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Location
Located at Lae on the north coast of New Guinea, with the end facing sea at Huon Gulf.
Construction
Built in the 1930s., and known as Lae Drome or Lae Aerodrome. The largest aircraft to use the strip prewar were Junkers
G.31 Tri-Motor. that serviced the gold fields at Bulolo.
The problem with Lae's east/west runway was that it ran directly
into
hills,
limiting
the
size of
aircraft able to land.
Amelia Earhart's Final Takeoff During Around The World Flight
This airfield is probably most famous for its pre war
distinction as being the place where Amelia Earhart's Model 10
Electra took off on July 2, 1937 before disappearing on her flight to Howland Island as part of her around the world flight.
Lae was the last stop she made before going missing, and to this day
her plane has never been found.
Wartime History
In early 1942, the single runway was 1350 x 25 x 25 yards with good approaches, surfaced with crushed stone.
Occupied by the Japanese in February 1942 and developed into a forward airbase. Read a description
by Saburo Sakai of life at Lae
Aerodrome, April 5, 1942. The airfield was heavily bombed by Allied forces until its liberation.
Japanese Units Based at Lae:
Tainan Kokutai (A6M Zero)
582nd Kokutai (D3A Val)
Mihoro Kokutai (G3M Nell)
Genzan Kokutai (G3M Nell)
Japanese & Allied Missions Against Lae
February 5, 1942 - September 28, 1943
Allied Use
After the September 1943 liberation of the Lae area, the airfield was occupied by the Allies, they used the
airfield for smaller aircraft,
with the larger types flying to Nadzab Airfield,
the main American base in the area. Wartime photo January 23,
1944.
Allied Units Based at Lae
71st TRG, 25th Liaison Squadron (L-5s) Brisbane Jan 23
- Feb 16, 44 to Nadzab (and detachment to Gusap)
HQ 309th Bombardment Wing (B-24) from ? - March 1, 1944 to Saidor
Today
Post war, the airfield continued to be used. The largest passenger aircraft
to
use Lae was Lockheed's turboprop Electra. The strip was closed during October 1987, in favor of Nadzab AIrfield, which was able to accommodate larger aircraft.
When the airport closed, there were three derilect DC-3's (formally C-47s with RAAF and/or USAAF service)
at Lae Airfield.
C-47B Serial Number 43-49376
(DC-3 P2-006)
Wheels up landing, hulk at Lae Airfield until the earl 1990s
DC-3 Dakota VH-SBI
Displayed at Lae Airfield from Apr 20, 1975
After closure, the former runway and airport facilities still remained, but was slowly being built over, a road now runs
across
the center of the old runway.
Amelia Earhart Plaque
There is a small Amelia
Earhart plaque (defaced as of 2003). It was from Lae Airfield that she took off on what proved to be the final leg of her around the world flight and was never seen again.
Japanese 76.2mm Anti-Aircraft Gun
Displayed at the side of the strip. This is the only wartime relic present at the former airfield that is easily accessible.
Captured Japanese Aircraft
After
occupation, a number of derelict
Japanese aircraft were left at the strip, and they were reviewed
by US Army TAIU for technical intelligence. Lae strip was the topic of "CEAR (Crashed Enemy Aircraft Report) No.17" it noted a total of at least 80 wrecks, including: 2 GgM1-L; 9 G4M1/2; 1 Ki-46; 7 A6M3/32; 2 Ki-45; 3 G3M2; 12 Ki-43/I; 3 Ki-43/II; 1 Ki-21; 1 Ki-51; 3 Ki-61; 2 D3A1; 4 D3A2; 17 A6M2 (Mitsubishi); and 13 A6M2 (Nakajima). Thanks to Richard Dunn and Jim Lansdale for aircraft details and manufacture numbers.
Robert Pierce recalls in "Harships: An Airman's Sketchbook" American Heritage Magazine vol. 42 no. 8 (December 1991) thanks to Edward Rogers for this quotation.
