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Location
Located to the north of Port Moresby, seven miles from town.
Construction
A prewar airstrip with two parallel runways. American B-17 Flying Fortresses used the airfield en route to Clark Field on September 9, 1941. During the war, it was further expanded and improved by the Australians and Americans.
Wartime History
This airfield was one of the primary airfields at Port Moresby at the start of the Japanese bombing campaign, and one of their principal targets. It based the first fighters that flew in defense of Port Moresby, RAAF 75 Squadron from March - May 1942.
When American forces arrived in April 1942, the airfield was
further developed. Revetment were constructed to protect parked aircraft and defenses. A network of taxiways
between Jackson 7-Mile and Wards
(5 Mile) made it possible to taxi between the two airfields.
The airfield then consisted of three parallel runways, running roughly north-west to south-east. In the middle was the original runway, a fighter strip 3,000' x 100' surfaced with martson matting (as of December 9, 1942). To the north-east side was a new bomber strip 3,000' x 150' surfaced with marston matting (as of December 9, 1942) later expanded to 3,750'. On the south-west side was a crash strip 7,500' x 100' (as of December 9, 1942).
Japanese
Air Raids Against Port Moresby
February 2, 1942 - April 12, 1943 (plus nighttime
harassment).
RAAF Units
Based at Jackson
75 Squadron (P-40s) March 21 - May 1942
USAAF Units Based at Jackson
43rd BG HQ Mareeba Jan 43 - Dec 10, 1943 Dobodura
43rd BG 63rd BS (B-17) Mareeba Jan 20, 43 - Oct 29, 43 Dobodura
43rd BG 64th BS (B-17) Mareeba Jan 20, 43 - Oct 29, 43 Dobodura
43rd BG 65th BS (B-17) Mareeba Jan 20, 1943 - Dec 11, 43 Dobodura
43rd BG, 403rd BS (B-24) Mareeba May 11, 1943 - Dec 13, 43 Dobodura
35th FG, 41st FS (P-39) Bankstown July 20 - Aug 16, 43 Tsili Tsili
Naming
The strip was named 'Jackson' on November 10, 1942 in honor of RAAF pilot John Jackson shot
down and killed in action April 28, 1942 flying P-40E
A29-8. To Americans, the airfield was known as '7 Mile'.
Today
In use since the war as Papua New Guinea's international airport, and the air hub for all Air Niugini flights in and
out of the nation. Also, a number of smaller regional airlines and helicopter and aviation services.
Jackson Memorial
RAAF
memorial for John Jackson killed in action while flying P-40E
A29-8. The memorial is shaped like a wing with a bronze plaque
reads: "Erected
in the memory of Squadron Leader John Francis Jackson, D.F.C.
75 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force, killed in action 28th
April, 1942 aged 34 for whom this airfield is named."
PNG Defense Force Memorial
Located on the northern side of the strip outside the PNGDF
base, this memorial is not related to WWII history, rather
PNGDF. But, the memorial is made
from the tail rudder of a C-47 and there is a wartime 50
caliber machine gun displayed there.
Bomber Revetments
At
the western end of the airport are several large revetments for B-17 and B-24 bombers,
still in excellent condition.
Air Depot Hangers
Two hangers built by the American forces near 7-Mile Drome. These had concrete bases, and Quonset hut type coverings, near the bomber revetment area. Today, all that remains is the concrete base inside the Moitaka Wildlife Preserve.
DC-3 Bureau
No 27110
(DC-3 "Larry
Blackman")
Displayed
on a pole near the old terminal building
C-47A Serial
No 42-24139
(DC-3 P2-ANN)
Stored
in PNG Defense Force area
C-47B Serial
Number 44-76545
(DC-3 P2-002)
Displayed
at the Airways Hotel as "Balus Bar"
P-400 Serial
Number AP 347
Recovered
from Bulldog, displayed at Pilot's Club (Aero Club)
Tent City
On the SE of Jackson is exactly as it was
during the war, and is littered with wartime debris, of 55 gallon
drums and rusted drop tanks. This area was abandoned in 1944,
and today is covered by bush and shrubs. This area was known
as 'tent city' were troops were billeted, huts and mess halls
constructed for the pilots and ground crews. When the kunai grass
is burned off, there are some bits of aluminum and other
wartime relics visible, including metal and drums.
Enlisted Men's Club
Behind Jackson, on top of a small hill, is the slab
for the 65th Enlisted Men's Club. Portion of concrete engraved
with this has been up-turned. In the valley below, away
from the strip is the slab for the 64th Enlisted Men's club. Thanks to Bruce Hoy for this information.
65th Enlisted Men's Club Concrete Slab
A concrete slab for the 65th Enlisted Men's Club is reported
to still remains,
in pieces, behind Jackson. Thanks to Bruce Hoy for this information.
Fort Nub (John's Gully)
Located to the north-west of 7-Mile Drome. In or near a feature know as John's Gully. The wartime road from 7-Mile northward, towards Sogeri, Owen's Corner and the start of the Kokoda Trail ran past this location. A wartime quarry was present to the west.
Fort Nub was a base that was the nerve center for forward spotters, before they moved to Rouna. Warnings would be received at Fort Nub and relayed around the Port Moresby area to alert gun crews and sound alarms. The base was manned by Americans, and Australian were camped across the road. Ft Nub was the HQ for the 101st Light Anti-Aircraft unit from Georgia. The was a Australian Battalion there also that was responsible for coastal patrols around Port Moresby shoreline on a 24 hour basis.
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Last Updated
May 13, 2009
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