Location
Located at Bulolo.

Construction
Built in June 1930, originally the strip was 1,150 yards by 120 yards. Later it was expanded to 1,300 yards in length, surfaced with grass. This airstrip was used in conjunction with flying suppies and equipment for gold dredging at Wau and Bulolo.

Wartime History
At the start of the war, this airfield was attacked by Japanese aircraft, destroying several on the ground.

Japanese Missions Against Bulolo
January 21 - February 5, 1942

In middle 1942 the runway was described as 1200 x 100 x 2200 yards and could be lengthen to 1500 yards. Surfaced with sod and gravel, natives available to fill bomb craters. Fair approaches, wind up and down drome, European houses and a doctor at Wau, food, water, can accommodate 2,000 men, Allied troops A. A. machine guns. Radio, phone line to Sunshine, Bulwa, Wau and Edi Creek.

At the height of the Battle of Wau on January 30, 1943, Australian New Guinea Force HQ requested that Bulwa Airfield and Bulolo Airfield were readied for emergency use, if Wau Airfield was damaged or captured.

Today
Disused since the war, a service road runs over the old runway at the timber operation on the eastern side of the former runway.

Keith Hopper adds:
"The metal electric poles along the strip had bullet holes in them from the staffing by Zeros. Bits of wreckage from the Junkers G.31s existed, but have since been scrapped, or only small pieces of the engines remained when I visited in the 1990s."

Justin Taylan adds:
"I visited Bulolo in 2003, the electric poles were there, but no traces of the airfield was readily visible."

References
Notes about New Guinea airfields, recorded circa May - July, 1942 by Oliver C. Doan via Jean Doan research Edward Rogers

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Last Updated
October 1, 2009