"... later in the month some of us actually landed at Lae and had a look around. From the time we had arrived in New Guinea, Lae had been like Tokyo to us, a fearful place to be avoided. By the time we got there, it was a depressing and desolate scene. Wrecked planes were everywhere, lying in the ruined state that only a piece of machinery as refined and immaculate as an airplane can achieve. Over everything hung a horrible stench that had to come from newly buried bodies. I sat in a Zero and poked into the devastated interior of the officers' quarters. Everything was in a shambles; clothing, blankets, rice bowls were strewn in the unmistakable signs of a hurried departure, along with a game of Chinese checkers, a broken phonograph record ("Palais Glide"). We picked our way around, afraid to touch anything, feeling very much like scavenging ghouls.
A6M2 Zero Manufacture Number 5779 Tail V-171
Houkoku 550 Abandoned at Lae Airfield
A6M2 Zero Manufacture
Number 4688 Tail V-179
A6M2 Zero Manufacture Number 5639 Tail V-1??
Force landed at the seaward edge of Lae Airfield
A6M3 Zero Manufacture
Number 3035 Tail 2-181
A6M3 Zero Manufacture Number 3026 Tail Q-111
A6M3 Zero Model 32 Manufacture 3017
Abandoned at Lae.
A6M3 Zero Model 32 Manufacture 3268 Tail 2-152
Abandoned at Lae.
G3M2 Nell Manufacture Number 460 Tail G-315
G3M2 Nell Manufacture Number 462 Tail G-375
G3M2 Nell Manufacture Number 6346 Tail 325
Captured intact at Lae Airfield
G4M1 Betty Manufacture Number 3187
G6M1-L Betty Manufacture No 714 Tail P-911
G6M1-L Betty Manufacture
No 419 Tail R-902
G4M Betty Manufacture Number 5209
Built Jan 28, 1942. Written off May 28, 1942
G4M Betty Manufacture Number 1450
Built Oct 1942. Written off Jan 2, 1943
G4M Betty Manufacture Number 1645
Built Feb 25, 1943. Written off May 23, 1943
G4M1 Tail Number F-331
Abandoned at Lae, mostly complete
G4M1 Tail Number F-358
Abandoned at Lae, tail section only
G4M1 Tail Number F-32?
Abandoned at Lae, tail section only
D3A2 Val Manufacture Number 3030
D3A2 Val Manufacture Number 3033
D3A2 Val Manufacture Number 3023 Tail 2-227
Ki-21 Sally Manufacture Number 4318 Tail 14
Ki-43-I
Oscar Manufacture
Number 400
Built April 1942. 11th Sentai, operated out
of Lae doing convoy protection in early 1943.
Ki-43-I
Oscar Manufacture
Number 426
Abandoned at Lae. Built April 1942.
Ki-43-I
Oscar Manufacture
Number 466
Abandoned at Lae. Built late May 1942.
Ki-43-I
Oscar Manufacture
Number 622
Abandoned at Lae. Built August 1942.
Ki-43-I
Oscar Manufacture
Number 779
Abandoned at Lae. Built late November 1942.
Ki-43-I
Oscar Manufacture
Number 805
Abandoned at Lae. Built December 1942.
Ki-43-II
Oscar Manufacture
Number 5078
Abandoned at Lae. Built December 1942.
Ki-46 Dinah Manufacture
Number 2251
Abandoned at Lae
Ki-48-II Lily Tail Number 1252 Tail 52
Abandoned at Lae
Ki-48-II Manufacture Number 1245
Abandoned at Lae
Ki-51B Sonia Manufacture Number 2278
Abandoned at Lae. Missing wings and resting on oil drums at the airfield.
Ki-61 Tony Manufacture Number 183
Ki-61 Tony Manufacture Number 244
Ki-61 Tony Manufacture Number 276
References
Notes about New Guinea airfields, recorded circa May - July, 1942 by Oliver C. Doan via Jean Doan research Edward Rogers
Thanks to Richard Leahy for additional information
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Last Updated
October 1, 2009
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