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    Plaine Des Gaiacs Airfield (De Gaiacs)  New Caledonia
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Nicholas Duprey 1993

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Nicolas Duprey 2000
Location
Lat 21°15′4.97″S Long 164°55′19.61″E  Plaine Des Gaiacs Airfield was located at Plaine Des Gaiacs (PDG) near Pouembout (Puembut) on New Caledonia. Located roughly 300km to the southeast is Nouméa. Also known as simply "De Gaiacs". Named for the Gaiac tree that grow in the area. Also spelled "Plaine de Gaiac" [sic] in some wartime references or "Plaines Des Gaiacs" [sic].

Construction
Early in the war, Free French we in control of the field. The airfield was expanded with two massive sealed runways. Expanded by the U.S. Army for military use as a staging and training base for aircraft bound for Australia or north to the New Hebridies (Vanuatu) combat zones.

Wartime History
Used by the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as a military airfield for heavy and medium bombers. Also used by the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF).

Allied units based at Plaine Des Gaiacs
U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF)
11th BG, 98th BS (B-17s) Hickam arrives July 21, 1942–August 11, 1942 departs Espiritu Santo
42nd BG, 69th BS (B-26, B-25s) Hickam arrives June 23, 1942–December 1942 departs Guadalcanal returns Oct 20–Nov 10, 1943 Renard
Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF)
No. 9 Squadron (Hudsons) 1942-1943

On July 21, 1942 B-17E Flying Fortresses from the 11th Bombardment Group (11th BG), 98th Bombardment Squadron (98th BS) led by Colonel Saunders arrive at Plaine des Gaiacs Airfield. The runway was described as covered with a fine red soil high in iron oxide and hacked out of a swamp. The red dust damaged air filters and cylinders that reducing engine life Additional complications were caused by a lack of service and maintenance personnel. On July 23, 1942 B-17s from the squadron fly their first photographic reconnaissance of the Guadalcanal-Tulagi-Gavutu in the Solomon Islands.

Today
Disused since the war. Overgrown, the runways are still visible and many small traces of the American occupation remain including fuel drums and pieces of metal.

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Last Updated
March 6, 2023

 

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