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Location
Lat 6° 44' 0" Long 155° 42' 0" Located near the village of Kara and 5km from Buin. Built on the land of a prewar Catholic Mission.
Naming
Known by the Japanese as 'Kara' or 'Toripoil'. The Allies called the airfield 'Kara'. To add to the confusion, post war this airfield was known as 'Buin Airport' when used by Air Niugini.
Construction
Built by the Japanese, this airfield became operational in September 1943. A single runway 4,000' x 280' with "U' shaped revetments on the eastern side and a control tower at the northern end.
Wartime Usage
Japanese used this airfield primarily as a fighter strip. On October 1, 1943 Allied reconnaissance observed no aircraft at the airfield.
American Missions Against Kara
September 15, 1943 - June 3, 1944
After the Allied landing on Bougainville, Kara Airfield was cut off. As a morale boosting exercise
for the 60-70 maitanance personnel at the airfield and without
flyable aircraft, a Zero was repaired. Using spare parts from many Zeros A6M3 Zero 3844 was restored to flying condition by July 1945. Petty Officer Sekizen Shibayama, was flown aboard a E13A Jake from Rabaul to Buin (near Kara) and was instructed to test-fly the Zero and ferry it back to Rabaul.
The war ended before he was able to test it.
Postwar
After surrender, rumors of the intact Zero at Kara reached the Allies, and two flights by RAAF aircraft from Piva Yoke Airfield to Kara were made. On September 14, RAAF Auster A11-3 and landed at Kara. The next day, RAAF 5 Squadron Wirraway landed at Kara with Wing Commander Bill Kofoed and Engineer Officer C D Kingsford, to inspect the Zero, and fly it to Piva.
Today
This airfield was known as "Buin Airport" and used by Air Niugini for flights to the Buin area until the 1989 'Bougainville Crisis'. Since then, it has been abandoned again and is overgrown.
Referenes
AWM F07335 film footage, September 15, 1945
A6M3
Zero Manufacture
Number 3844 Tail 2-182
Damaged on the ground, repaired and surrendered to New Zealand
Type
88 75mm Anti-Aircraft Gun
Emplaced
off the Kara Airstrip, and overgrown to this day
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Last Updated
October 2, 2009
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