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m Robot - Speedily moving category Airfields of the United States Army Air Forces on Papua New Guinea to Category:Airfields of the United States Army Air Forces in Papua New Guinea per CFDS.
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{{For|the civil airport in Lae, Papua New Guinea|Lae Nadzab Airport}}
{{For|the civil airport in Lae, Papua New Guinea|Lae Nadzab Airport}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
⚫
{{Infobox military structure
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
⚫
| name = Lae Airfield<BR>[[Image:5th usaaf.svg|60px]]
⚫
{{Infobox military installation
⚫
| partof = [[Fifth Air Force]]
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| name = Lae Airfield<br/>[[File:Fifth Air Force - Emblem (World War II).svg|60px]]
| location = Located in Morobe Province, Paupa New Guinea
⚫
| partof = [[Fifth Air Force]]
<center>
{{Location map|Papua New Guinea
| location = Located in Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea
|pushpin_map= Papua New Guinea
|label= Lae Airfield
|pushpin_label= Lae Airfield
|marksize=6|mark=Red_pog.svg
|pushpin_mapsize=300
|lat_dir=S|lat_deg=06|lat_min=43|lat_sec=59
|lon_dir=E|lon_deg=146|lon_min=59|lon_sec=45
|width=300}}
</center>
| coordinates = {{Coord|06|43|59|S|146|59|45|E|type:airport}}<ref>[http://gc.kls2.com/airport/AYLA.OLD Lae Airfield (AYLA)] at Great Circle Mapper</ref>
| coordinates = {{Coord|06|43|59|S|146|59|45|E|type:airport}}<ref>[http://gc.kls2.com/airport/AYLA.OLD Lae Airfield (AYLA)] at Great Circle Mapper</ref>
| image =
| image =[http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Iro6AankEEI/R1NQSMyJ8NI/AAAAAAAAALM/xv3Mzv_bGJs/s1600-R/The+old+Lae+airport+in+its+heyday+in+the+1970s.JPG Photo of Old Lae Airport- Circa 1970]
| caption =
| caption =
| type = Civilian/Military Airfield
| type = Civilian/Military Airfield
| code =
| code =
| built = 1930s (prewar airport)
| built = 1930s (prewar airport)
| builder =
| builder =
| materials =
| materials =
| height =
| height =
| used = 1942–1945
| used = 1942–1945
| demolished =
| demolished =
| condition =
| condition =
| ownership =
| ownership =
| controlled by = [[United States Army Air Forces]]
| controlled by = [[United States Army Air Forces]]
| garrison =
| garrison =
| commanders =
| commanders =
| occupants =
| occupants =
| battles =
| battles =
| events =
| events =
}}
}}
[[File:B-17s-attacking-lae-1942.jpg|thumb|B-17s of the [[19th Airlift Wing|19th Bombardment Group]] attacking Japanese-held Lae Airfield, New Guinea on 26–27 June 1942. Boeing B-17E Fortress 41-2633 (Sally) in Foreground. This aircraft was damaged by a storm in April 1945. Afterwards it was flown to [[Brisbane]], [[Australia]] for scrapping in May 1945]]
[[File:B-17s-attacking-lae-1942.jpg|thumb|B-17s of the [[19th Airlift Wing|19th Bombardment Group]] attacking Japanese-held Lae Airfield, New Guinea on 26–27 June 1942. Boeing B-17E Fortress 41-2633 (Sally) in Foreground. This aircraft was damaged by a storm in April 1945. Afterwards it was flown to [[Brisbane]], Australia for scrapping in May 1945]]


'''Lae Airfield''' is a former [[World War II]] airfield and later, civilian airport located at [[Lae]], [[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 airport was known as '''Lae Drome''' or '''Lae Aerodrome'''
'''Lae Airfield''' is a former [[World War II]] airfield and later, civilian airport located at [[Lae]], [[Morobe Province]], [[Papua New Guinea]]. The airport was closed in the 1980s, in favour of [[Lae Nadzab Airport]], which was able to accommodate larger jet aircraft. The airport was also known as '''Lae Drome''' or '''Lae Aerodrome'''.


==History==
==History==
The airport was built in 1927 and was an operating airport until 1977. The airport construction resulted in Lae becoming a major city in Papua New Guinea.
The airport was built in 1927 and was an operating airport until 1977. The airport construction resulted in Lae becoming a major city in Papua New Guinea.


