Location
Located south of Kieta, parallel the eastern coast of Bougainville.
Construction
Single runway, built prior to the war.
Wartime Use
Occupied without resistance by the Japanese on March 31, 1942. A reoconassance was made of the runway at this location on June 19, 1942, measuring 800 x 80 meters.
The staff officers responsible for the 25th Air Flotilla and the 8th Base Force, and the commander of the 14th Establishment Unit agaub over flew the Kieta runway in a flying boat on July 8. As a result of this reconnaissance, the commander of the 25th Air Flotilla sent a report outlining his conclusions to the Airbase Force Command.
They deemed expansion of the airfield would not be completed until early September, after the Japanese airfield under construction at Lunga Point Airfield [Henderson Field], making the effort to construct it negatable. Plus, the airfield was not able to be expanded, suffered drainage problems and had obstructions at the end of the runway.
None the less, this airfield was neutralized by the Allies by aerial attacks during the middle of 1943 until middle 1944.
Allied Missions Against Kieta
January 21, 1943 - June 14, 1944
Today
After the war, the airfield was used
as one of Bougainville's main airports. Today, the
airfield is disused, closed since 1990's ten year
Bougainville Crisis that destroyed of
much of the town
as well.
References
Japanese army operations in the South Pacific area: New Britain and Papua campaigns, 1942–43 page 124-125.
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