Location
Located
north-west of Alexishafen, on the North Coast Road, 21 km from Madang. A larger bomber strip, Alexishafen I (Alexishafen Airfield) is located to the SSE of this airfield.
Construction
A landing strip at Danip
was initially built by Catholic missionaries
prior to the war.
Japanese Usage
Occupied by the Japanese in early January 1943. Expanded by the Japanese for use as a fighter
strip, with a single
runway with a single taxiway and ravetments along
the Marrain River, running parallel to the bomber strip at Alexishafen Airfield.
Surfaced with packed earth and crushed coral and granite top cover.
In October 30, 1943 the strip was 4,000' x (140) 310'. The strip
included 3 bomber and 12 fighter ravetments (in October 30, 1943).
Units Based at Danip
Danip was a forward airfield used by many units, including:
83rd Dokuritsu Chutai (Ki-51)
13th Sentai (Ki-43)
Capture by Australian Forces
Occupied by the Australian 30th Battalion on April 26, 1944 moving up from
Madang to capture the Alexishafen area.
US Army ATAI Visit & Review of
Wrecks
The strip was visited by American Air Technical Inteligence
unit on June 28 1944. They discovered a total of 18 wrecks
at the strip, most damaged by bombing and strafing including Sonias,
Tonys, Oscars and Lilys. They observed the surface of the strip
was in poor condition. Holes cut into the sides of the hills provided
protection for a fuel truck. Thanks to Richard Dunn for this
reference.
Today
Disused since the war, the airstrip is overgrown but runway visible.
thre are still traces of the ravetments, crudly built around
metal drums and soil to build up the walls, and the scattered
remains of a trucks, aircraft bits. In the nearby low ridges,
there are some tunnels excivated by the Japanese to store things.
Today, there are a few huts of squatters living at the village
of Danip or in the vicinity. A concere pad, (built after the
war) was used by Lutheran missionary for storage.
Junkers
W 34 Serial
Number VH-UKW
Prewar aircraft abandoned, recovered in 1980s to Lae
Ki-48-II Lily
Abandoned in a ravetment, mostly scrapped
Ki-48-II Lily
Mostly scrapped, main spar
and section of tail only
Ki-43 Oscar Manufacture
Number 5806
Abandoned at the airfield until 1970s, fate unknown
Ki-43 Oscar
Ki-43 Oscar
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