=== Post WW1 ===
=== Post World War I===


In 1921 when the military administration ended after [[World War I]], a gold prospector named Cecil John Levien was appointed District Officer of Morobe. On 1 January 1923 Levien acquired a mining right for the area and shortly after formed a syndicate called ''Guinea Gold (No Liability)''.<ref>Kernot, C, 1999, "Valuing Mining Companies: A Guide to the Assessment and Evaluation of Assets, Performance, and Prospects" in ''Business and Economics'' CRC Press [http://books.google.com.pg/books?id=QxG1RujIlLMC&dq=Guinea+Gold+(No+Liability)&source=gbs_navlinks_s]</ref>
In 1921 when the military administration ended after [[World War I]], a gold prospector named Cecil John Levien was appointed District Officer of Morobe. On 1 January 1923 Levien acquired a mining right for the area and shortly after formed a syndicate called ''Guinea Gold (No Liability)''.<ref>Kernot, C, 1999, "Valuing Mining Companies: A Guide to the Assessment and Evaluation of Assets, Performance, and Prospects" in ''Business and Economics'' CRC Press [https://books.google.com/books?id=QxG1RujIlLMC&q=Guinea+Gold+(No+Liability)]</ref>


In November 1927 the Guinea Gold syndicate became Guinea Airways Limited <ref>''Australian Dictionary of Biography'', Volume 10, (MUP), 1986 Levien, Cecil John (1874–1932) [http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/levien-cecil-john-7179]</ref> and Levien arranged for the construction of the airstrip to assist the gold mine productions around [[Wau, Papua New Guinea|Wau]].<ref>[http://books.google.com.pg/books?id=su8-AQAAIAAJ&q=Cecil+J.+Levien+Lae+airport&dq=Cecil+J.+Levien+Lae+airport&hl=en&sa=X&ei=6LzMUpuYCIXOlAWivYHoDQ&ved=0CC0Q6AEwAA Lipscomb, A, McKinnon, R & Murray, J 1998 ''Lonely Planet'']</ref>
In November 1927 the Guinea Gold syndicate became Guinea Airways Limited<ref>''Australian Dictionary of Biography'', Volume 10, (MUP), 1986 Levien, Cecil John (1874–1932) [http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/levien-cecil-john-7179]</ref> and Levien arranged for the construction of the airstrip to assist the gold mine productions around [[Wau, Papua New Guinea|Wau]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=su8-AQAAIAAJ&q=Cecil+J.+Levien+Lae+airport Lipscomb, A, McKinnon, R & Murray, J 1998 ''Lonely Planet'']</ref>


=== WW2 ===
=== World War II ===


In February 1942 the airfield was [[Invasion of Salamaua–Lae|occupied by the Japanese]] and was developed into a forward airbase. As part of the Lae defences, the Japanese created many [[Tunnel warfare|tunnel]]s around the airport. During Japanese occupation they also upgraded the nearby [[Malahang, Papua New Guinea|Malahang]] runway to be used as a satellite of Lae Airfield.
In February 1942 Nadzab was a mission station with a small landing strip which was quickly neglected when war broke out. It was never used by the Japanese. During Japanese occupation they upgraded the nearby [[Malahang, Papua New Guinea|Malahang]] runway to be used as a satellite of Lae Airfield.


In September 1943 the Nadzab mission was invaded by US paratroopers dropping from 96 C-47s. Reconstruction of the airstrip began immediately. Overhead some 250 bombers and fighters provided cover by bombing Japanese troop positions and fuel depots. Next day elements of the 7th Australian Division were flown in to attack Lae from the north whilst the 9th Australian Division landed to the east by sea to move on Lae in a pincer movement. The 503rd Bomber Group historian wrote:
In September 1943 the airfield was heavily bombed by Allied forces including six [[65th Bombardment Squadron|65th BS]] [[B-17 Flying Fortress|B-17]]s until its liberation in the [[Salamaua–Lae campaign]]. Encountering no anti-aircraft fire or enemy fighter opposition, the 65th BS historian wrote;


