Kavieng Airfield

Click For Enlargement
Click For Enlargement
Click For Enlargement
Click For Enlargement
Click For Enlargement
c1943
Click For Enlargement
October 20, 1945

Click For Enlargement
David Paulley 1982

 

Location
Located on the North Cape at Kavieng.

Construction
Built by the Australians just before the start of the war. As the Japanese landed, the commandos blew craters into the runway, and retreated thru the nearby swamps.

History
Japanese expanded and improved the airfield. During the war, it was a single 5,000' runway with large taxi and dispersal areas to each side of the runway.

Units Based at Kavieng:
252nd Kokutai (A6M Zero)
253rd Kokutai (A6M Zero)
251st Kokutai (G4M1 Betty) also Vunakanau Nov - Dec 1943
751st Kokutai (G4M1 Betty)

Japanese & American Missions Against Kavieng
January 21, 1942 - April 8, 1944

Post War Scrapping
After the war, the salvage rights to the strip sold to Harry Croydon, of Rabaul who melted down most of the remaining wrecks for scrap metal.

Brian Bennett recalls:
"Harry Croydon with the scrapping rights for Kavieng did a very good job. I had never been able to find any wreckage there, aside from a single tail wheel assembly from a Betty."

Today
Still in use by Air Nugini as the main airport for Kavieng.

A6M2 Zero Manufacture Number 51553
Displayed on its gear until 1974. Salvaged, today at USAF Museum

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April 23, 1943

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