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 revetments 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 revetments (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 Intelligence 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. There are still traces of the revetments, crudely 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 excavated 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 concrete pad, (built after the war, or by the Allies) was used by the Catholic Mission for storage.

Junkers F.13 Registration Number VH-UKW
Prewar aircraft abandoned, recovered in 1980s to Lae

Ki-48-II Lily
Abandoned in a revetment, 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

Contribute Information
Do you have photos or additional information to add?

Last Updated
October 1, 2009