:"''Bombing was excellent. The mission was uneventful''".<ref name="Salecker2001">Gene Eric Salecker. ''[http://books.google.com/books?id=SlHUI_wWgGAC&pg=PA365 Fortress Against The Sun: The B-17]''. Da Capo Press; 2001. ISBN 0-306-81715-2. p. 365–.</ref>
:"''Bombing was excellent. The mission was uneventful''".<ref name="Salecker2001">Gene Eric Salecker. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=SlHUI_wWgGAC&pg=PA365 Fortress Against The Sun: The B-17]''. Da Capo Press; 2001. {{ISBN|0-306-81715-2}}. p. 365–.</ref>


[[Lyndon B. Johnson]] was appointed Lieutenant Commander in the [[United States Naval Reserve]] on 21 June 1940. Eleven [[Martin_B-26_Marauder]]s of the [[22d_Operations_Group|22nd Bomb Group]] departed [[Townsville]] on 8 June 1942, arrived in [[Port Moresby]] and raided Lae on 9 June 1942. The mission was called "TOW 9" and Lieutenant Commander Lyndon Baines Johnson, the future 36th President of the United States, went on this raid as an observer on the aircraft, the ''Heckling Hare''. {{efn|The aircraft the ''Heckling Hare'' (#40-1488) was probably named after the cartoon [[The Heckling Hare]]}}{{efn|The aircraft was also known as the ''Arkansas Traveller''}} Nine days after the raid, Johnson was awarded a [[Silver Star]] medal for his participation in the above bombing raid.<ref name="Tunny1991">{{cite book|author=Noel Tunny|title=Gateway to Victory: The Establishment of the First U.S. Armed Forces in Australia 1941-42 : 3rd Bomb Group (M), 7th Bomb Group (H), 19th Bomb Group (H), 22nd Bomb Group (M), 27th Bomb Group (L), 49 Fighter Group|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=KhxmAAAACAAJ|year=1991|publisher=N. Tunny|isbn=978-0-646-08883-9}}</ref><ref name="Claringbould1999">{{cite book|author=Michael John Claringbould|title=The Forgotten Fifth: A Photographic Chronology of the U.S. Fifth Air Force in the Pacific in World War Two|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=EmeOHAAACAAJ|year=1999|publisher=Aerothentic Publications of Australia}}</ref> in <ref name=DunnLBJ>{{cite web|last=Dunn|first=Peter|title=Lyndon Baynes [sic] Johnson: His Time in Townsville and the Bombing Raid on Lae "Tow 9" - 9 June 1942|url=http://www.ozatwar.com/tow9.htm|work=Oz@War|accessdate=2 March 2014}}</ref>
[[Lyndon B. Johnson]] was appointed Lieutenant Commander in the [[United States Naval Reserve]] on 21 June 1940. Eleven [[Martin B-26 Marauder]]s of the [[22nd Bombardment Group]] departed [[Townsville]] on 8 June 1942, arrived in [[Port Moresby]] and raided Lae on 9 June 1942. The mission was called "TOW 9" and Lieutenant Commander Lyndon Baines Johnson, the future 36th President of the United States, went on this raid as an observer on the aircraft, the ''Heckling Hare''. {{efn|The aircraft the ''Heckling Hare'' (#40-1488) was probably named after the cartoon [[The Heckling Hare]]}}{{efn|The aircraft was also known as the ''Arkansas Traveller''}} Nine days after the raid, Johnson was awarded a [[Silver Star]] medal for his participation in the above bombing raid.<ref name="Tunny1991">{{cite book|author=Noel Tunny|title=Gateway to Victory: The Establishment of the First U.S. Armed Forces in Australia 1941–42 : 3rd Bomb Group (M), 7th Bomb Group (H), 19th Bomb Group (H), 22nd Bomb Group (M), 27th Bomb Group (L), 49 Fighter Group|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KhxmAAAACAAJ|year=1991|publisher=N. Tunny|isbn=978-0-646-08883-9}}</ref><ref name="Claringbould1999">{{cite book|author=Michael John Claringbould|title=The Forgotten Fifth: A Photographic Chronology of the U.S. Fifth Air Force in the Pacific in World War Two|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EmeOHAAACAAJ|year=1999|publisher=Aerothentic Publications of Australia}}</ref> in<ref name=DunnLBJ>{{cite web|last=Dunn|first=Peter|title=Lyndon Baynes [sic] Johnson: His Time in Townsville and the Bombing Raid on Lae "Tow 9" – 9 June 1942|url=http://www.ozatwar.com/tow9.htm|work=Oz@War|accessdate=2 March 2014}}</ref>


