c1943

December 24, 1943

June 18, 1943

1945

1948

1952



Justin Taylan 2000

Location
Located inland to the south of Rabaul. Prior to the war, this area was Vimmy Plantation that grew copra and coconut palms, owned by Australian planter Joycey after World War I.

Construction
Japanese refered to this airfield as "South Airfield", or "Rabaul South". The Japanese built an airfield with a single concrete runway 3,600' x 100' beginning in July 1943 and completed in August. This was the shortest runway of all the Rabaul area airfields.

Japanese Units Based at Tobera
Kanoya Kokutai September 1942
201st Kokutai (A6M Zero) withdrawn to Saipan
253rd Kokutai (A6M Zero) November  1942 - July 10, 1943 to Truk
(Replacement planes added from 2nd Carrier Division
204th Kokutai (A6M Zero) ? - February 17, 1944
105th Air Force (remnants of the 253rd Kokutai)

American Missions Against Tobera
October 24, 1943 - June 30, 1944

Wartime History
Neutralized from the air, aerial photographs on February 25, 1944 show 33 aircraft, although most of these were decoys or hulks. Those actually flying or under restoration were carefully hidden under trees. The history of Tobera is told in the book The Siege of Rabaul by Henry Sakaida.

Tobera Mystery 'USA' In Kunai Grass
Brian Bennett adds: "A 17th Photo Squadron photograph recorded the letters 'USA' clearly cut into the kunai grass near Tobera Airstrip. Was this created by a downed Allied pilot, or a trick by the Japanese?"

Post War
After the war, it returned to a plantation, managed by son Richard Joycey who further developed the plantation.  The airfield area had been so heavily bombed that the water table was upset and poor for planting. Reclaiming of Former Airfield Aerial Photo Study

Recovery of Relics for Museum
Several wartime relics, including a Japanese heavy anti-aircraft gun blown on its side and search light were recovered for the Kokopo Museum.

Today
In the early 1990s, Australian Rick Ray bought the airfield area of the former Vimmy Plantation, and started his own plantation called Golden Dolphin 3. Ray built his family home at roughly the center point of the old runway, on the fighter hardstand area. Many of the revetments are still visible, as the plantation has simply planted around them and tunnel entrances and trenches.

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January 9, 1944

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