Location
Located at Talasea.

Construction
Crude airstrip built prewar(?) Used by the Japanese in a limited capacity.

American Occupation
Occupied by Americans in early March 1944, who discovered its runway was too short to accomidate fighters, but after clearing away Japanese wrecks L-4s and L-5s could land there.  While it was long enough to be classified as emergency airstrip, it was also an uphill strip, and later was used in a limited capacity by RNZAF and USAAF aircraft.

Today
After the war it was abandoned. In early August 2002, A volcano eruption temporarily closed the Hoskins Airport due to ash. Plans included reopening the old Talasea airstrip as an alternate field.

B-25H Mitchell Serial Number 43-4513
Pilot Wofendale force landed September 3, 1944

PV-1 Ventura Serial Number NZ4522
Pilot Thomas, force landed September 9, 1944

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Last Updated
October 1, 2009