=== Post WW2 ===
=== Post WW2 ===


The airstrip recovered to become a significant factor in the development of post-war PNG <ref name="old Lae">[http://malumnalu.blogspot.com/2007/12/old-lae-airport-old-lae-airport-has.html The old Lae airport, Dec 03, 2007, ''Malum Nalu'' accessed 8 Jan 2014]</ref>
The airstrip recovered to become a significant factor in the development of post-war PNG<ref name="old Lae">[http://malumnalu.blogspot.com/2007/12/old-lae-airport-old-lae-airport-has.html The old Lae airport, Dec 03, 2007, ''Malum Nalu'' accessed 8 Jan 2014]</ref>


=== Decommission ===
=== Decommission ===


The old Lae airfield started losing its thunder in 1977 when [[Lae Nadzab Airport|Nadzab Airport]], a [[United States Air Force]] base, became operational. Fierce political squabbling over the pros and cons of Lae and Nadzab continued until 1982, when, in an unsolved mystery, the Lae airport terminal was burned down.<ref name="old Lae"/>
The old Lae airfield started losing its thunder in 1977 when [[Lae Nadzab Airport]], a [[United States Air Force|former wartime United States Air Force]] base, became operational. Fierce political squabbling over the pros and cons of Lae and Nadzab continued until 1982, when, in an unsolved mystery, the Lae airport terminal was burned down.<ref name="old Lae"/>
[[File:Airnewguinea-old-lae-airfield.jpg|thumb|left|Photo of original Air Niugini terminal at [[Lae Airport (Papua New Guinea)|old Lae airfield]]. Taken 29 Jan 2014]]
[[File:Airnewguinea-old-lae-airfield.jpg|thumb|left|Photo of original Air Niugini terminal at [[Lae Airport (Papua New Guinea)|old Lae airfield]]. Taken 29 January 2014]]
Lae airfield continued to be used by [[Air Niugini]] and other third-level airlines until 1987. It was also used as the base for the [[Papua New Guinea Defence Force]] until it was transferred to Port Moresby in 1992.<ref name="old Lae"/>
Lae airfield continued to be used by [[Air Niugini]] and other third-level airlines until 1987. It was also used as the base for the [[Papua New Guinea Defence Force]] until it was transferred to Port Moresby in 1992.<ref name="old Lae"/>
[[File:Old-lae-airfield.jpg|thumb|Photo overlooking the old Lae airfield from "Top Town" - Lae CBD. At the bottom of the photo is the Amelia Earhart memorial. Photo taken 29 January 2014]]
[[File:Old-lae-airfield.jpg|thumb|Photo overlooking the old Lae airfield from "Top Town" – Lae CBD. At the bottom of the photo is the Amelia Earhart memorial. Photo taken 29 January 2014]]


== First flight ==
== First flight ==


The first flight into the airfield was a [[de Havilland DH.37|DH-37]] flown by E. A. "Pard" Mustar. The aircraft was shipped from [[Essendon]] to [[Rabaul]] on the S.S. Melusia <ref>[http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?201086 Melusia SS Shuncho Maru, ''Wrecksite.eu'' accessed 8 Jan 2014]</ref> and flown to Lae on 31 March 1927.
The first flight into the airfield was a [[de Havilland DH.37|DH-37]] flown by E. A. "Pard" Mustar. The aircraft was shipped from [[Essendon Airport]] to [[Rabaul]] on the S.S. Melusia<ref>[http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?201086 Melusia SS Shuncho Maru, ''Wrecksite.eu'' accessed 8 Jan 2014]</ref> and flown to Lae on 31 March 1927.


From 1922 to 1942 the airfield was part of a massive airlift operation to service the Bulolo goldfields and was one of the largest airlift operations in the world.<ref name="old Lae"/> [[Junkers W34]] tri-motor planes were ideal and the German Junkers aeroplanes played a major part in the exploration and development of what is today Papua New Guinea. To mine the gold required the construction on site of several 1500+ ton dredges with the heaviest part scaling over 3 tons.
From 1922 to 1942 the airfield was part of a massive airlift operation to service the Bulolo goldfields and was one of the largest airlift operations in the world.<ref name="old Lae"/> [[Junkers W34]] planes were ideal and the German Junkers aeroplanes played a major part in the exploration and development of what is today Papua New Guinea. To mine the gold required the construction on site of several 1500+ ton dredges with the heaviest part scaling over 3 tons.


