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    Nadzab No. 3 Airfield (Fighter Strip, Texter Field) Morobe Province PNG
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475th FG Nov 1943

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5th AF, c1944

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Ray Fairfield 1972

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Justin Taylan 2003
Location
Nadzab No. 3 Airfield was located near Nadzab in the Markam Valley in New Guinea. This strip was furthest north of all the Nadzab area airstrips, it is located to the north of Nadzab No. 5 Strip. Also known as "Fighter Strip" or "Strip No. 3" or "Texter Field". To the west is the Erap River. To the south is Nadzab No. 1, Nadzab No. 2 and Nadzab. Further to the southeast is Lae. Prewar and during the Pacific War located in the Territory of New Guinea. Today located in Morobe Province in Papua New Guinea (PNG).

Construction
By January 31, 1944 a single runway was proposed at this location as part of the expansion of the Nadzab Airfield complex. By April 1944, built by the U.S. Army as a single runway oriented roughly east to west.  Taxiways connected it to Nadzab No. 5 and southward to Nadzab No. 1 and Nadzab No. 2. The area had extensive ravetments for parking aircraft.

Wartime History
Nadzab No. 3 Airfield was used primarily as a fighter strip. Also known as "Strip No. 3", "Fighter Strip" or "Texter Field". Designated U.S. Army APO 713 (Nadzab).

American units based at Nadzab No. 3 (Fighter Strip)
475th FG, 431st FS (P-38) North Embi Airfield (Dobodura No 12) March 26, 1944 - ? Biak

Today
Disused since the war, the runway, taxiways and hardstands are still visible from the air.

Richard Leahy adds:
"The lines in the ground visible from the air are not slit trenches, but scoops for gravel removed to build the runway.  All that ground there is gravel."

References
Engineers in Theater Operations [Pacific] "Advance Area Airdromes 31 January 1944", Map No. 24

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Last Updated
April 19, 2021

 

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