Location
Lat 0° 22' 0" S Long 132° 11' 30" E  Middleburg Airfield is located on Middleburg Island spans the length of the island. Located to the north of Sansapor on the north coast of New Guinea. Also known as Middleburg Island Airfield, Middleburg Drome, Klenso Drome.

Construction
Built by the U.S. Army as a single runway and became fully operational on August 15, 1944.

Wartime History
On August 14, 1944 the first fighter aircraft landed followed by F-7A "Patched Up Piece" 42-64047 with the no. 4 engine shut down after aborting a mission. Afterwards, based P-38 Lightnings from the 347th Fighter Group including the 67th Fighter Squadron, 68th Fighter Squadron and 339th Fighter Squadron (339th FS).

American units based at Middleburg
198th Anti-Aircraft C Battery 1944
347th FG, 67th FS (P-38) Russell arrives Aug 15, 44 - Feb 12, 45 Morotai
347th FG, 68th FS (P-38) Torokina arrives August 17, 1944 - ?
347th FG, 339th FS (P-38) Sansapor arrives September 19, 1944–February 13, 1945 Morotai
419th NFS (P-61) Guadalcanal arrives August 21, 1944–X

George T. Reed recalls:
"I was in the 5th Army Airways Communications System (AACS), under Col. Nichols HQ Brisbane, and was "sent" up to Sansapor. I was on the island the moment the first plane landed. I think it was a P-38. We had a few raids when the moon was full. Zero's and Bettys. I positively remember the construction of the landing strip and when the first plane landed. All was quiet until about October 1944 when the first Japs came over. I would like to communicate with any one who was on Sansapor or Middleburg. I was NCOIC (T/SGT) in charge of 33 men with mission to establish AACS radio station on the island. I was operating the station one night when the shrapnel went through the radio shack. This was on the south side of the runway!"

References
Airdromes Guide Southwest Pacific Area - 1 July 1945

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Last Updated
July 19, 2024