== Junkers W34 aircraft ==
== Junkers W34 aircraft ==


The first Junkers W34 B, VH-UGZ (<small>c/n 2601 CoR 195-crashed Wau 6/3/1930</small><ref>[http://www.airhistory.org.uk/gy/reg_VH-U.html Civil Aircraft Australia]</ref>), was bought disassembled in big crates to New Guinea and made its test flight on 10 April 1928. The first two G31s were called Peter and Paul, the third simply G31. This aircraft could carry two passengers and a ton of freight in the cargo compartment. In the first 19 days of operation the W34 No 1 earned gross revenue of £2,649 with field costs of £360. The second W34 was ordered on the 8th June 1928 and arrived in December. By then No 1 W34 had carried 500 passengers and 300 tons of freight. Guinea Airways eventually purchased five of these simple, rugged and honest Junkers machines unmatched at the time by any other manufacturer. The aircraft could be loaded or unloaded in 15 minutes through a large open hatch on the roof with the gantry crane above the aircraft.<ref>Linke, R 2006, The influence of German surveying on the development of New Guinea, [http://www.aspng.org/hs02_04_linke_0976.pdf Association of Surveyors of PNG]. Accessed 25 January 2014.</ref>
The first Junkers W34 B, VH-UGZ ({{small|c/n 2601 CoR 195-crashed Wau 6 March 1930}}<ref>[http://www.airhistory.org.uk/gy/reg_VH-U.html Civil Aircraft Australia]</ref>), was bought disassembled in big crates to New Guinea and made its test flight on 10 April 1928. The first two G31s were called Peter and Paul, the third simply G31. This aircraft could carry two passengers and a ton of freight in the cargo compartment. In the first 19 days of operation the W34 No 1 earned gross revenue of £2,649 with field costs of £360. The second W34 was ordered on 8 June 1928 and arrived in December. By then No 1 W34 had carried 500 passengers and 300 tons of freight. Guinea Airways eventually purchased five of these simple, rugged and honest Junkers machines unmatched at the time by any other manufacturer. The aircraft could be loaded or unloaded in 15 minutes through a large open hatch on the roof with the gantry crane above the aircraft.<ref>Linke, R 2006, The influence of German surveying on the development of New Guinea, [http://www.aspng.org/hs02_04_linke_0976.pdf Association of Surveyors of PNG]. Accessed 25 January 2014.</ref>


== Amelia Earhart ==
== Amelia Earhart ==
[[File:Amelia Earhart monument.jpg|thumb|right|Amelia Earhart monument situated near old airfield. Note the Japanese anti-aircraft gun. Bronze plaque since stolen. Photo taken 7 Jan 2014]]
[[File:Amelia Earhart monument.jpg|thumb|right|Amelia Earhart monument situated near old airfield. Note the Japanese anti-aircraft gun. Bronze plaque since stolen. Photo taken 7 January 2014]]
The Lae airport is probably best remembered for being the point of departure in July 1937 for [[Amelia Earhart]] and navigator [[Fred Noonan]] on their flight to [[Howland Island]]. Earhart's plane disappeared near Howland Island some 19 hours after departing Lae airport.
The Lae airport is probably best remembered for being the point of departure in July 1937 for [[Amelia Earhart]] and navigator [[Fred Noonan]] on their flight to [[Howland Island]]. Earhart's plane disappeared near Howland Island some 19 hours after departing Lae airport.


Line 85: Line 82:
==Former Airlines==
==Former Airlines==
*Bulolo Goldfields Air Service
*Bulolo Goldfields Air Service
*Guinea Airways
*[[Airlines of South Australia|Guinea Airways]]
*Morlae Airlines (Port Moresby)
*Morlae Airlines (Port Moresby)
*[[Ansett Airways]]
*[[Ansett Airways]]
*[[Trans Australia Airlines]]
*[[Trans Australia Airlines]]
*[[Air Niugini]]
*[[Air Niugini]]
*[[Qantas]]


==See also==
==See also==

{{Portal|United States Air Force|Military of the United States|World War II}}
* [[United States Army Air Forces in the South West Pacific Theatre|USAAF in the Southwest Pacific]]
* [[United States Army Air Forces in the South West Pacific Theatre|USAAF in the Southwest Pacific]]


