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  5th AF c1943  5th AF April 1, 1944      5th AF c1944    David Paulley 1982 |
Location Lat 6° 37' 18S Long 147° 51' 15E Finschafen Airfield is located at 60' above sea level near Finschafen on the southeastern of the Huon Peninsula of New Guinea. Located roughly a half mile inland from the coast parallel to Schneider Harbor with Dregerhaffen Harbor (Dreger Harbor) to the southeast. Prewar and during the Pacific War part of the Territory of New Guinea. Today located in Morobe Province in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Construction Built by the U.S. Army 808th Aviation Engineer Battalion with labor from the 870th Engineer Battalion (Negro). The runway 6,000' x 100' (other sources state 6,000' x 150' as of 31 January 1944) coral and steel matting single runway running NNW to SSE. The tower was code named 'Harvest'. In mid-November, U.S. Navy (USN) Seabees preformed rough grading on the northern end of the strip, and crushed coral for the entire area. On January 5, 1944 the 808th Aviation Engineer Battalion departed, and the U.S. Navy 60th Naval Construction Battalion (60th NCB) "Seabees" completed the airfield including fighter and medium bomber hardstands, mostly located to the north, with more to the east and a few on the southern side of the runway. Other improvements included a 4 x 2,000' barrel aviation fuel storage with piping and pumping units. Construction was aided by both the 47th NCB and 78th NCB. Taz adds: "Dad's CB unit cleared a nearby mountain and starting building the airfield. Japanese aircraft from Rabaul would come and bomb it. The CBs kept rebuilding in an attempt to stay ahead of the bombing. Eventually, they pressed all the men into service to finish the field." World War II Pacific Theatre History Used as an important airfield for American fighters, medium bombers and transport aircraft. During late 1943-1945, many aircraft shipped from the United States were assembled at Finschafen and then flown to other airfields for operations. Designated by the U.S. Army as APO 322 Unit 1 (Finschafen). American units based at Finschafen 348th FG, 340th FS (P-47) Port Moresby Dec 13, 43 - March 13, 44 departs Saidor 348th FG, Headquarters (P-47) Port Moresby December 16, 43 - March 29, 44 departs Saidor 348th FG, 342 FS (P-47) Port Moresby Dec 17, 1943 - Mar 27, 44 departs Saidor 348th FG, 341 FS (P-47) Port Moresby Dec 17, 1943 - Mar 27, 44 departs Saidor 8th FG, 36th FS (P-47) Nadzab Jan 9, 1944 - March 28, 1944 departs Nadzab 6th PRG, 26th PRS (F-5) Dobodura February 19, 1944 - March 1944 departs Nadzab 8th FG, 35th FS (P-40) Port Moresby December 25, 1943 - February 19, 1944 8th FG, Headquarters (P-47) Port Moresby arrives Dec 23, 1943–Feb 20, 1944 departs (P-38 det) Cape Gloucester 421st NFS (P-38 detachment) arrives February 21, 1944 380th BW, 418 NFS (P-61) Dobodura arrives March 28 - May 12, 1944 departs Hollandia 71st TRG, 17th TRS (B-25, L-5) Dobodura arrives March 1 - July 29 44 departs Biak 71st TRG, 82nd TRS (P-39 det) Dobodura arrives Dec 1, 43 - April 19, 44 departs Saidor 49th FG HQ Gusap arrives April 19 - May 17, 1944 departs Hollandia 317th TCG HQ Port Moresby arrives April 19 - June 22, 1944 departs Hollandia 317th TCG, 39th TCS (C-47) Port Moresby arrives April 23, 1944–July 1, 44 departs Hollandia 49th FG, 7th FS (P-40) Gusap arrives April 27, 1944–May 3, 1944 departs Hollandia 86th FW HQ from USA arrives May 1, 1944–August 4, 1944 departs Toem (Middleburg) 374th TCG, 22nd TCS (C-47) Garbutt arrives Aug 29, 1944–Aug 1, 1945 departs Nielson 2nd Combat Cargo Group, 8th Combat Cargo Sqn (C-46) ? - Jan 1, 45 departs Biak 27th Air Depot Group (27th ADG) Postwar At the end of the Pacific War, millions of dollars of equipment both new and used was bulldozed into a huge holes in the area and abandoned. Aircraft were smelted after the war for great profit, largely by Ted Foad. There are rumors and facts about caches of buried equipment in the area. Today Still in use today as Finschafen Airport. Airport code: IATA: FIN. Aircraft recovered from Finschafen Between 1974–2002 a number of aircraft or partial aircraft have been salvaged from Finschafen where they were abandoned or buried in the vicinity. In 1974, Charles Darby and Monty Armstrong recovered several P-40 wrecks including P-40N "The Saint" 42-105526, P-40N 42-104959 and P-40N 42-105513. During 1997, P-40N "The Carolina Belle" 42-104947 was recovered by Robert Jarrett / Classic Jets Fighter Museum (CJFM). Between 1999-2002, "75 Squadron" recovered three P-47D Thunderbolts: P-47D 42-75284, P-47D 42-22521, P-47D 42-8074 were reportedly recovered from this location and exported to Australia, and later to the United States to Westpac Restorations. P-40N "The Saint" Serial Number 42-105526 Fuselage recovered by Charles Darby and Monty Armstrong in 1974 P-40N Warhawk Serial Number 42-104959 Wings and cockpit section recovered by Charles Darby and Monty Armstrong in 1974 P-40N Warhawk Serial Number 42-105513 Recovered by by Ian Whitney in 1987 to Australia P-40N "The Carolina Belle" 42-104947 Cockpit section recovered by Robert Jarrett / Classic Jets Museum in 1997 P-38F Lightning 42-12652 Nose 33 (White 33) Written off 1944, recovered by '75 Squadron' in 1999 to Australia / USA P-40N "Spooky / Dolores" Serial Number 42-105472 Nose 17 (White 17) Written off 1944, excavated from a pit by '75 Squadron' in the late 1990s to Australia P-47D Thunderbolt 42-75284 Written off, excavated from a pit by '75 Squadron' in 2002 to Australia / USA P-47D Thunderbolt 42-22521 Written off, excavated from a pit by '75 Squadron' in 2002 to Australia / USA P-47D Thunderbolt 42-8074 Written off, excavated from a pit by '75 Squadron' in 2002 to Australia / USA References Engineers in Theater Operations [Pacific] "Advance Area Airdromes 31 January 1944", Map No. 24 AWM "Development of Finschafen as a base" F07478 cine footage of Finschafen c1944 Contribute
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