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    Garaina Airfield Morobe Province Papua New Guinea (PNG)
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Craig c1943
Location
Lat 7° 52' 32S Long 147° 8' 29E  Garaina Airfield is located at an elevation of 2,497' to the north of Garaina in the interior of New Guinea. Also spelled "Garina" in some sources.

Prewar and during the Pacific War located in the Territory of New Guinea. Today located in Morobe Province in Papua New Guinea (PNG).

Construction
Built prewar.

World War II Pacific Theatre History
On September 3, 1942 a RAAF Hudson rescued American aviators including Hatch, Daniels, Bevan, Maye, Robinson, Shemberger, Slater and Ranta who had force landed behind enemy lines. During 1943, RAAF Ansons landed at Garaina to fly in personnel and deliver supply for an observation post in the vicinity.

During late August, 2nd Lt. Cyril Andrews was flown out of Garaina after bailing out of P-47D 42-8144 several days earlier.

Richard Leahy adds:
"Have been to Garaina many times, 169 degrees from Lae and approx. thirty five minutes in a 185. Am not sure when it was first constructed. Government planted tea there after the war. In fact Garina was PNG's first tea plantation. There were (and are) no roads into the valley and Garina was supplied 100% by air. The strip was long enough and hard enough to take DC-3s. The biggest aircraft to go in there now are Twin Otters. The tea plantation has reverted to bush."

Today
This airfield is still in use today for local flights. The single runway measures 5,320' Airport code: GAR.

References
NAA Barcode 1358952: 33 Squadron Operations Record Book page 802-842

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Last Updated
March 3, 2023

 

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