Loctation
Lat 6° 32' 60S Long 146° 41' 60E  Located in the Markam Valley, north of Lae. Prewar, a Lutheran mission station was established at Nadzab during 1910.

Wartime History
On September 5, 1943, Nadzab was the site of the only Allied paratrooper assault on the mainland of New Guinea when paratroopers from the US Army 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment supported by the Australian Army 2/4th Field Gun dropped with short barrel 25 pounders. The drop was successful and met little Japanese resistance in the area.

American & Japanese missions against Nadzab
March 23, 1943 - November 9, 1943

Nadzab Airbase Complex
Immediately after occupation, the area was developed into a major forward airfield and later a massive airbase and staging area for future operations in the region. The Nadzab airfield complex included five separate airstrips: Nadzab Airfield No. 1 in the middle, with Nadzab No. 2 to the south, closest to the Markham River. No. 3 strip was located on the northern side of the complex, while No. 4 Strip "Newton Strip" was located to the east and No. 5 Strip furthest to the north. The entire area was designated APO 713 (Nadzab).

Nadzab No. 1 Airfield, Nadzab No. 2 Airfield (East Base)
Two parallel runways (No. 1 & No. 2) Built by the US Army

Nadzab No. 3 Airfield (Fighter Strip)
Furthest north in the Nadzab airfield complex

Nadzab No. 4 Airfield (Newton Field)
Nearest to the village of Nadzab, primarily used by the RAAF

Nadzab No. 5 Airfield
Located to the north of "east base" and No. 3 Strip to the north

Narakapor Airfield
Prewar airfield at Narakapor Plantation

117th Station Hospital
US Army hospital, at its height in 1944 Mayo as the chief surgeon.

A-20G "Crap Shooter" 42-54155
Pilot Adroetti crashed October 1, 1944

A-20G Havoc 42-86717
Pilot Campagna crashed October 1, 1944

Vultee Vengence A27-83
Pilot Pike force landed February 27, 1944

B-25D "How's Your Ole' Tomato" 41-30664
Pilot ? crashed March 13, 1944

Nadzab Cemetery
US Army cememtery established at Nadzab during the war. Postwar, all burials were exhumed and transported to the United States or Manila American Cemetery.

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Last Updated
February 18, 2013