Kaiapit

Kaiapit

Morobe Province | Papua New Guinea

Lat 6° 15' 0S Long 146° 16' 60E

History
Kaiapit was 45 air-miles northwest of Nadzab and a Japanese force, equivalent to a brigade, moved down the valley in a last-ditch attempt to retake Nadzab. The 2/6th Australian Commando Squadron and B Company Papuan Infantry Battalion arrived at Kaiapit just before the leading elements of the Japanese force. The Japanese fanned out but was quickly routed and they withdrew up the Markham Valley to Dumpu. On September 29, 1943 the Australians entered the Ramu Valley. With Gusap in their hands, the Australians had a valuable advanced airfield and Dumpu was occupied without opposition on October 4, 1943.

Today
Much of the WWII battlefield area was covered over during a natural land slide in the 1980's.

Kaiapit Airfield

Construction
This was a prewar colonial era airstrip.

Wartime History
After the area was occupied by the Allies, this strip was surveyed by US Army Engineers, but only preliminary preparations for further development were made. The further development of Kaiapit airfield was abandoned by the Americans on January 8, 1944 when a new plan of operations deemed it unessential to the Allied war effort.

B-24D "Toughy" Serial Number 42-40525