==References==
==References==
{{Air Force Historical Research Agency}}
{{Air Force Historical Research Agency}}
{{Reflist|2}}
<references />


==Notes==
==Notes==
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{{USAAF 5th Air Force World War II}}
{{USAAF 5th Air Force World War II}}
{{Lae}}
{{Lae}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Defunct airports in Papua New Guinea]]
[[Category:Airports in Papua New Guinea]]
[[Category:Airports in Papua New Guinea]]
[[Category:Airfields of the United States Army Air Forces in Papua New Guinea]]
[[Category:Airfields of the United States Army Air Forces in Papua New Guinea]]

Latest revision as of 04:49, 6 June 2024

For the civil airport in Lae, Papua New Guinea, see Lae Nadzab Airport.

Lae Airfield
Part of Fifth Air Force
Located in Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea
Lae Airfield is located in Papua New Guinea
Lae Airfield
Lae Airfield
Coordinates06°43′59″S 146°59′45″E / 6.73306°S 146.99583°E / -6.73306; 146.99583[1]
TypeCivilian/Military Airfield
Site information
Controlled byUnited States Army Air Forces
Site history
Built1930s (prewar airport)
In use1942–1945
B-17s of the 19th Bombardment Group attacking Japanese-held Lae Airfield, New Guinea on 26–27 June 1942. Boeing B-17E Fortress 41-2633 (Sally) in Foreground. This aircraft was damaged by a storm in April 1945. Afterwards it was flown to Brisbane, Australia for scrapping in May 1945

Lae Airfield is a former World War II airfield and later, civilian airport located at Lae, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea. The airport was closed in the 1980s, in favour of Lae Nadzab Airport, which was able to accommodate larger jet aircraft. The airport was also known as Lae Drome or Lae Aerodrome.

History

[edit]

The airport was built in 1927 and was an operating airport until 1977. The airport construction resulted in Lae becoming a major city in Papua New Guinea.

Post World War I

[edit]

In 1921 when the military administration ended after World War I, a gold prospector named Cecil John Levien was appointed District Officer of Morobe. On 1 January 1923 Levien acquired a mining right for the area and shortly after formed a syndicate called Guinea Gold (No Liability).[2]

In November 1927 the Guinea Gold syndicate became Guinea Airways Limited[3] and Levien arranged for the construction of the airstrip to assist the gold mine productions around Wau.[4]

World War II

[edit]

In February 1942 Nadzab was a mission station with a small landing strip which was quickly neglected when war broke out. It was never used by the Japanese. During Japanese occupation they upgraded the nearby Malahang runway to be used as a satellite of Lae Airfield.

In September 1943 the Nadzab mission was invaded by US paratroopers dropping from 96 C-47s. Reconstruction of the airstrip began immediately. Overhead some 250 bombers and fighters provided cover by bombing Japanese troop positions and fuel depots. Next day elements of the 7th Australian Division were flown in to attack Lae from the north whilst the 9th Australian Division landed to the east by sea to move on Lae in a pincer movement. The 503rd Bomber Group historian wrote:

"Bombing was excellent. The mission was uneventful".[5]

Lyndon B. Johnson was appointed Lieutenant Commander in the United States Naval Reserve on 21 June 1940. Eleven Martin B-26 Marauders of the 22nd Bombardment Group departed Townsville on 8 June 1942, arrived in Port Moresby and raided Lae on 9 June 1942. The mission was called "TOW 9" and Lieutenant Commander Lyndon Baines Johnson, the future 36th President of the United States, went on this raid as an observer on the aircraft, the Heckling Hare. [a][b] Nine days after the raid, Johnson was awarded a Silver Star medal for his participation in the above bombing raid.[6][7] in[8]

Post WW2

[edit]

The airstrip recovered to become a significant factor in the development of post-war PNG[9]

Decommission

[edit]

The old Lae airfield started losing its thunder in 1977 when Lae Nadzab Airport, a former wartime United States Air Force base, became operational. Fierce political squabbling over the pros and cons of Lae and Nadzab continued until 1982, when, in an unsolved mystery, the Lae airport terminal was burned down.[9]

Photo of original Air Niugini terminal at old Lae airfield. Taken 29 January 2014

Lae airfield continued to be used by Air Niugini and other third-level airlines until 1987. It was also used as the base for the Papua New Guinea Defence Force until it was transferred to Port Moresby in 1992.[9]

Photo overlooking the old Lae airfield from "Top Town" – Lae CBD. At the bottom of the photo is the Amelia Earhart memorial. Photo taken 29 January 2014

First flight

[edit]

The first flight into the airfield was a DH-37 flown by E. A. "Pard" Mustar. The aircraft was shipped from Essendon Airport to Rabaul on the S.S. Melusia[10] and flown to Lae on 31 March 1927.

