August 1943
Justin Taylan 2003
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Location
Located near Dobodura, to the north-east of the Embi Lakes, north-east of Inonda.
To the south is Mt. Lamington, a volcano that
dominates the sky line.
Construction
Built by the Americans, this airfield had several
names, including No. 7, West 7, or Horanda No. 7 Airstrip or West 7. It
was also known as Kenney Strip, in honor of 5th Air Force Commander General Kenney.
American Units based
at Girua
58th FG HQ from Brisbane Dec 28, 1943 to Saidor April 2, 1944
58th FG 310th FS (P-47) Brisbane Dec 28, 1943 - Saidor April 2, 1944
58th FG 310th FS (P-47) Brisbane Dec 28, 1943 - Saidor April 2, 1944
Today
In use post war, the airfield was renamed to Girua in 1968, for
the nearby village of the same name. It is still used today
the main airport for Popondetta, airport code PNP.
Girua Aircraft Dump
On the west side of
the strip is a dump area, including Beaufort parts and other
aircraft pieces. Picked over by salvagers over recent years,
there are occasionally new discoveries made in the ground,
like buried wings or other parts. Bits
of aircraft are still occasional found. Around 2000, several pairs of wings were located. Quietly recovered by Robert Greinert soon afterwards and exported to Australia.
Aircraft Display
Several aircraft were setup on as a war memorial on the side of the
Air Nugini terminal in the 1970's by the Oro Province
Works Department. Today only
the B-25 and the wing from an A-20 near the gate remains,
the others have been removed by private restorers. Many earth
horseshore shaped fighter revetments for the 58th Fighter
Group's P-47s are still visible from the air.
B-25D "BAR-FLY" 41-30593
Abandoned
at Girua, moved to the airfield for display as a
memorial, nose section attached to B-25H 43-4450.
P-47D Thunderbolt 42-27608
Display
at the airfield since the 1970's, removed
by Greinert in 1999
P-40N "Suzy" 42-105820
Abandoned
in the kunai until 1991, when exported
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