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| Location Kameli Airfield was located to the west of Ibu and the "Kameli Outpost" in the center of Bougainville. Also known as Kameli Strip. Prewar and during the Pacific War, part of Kieta District in the Territory of New Guinea and considered part of the North Solomons (Northern Solomons). During 1975 became Bougainville Province in Papua New Guinea (PNG). On June 25, 2002 became the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (AROB). Construction During late December 1943, a small runway was cleared by hand by members of the Fiji Infantry Battalion, 1st Battalion using a few axes dropped from the air and their entrenching tools and bayonets. The soliders cleared an area 200 yards by 50 yards (600' by 150') on a hillside. The runway was so small, it was dwarfed by the surrounding forest and looked like a pencil when viewed from air. Aircraft landed on the uphill slope and took off on the downhill slope. Every available Fijian solider worked during the daylight hours. After three days of work, the runway was completed by December 30, 1943. A small reconnaissance plane, likely a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Taylorcraft Auster landed and took off again without mishap. This runway was so small it appeared to be a pencil from the air, dwarfed by the surrounding forest. On January 27, 1944 lost was L-4B Grasshopper 43-1251 pilot 2nd Lt. Charles W. Cross (MIA) on a flight bound for Kameli Airfield. Naming Honor In early January 1944, the runway was named Kameli Airfield (Kameli Strip) in honor of Private Kameli Rokotuiloma of Tailevu on Fiji, service number 617 1st Battalion, Fiji Infantry Regiment the first casualty of the Ibu expedition who was Killed In Action (KIA) on January 8, 1944. World War II Pacific Theatre History During January 1944, a regular but hazardous air service began to this small runway to evacuate sick and wounded soldiers during the Ibu expedition. Today Disused since the Pacific War. References CWGC - Kameli Rokotuiloma NZ Battalions Move to the Solomons page 277-278 Contribute
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