Emirau Airport

Emirau Airport

IATA: EMIICAO: AYEE

EMI
Location of airport in Papua New Guinea

Summary
Location Emirau Island, Papua New Guinea
Elevation AMSL 100 ft / 30 m
Coordinates 1°38.5′S 149°58.5′E / 1.6417°S 149.9750°E / -1.6417; 149.9750
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
12/30 1,455 4,773
Source: PNG Airstrip Guide[1]

Emirau Airport is an airfield in Emirau Island, Papua New Guinea.[1]

History

World War II

Emirau Airfield
Emirau Island

F4Us on Emirau
Coordinates 01°38.5′S 149°58.5′E / 1.6417°S 149.9750°E / -1.6417; 149.9750
Type Military Airfield
Site information
Controlled by United States Marine Corps
Royal New Zealand Air Force
Site history
Built 1944
Built by Seebees
In use 1944-present
Materials Coral

Emirau was seized unopposed by two Battalions of the 4th Marine Division on 20 March 1944.[2] Naval Construction Battalions arrived shortly after the landings and began construction of two coral-surfaced 7,000 feet (2,100 m) by 150 feet (46 m) airfields on the island. Inshore Airfield had 35 double hardstands capable of parking 210 fighter or light-bomber planes, while North Cape Airfield had 42 hardstands with space for parking 84 heavy bombers. Both were fully equipped with towers, lighting, and a dispensary. The aviation tank farm consisted of three 1,000 barrels (~140 t) tanks and nineteen 1,000 barrels (~140 t) together with the appropriate filling and distribution points. A reserve of 40,000 barrels (~5,500 t) was stored in drums.[3] Emirau was the staging point for attacks on the Japanese strongholds at Rabaul and Kavieng.

US Marine Corps units based here included:

Royal New Zealand Air Force units based here included:[8]

There was also one Australian unit located on the island - the 474 Heavy Anti-aircraft Troop.

Base roll-up commenced in December 1944 and was completed by May 1945.[3]

Postwar

The runways remain usable.

References

  1. 1 2 PNG Airstrip Guide. August 2005.
  2. Building the Navy's Bases in World War II History of the Bureau of Yards and Docks and the Civil Engineer Corps 1940-1946. US Government Printing Office. 1947. p. 303.
  3. 1 2 Bases, p.304
  4. http://www.vmb413.com/
  5. http://www.vmb433.com/
  6. http://www.vmb443.com/
  7. http://www.vmb611.com/
  8. "Royal New Zealand Air Force Operations from Emirau". Retrieved 12 June 2013.

External links


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