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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