From 1922 to 1942 the airfield was part of a massive airlift operation to service the Bulolo goldfields and was one of the largest airlift operations in the world.[9] Junkers W34 planes were ideal and the German Junkers aeroplanes played a major part in the exploration and development of what is today Papua New Guinea. To mine the gold required the construction on site of several 1500+ ton dredges with the heaviest part scaling over 3 tons.

Junkers W34 aircraft

[edit]

The first Junkers W34 B, VH-UGZ (c/n 2601 CoR 195-crashed Wau 6 March 1930[11]), was bought disassembled in big crates to New Guinea and made its test flight on 10 April 1928. The first two G31s were called Peter and Paul, the third simply G31. This aircraft could carry two passengers and a ton of freight in the cargo compartment. In the first 19 days of operation the W34 No 1 earned gross revenue of £2,649 with field costs of £360. The second W34 was ordered on 8 June 1928 and arrived in December. By then No 1 W34 had carried 500 passengers and 300 tons of freight. Guinea Airways eventually purchased five of these simple, rugged and honest Junkers machines unmatched at the time by any other manufacturer. The aircraft could be loaded or unloaded in 15 minutes through a large open hatch on the roof with the gantry crane above the aircraft.[12]

Amelia Earhart

[edit]
Amelia Earhart monument situated near old airfield. Note the Japanese anti-aircraft gun. Bronze plaque since stolen. Photo taken 7 January 2014

The Lae airport is probably best remembered for being the point of departure in July 1937 for Amelia Earhart and navigator Fred Noonan on their flight to Howland Island. Earhart's plane disappeared near Howland Island some 19 hours after departing Lae airport.

Allied Units based at Lae Airfield

[edit]
  • Headquarters, 309th Bombardment Wing (1 February – 3 March 1944) B-24 Liberator

Former Airlines

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

  1. ^ Lae Airfield (AYLA) at Great Circle Mapper
  2. ^ Kernot, C, 1999, "Valuing Mining Companies: A Guide to the Assessment and Evaluation of Assets, Performance, and Prospects" in Business and Economics CRC Press [1]
  3. ^ Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 10, (MUP), 1986 Levien, Cecil John (1874–1932) [2]
  4. ^ Lipscomb, A, McKinnon, R & Murray, J 1998 Lonely Planet
  5. ^ Gene Eric Salecker. Fortress Against The Sun: The B-17. Da Capo Press; 2001. ISBN 0-306-81715-2. p. 365–.
  6. ^ Noel Tunny (1991). Gateway to Victory: The Establishment of the First U.S. Armed Forces in Australia 1941–42 : 3rd Bomb Group (M), 7th Bomb Group (H), 19th Bomb Group (H), 22nd Bomb Group (M), 27th Bomb Group (L), 49 Fighter Group. N. Tunny. ISBN 978-0-646-08883-9.
  7. ^ Michael John Claringbould (1999). The Forgotten Fifth: A Photographic Chronology of the U.S. Fifth Air Force in the Pacific in World War Two. Aerothentic Publications of Australia.
  8. ^ Dunn, Peter. "Lyndon Baynes [sic] Johnson: His Time in Townsville and the Bombing Raid on Lae "Tow 9" – 9 June 1942". Oz@War. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
  9. ^ a b c d The old Lae airport, Dec 03, 2007, Malum Nalu accessed 8 Jan 2014
  10. ^ Melusia SS Shuncho Maru, Wrecksite.eu accessed 8 Jan 2014
  11. ^ Civil Aircraft Australia
  12. ^ Linke, R 2006, The influence of German surveying on the development of New Guinea, Association of Surveyors of PNG. Accessed 25 January 2014.

Notes

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  1. ^ The aircraft the Heckling Hare (#40-1488) was probably named after the cartoon The Heckling Hare
  2. ^ The aircraft was also known as the Arkansas Traveller
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