Turnbull Field (No. 3 Strip)

Turnbull Field (No. 3 Strip)

Milne Bay Province | PNG

March 7, 1943

1990

Location
Located at Milne Bay near Gili Gili beside Swinger Bay (also known as Stringer Bay). Bordered by trees of the prewar coconut plantation.

Construction
Under construction during the Battle of Milne Bay, a single runway was built running roughly east to west into Milne Bay.

Battlefield
During the Battle of Milne Bay, the Japanese 5th Kure SNLF was advancing from the east. Defending the strip were Australian A-Coy (25th Battalion), 61st Battalion and US Army 43rd Engineers. Barbed wire was strung across the runway, and halftracks, guns and mortars on the far side. Japanese attacked the strip on August 31, 1942 between 1:00-5:00am, failing to capture the strip, they pull back.

Naming Honor
On September 14, the strip was re-named Turnbull, to honor RAAF Squadron Leader Peter Turnbull, who was killed flying P-40E Kittyhawk A29-92 on August 27, 1942, and burried at the edge of the strip. During its early days of operation, the strip was made of 5,000' of marston matting.

Japanese Missions Against No. 3 Strip & Milne Bay
August 4, 1942 - ?

American Units Based at Turnbull (No. 3 Strip)
8th FG, 36th FS (P-39) T'ville Sept 18, 42 - Feb 22, 43 to Mareeba
43rd BG, 403rd BS (B-17) Iron Range 11 23, 42 - 01 21, 43 Mareeba
418th NFS (P-38, P-70) from USA Nov 2 - Nov 22, 1943 to Dobodura
71st TRG, 82nd TRS (B-25, P-39) USA 11-6 - 11 23 43 to Dobodura
421st NFS (P-70) from USA Jan 4 - Feb 1, 1944 to Nadzab

Today
Disused since the war, but the runway area is still visible.

Wartime Map

August 1943

View in Google Earth

Richard E Smith 1943

Japanese Mass Grave Marker
After the August 31, 1942 battle, two privates errected a simple sign on Japanese mass grave at the edge of the strip. Originally the sign read:

This marks the westernmost point of the Japanese advance
August 1942
85 Unknown Japanese Marines Lie Buried Here

The monument became a popular spot for photos to be taken. In May 1944 a permenant plaque was established.

1990

Turnbull Field Monument
A metal plaque was placed at the airfield telling the history of Sqn Ldr Peter Turnbull, errected by donations from family and veterans, and propeller donated by the RAAF.

You are standing on the eastern side of
what was in 1942 No. 3 Airstrip later named
Turnbll Field
In Honor of Sqn Ldr Peter St George Turnbull, D.F.C.
C.O, of No 76 Squadro
Born Ammdale NSW 9-2-1917
Killed in Action 27-9-1942 during a strafing
run on enemynear Sandersons Bay
To Strive - To Seek - To Find
Not To Yeild
Errected by donations from family, veterans
and those who remember
Propeeler donated by R.A.A.F.

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