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![]() Guinea Airways April 23, 1931 ![]() Guinea Airways 1931 ![]() Stephens c1935-1937 ![]() RAAF February 6, 1942 ![]() AWM August 8, 1943 ![]() AWM February 25, 1944 ![]() RAAF October 25, 1960 ![]() ![]() ![]() Justin Taylan 2003 |
Location Wau Airfield is located at Wau in Morobe Province in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Construction During 1927, a single runway was built by Australian Cecil Levien with the assistance of native labors at this location. The runway required aircraft to land uphill at a 5% - 10% grade. On April 19, 1927 Lt. Ernest 'Pard' Mustar landed a De Havilland DH-37 owned by Guinea Gold took off from Lae Airfield and made the first landing at Wau Airfield. Wau Airfield was used by a variety of de Havilland, Ford and Junkers aircraft that transported personnel and cargo primarily for gold mining in the area. On August 3, 1940 DH.60M "Eros" VH-UQY ran off the runway during take off and crashed into the during take off and crashed into the government store building, wrecking it and the aircraft. Afterwards, the wreckage of this aircraft was stored at Wau Airfield and was destroyed during the first air raid. World War II Pacific Theatre History On January 23, 1942 Japanese aircraft attacked Wau Airfield. In early January 1943 the Japanese sent 3,000 troops from Salamaua and Mubo along a winding jungle tracks to seize the Wau Airfield from the Australians. This final Japanese offensive in New Guinea was stopped by the Australians but they did not have the strength to go on the offensive. The Victorian 17th Brigade (2/5th, 2/6th and 2/7th Battalions) were flown to Wau Airstrip, which became the headquarters of the "Kanga Force", completely dependent on air supply and reinforcement. At the height of the crisis on January 30, 1943, Japanese fire was reaching the airfield. Japanese
missions against Wau C-47 Dakota Serial Number ? CA-9 Wirraway Serial Number A20-447 CA-9
Wirraway Serial Number A20-504 P-38G Lightning Serial Number 43-2195 P-39 Airacobra Nose Number 4 P-39D Airacobra Serial Number 41-38511 C-47B Dakota Serial Number A65-92 Today Wau War Memorial References Contribute
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