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  5th AF c1943  February 28, 1943   AWM October 9, 1943   AWM August 7, 1945   Justin Taylan 2003 |
Location The Dobodura Airfields (Dobodura Airfield Complex) were located near Dobodura inland from the north coast of New Guinea. Prewar and during the Pacific War part of the in the Northern District in the Territory of Papua. Today located in Oro Bay Rural LLG, Ijivitari District of Oro Province in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Wartime History During early 1943, the U.S. Army built fifteen (or more) runways in the vicinity of Dobodura. Many wartime references refer to the entire area as "Dobodura". The Dobodura area was known by the U.S. Army as APO 503. Raways Airfield (Dobodura No. 1) located to the east of Dobodura. Dobodura No. 2 (Dobo 2 Strip) located to the north of Dobodura. Dobodura No. 3 (No. 3) location unknown, possibly a second runway for Dobodura No. 2. Dobodura No. 4 (Horanda 4, East 4, West 4, 4Y) main Dobodura runway at the center of the complex. Dobodura No. 5 (No. 5) location unknown, possibly a second runway for Dobodura No. 4. Dobodura No. 6 (No. 6) location unknown, possibly a second runway for another airfield. Girua Airport (Kenney, Dobodura No. 7) fighter runway still in use today as Girua Airport. Dobodura No. 8 (No. 8) location unknown, possibly a second runway for another airfield. Dobodura No. 9 (No. 9) location unknown, possibly a second runway for another airfield. Borio Airfield No. 10 (Dobodura No. 10) located to the south of Borio. Borio Airfield No. 11 (Dobodura No. 11) located to the south of Borio. Embi Airfield (Embi 1, 2, 3, 4) located south of Embi. North Embi Airfield (No. 12) located near Embi. Dobodura No. 13 (No. 13) location unknown, possibly a second runway for another airfield. Dobodura No. 14 (No. 14) location unknown, possibly a second runway for another airfield. North Borio Airfield (Dobodura No. 15) located to the south of Borio and Dobodura. Construction The Allies acknowledged the need for an airfield on the north coast of New Guinea in the vicinity of Buna, for use if Lae Airfield and Salamaua Airfield were attacked by the Japanese. Theater plan "Tulsa" called for an airfield to be established for military aircraft at Buna Airfield. On July 9, 1942 an Allied reconnaissance was scheduled of the area. Two days later on July 11, 1942 a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) PBY Catalina overflies the Buna to Dobodura area. Aboard were six officers including Lt. Col. Bernard L. Robinson, ranking U.S. Army engineering officer at Port Moresby, Lt. Col. Boyd D. Wagner, C.O., 8th Fighter Group (8th FG), Colonel Yoder and three Australian officers. Examining the terrain of the entire area, they determined that kunai plains area at Dobodura should developed instead of Buna Airfield. World War II Pacific Theatre History Doboudra No. 4 (Horanda 4, Horanda 4Y) was first used by C-47 Dakota transport aircraft during late November 1942 until January 1943 in support Allied forces fighting at Buna, Gona and Sananada. Cargo flown to Dobodura was immediately put into battle. In addition to food, ammunition and troops, other cargo including liaison spotting planes, 105mm howitzers and and five Bren Gun Carriers used in a failed assault against Cape Endaiadere were landed at Dobodura Airfield. After the battle, the Dobodura Airfields were developed into a major airbase area for American fighters, bombers and transports supporting the American advance. Allied units based at Dobodura There were a total of 15 airfields around Dobodura. It is unclear which specific airfield each unit was based. Japanese missions against Dobodura December 12, 1942–October 9, 1943 Post War Scrapping Disused as an airfield since the war. Postwar, there were over a thousand aircraft wrecks abandoned in the Dobodura area. Most were scrapped in the late 1940s into the early 1950s during scrap metal drives. Today Some of the airfield area is bing replanted with oil palm since the mid-1990's. OPIC (Oil Palm Industries Corporation) is lending money to individual developers to plant oil palm in the area. The land is mostly kunai, and there are no official land claims so some portions of the base have been replanted at various times. No plams grow on the old runways, since the highly compacted earth and bitumen are still present from the war. John Douglas adds: "The main Dobodura complex had eleven strips, most interconnected for taxiing purposes. One of these, Girua Airport, is still in use today as the Provincial Airstrip. Another [ Horanda 4E ] is sealed but overgrown while the rest have reverted to kunai. There are a lot of revetments in this area and scraps of airplanes, concrete, etc." Contribute
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