Japanese in February 1942 and developed into a forward airbase, the airfield was heavily bombed by Allied forces until its liberation in the Salamaua–Lae campaign in September 1943.

After the September 1943, the airfield was occupied by the Allies, they used the airfield for smaller aircraft, with the larger types flying to Nadzab Airfield, the main American base in the area.

Postwar, the airfield continued to be used as a civilian airport until 1980s.