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   7th AF April 20, 1943  Stan Gajda 1970  Stan Gajda 1983  Google Earth 2019 |
Location Lat 0° 32' 51S Long 166° 55' 9E Nauru Airfield is located at an elevation of 22' above sea level on the southwest coast of Nauru Island. Still in use today as Nauru Airport (Nauru International Airport). Today located in the Meneng District of the Republic of Nauru. Construction During November 1942, the Japanese built a single runway at this location using local laborers. The runway was completed by January 14, 1943. Wartime History Used by the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) as a base for bombers and fighters. On January 15, 1943 the first aircraft including G4M1 Bettys and A6M Zeros arrived. During February 1943 A6M Zeros from 204 Kōkūtai (204 Air Group) operate from Nauru Airfield. Japanese units based at Nauru 204 Kokutai (A6M Zeros) February 1943 By late January 1943, Nauru Airfield was detected by the Americans and targeted by dozens of bombing missions during 1943–1944 by 13th Air Force and 7th Air Force bombers. On December 8, 1943 attacked by U.S. Navy (USN) carrier planes. By January 1944, Nauru was within range of 7th Air Force (7th AF) B-25 Mitchells and targeted until the end of October 1944 and neutralized by air attacks and bombing. American missions against Nauru January 28, 1943–October 30, 1944 Postwar Until the early 1970s, several Japanese aircraft remained largely intact at Nauru Airfield. During the early 1970s, the Japanese Government funded the constructing a fringing ring road around perimeter of Nauru Island. To tidy up, local people bulldozed the remaining Japanese wreckage into the sea or otherwise removed them. Today Still in use today as Nauru Airport or Nauru International Airport as a small airport. The single runway is oriented 30/12 measures 7,054' x 148' surfaced with asphalt. Airport codes: ANYN and INU. Peter Flahavin visited in 1994: "A piece of Betty flap was found near the wing behind the airfield. After looking around one of the 127mm AA gun batteries he poked around in the trenches and supporting positions and found this 25mm AA gun ammo magazine. We looked in the same area in 1995, but could not find any more." A6M2 Model 21 Zeke Recovered by Stan Gajda to the Nauru Military Museum G4M1 Model 11 Betty Wreckage at the airfield Contribute
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