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    Labuan Airfield (Labuan Island Airfield) Federal Territories Malaysia
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Harrison April 25, 1945

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Australian Army
June 18, 1945

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RAAF October 20, 1945
Location
Lat 5° 18' 3N Long 115° 15' 1E  Labuan Airfield is located at an elevation of 110' above sea level to the north of Victoria (Labuan) inland and parallel to the southeast coast on Labuan Island in the Federal Territories of Malaysia. Also known as Labuan Island Airfield. Beyond to the east and south is Sabah State in Malaysia Borneo (East Malaysia) on Borneo in Malaysia. Today known as Labuan Airport or Labuan International Airport.

Wartime History
During early 1942, occupied by the Japanese. Labuan Airfield was used by the Japanese Army Air Force (JAAF) as a military airfield.

Japanese units based at Labuan
83rd Sentai (Ki-51 Sonia & Ki-45 Nick)
34th Sentai (Ki-48 Lily)
89th Dokuritsu Chutai (Ki-51 Sonia) 1945
89th Dokuritsu Chutai (Ki-54 Hickory) 1945

Starting in early December 1944 bombed by U.S. bombers and later fighters until June 1945. Occupied by the Japanese until June 1945 when liberated by the Australian Army.

American missions against Labuan
December 10, 1944–June 18, 1945

During June 1945, liberated by the Australian Army. At number of Japanese aircraft were captured that were abandoned or disabled on the ground.

Japanese aircraft captured at Labuan
List of Japanese aircraft captured June 1945

Immediately, Labuan Airfield was repaired for use by Allied aircraft and used until the official surrender of Japan in September 1945.

Allied units based at Labuan
No. 457 Squadron (Spitfire) Morotai June 19, 1945–November 7, 1945 disbanded

On September 10, 1945 a Japanese surrender delegation aboard Ki-54c Hickory and Ki-21 Sally "Tokyo Rose" painted in surrender markings landed at Labuan Airfield. Both aircraft remained at the airfield until during early 1946 when flown to Australia as war prizes.

Ki-51 Sonia Tail 251-16
Abandoned at the airfield until the 1970s, possibly one of the Ki-51s surveyed during the war.

Postwar
Postwar, Labuan Airfield continued to be used by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and Royal Air Force (RAF) as a military airfield.

Today
Still in use today as Labuan Airport or Labuan International Airport. In Malya (Bahasa Melayu) known as Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Labuan. This airport is a dual military and civilian airport. The single runway is oriented 32/14 measures 7,546' x 148' surfaced with asphalt. Airport codes: ICAO: WBKL IATA: LBU.

References
Malaysia Airports - Labuan Airport  official website

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Last Updated
April 19, 2021

 

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