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 USAAF c1942    USAAF c1943-44  Justin Taylan 2004 |
Location Lat 9°23'30"S Long 147°14'20"E 12 Mile Drome was located near Bomana roughly 12 miles north of Port Moresby near Mount Lawes in New Guinea. Also known as "12 Mile", "Berry Drome" or "Bomana Drome". Prewar and during World War II located in the Territory of Papua. Today located in the National Capital District (NCD) of Papua New Guinea (PNG). Construction Built by Australian during 1942 as a single runway for fighters and liason planes. As of May 15, 1943, the runway had an 8" base of crushed rock and pit gravel for a single earth runway approximately 4,500' by 150'. It also had 40 dispersal bays, and 4 alert areas that would accommodate 15 fighter aircraft. By May 1943 there was little or no room for expansion without an extensive earth moving project and further expansion ceased. Australian units based at 12 Mile Drome (Berry / Bomana) No. 75 Squadron (P-40E Kittyhawks) arrives April 25, 1942 No. 4 Squadron (Wirraways) arrives November 8, 1942 No. 33 Squadron, Air Transport Service (DH.82, DH.84, Anson) arrives January 1943–September 1943 American units based at 12 Mile Drome (Berry / Bomana) 8th FG, 80th FS (P-39) arrives July 20, 1942–November 8, 1942 departs Turnbull 35th FG, 40th FS (P-39) 7 Mile Drome arrives June 42, 1943–Aug 14, 1943 departs Tsili Tsili 475th FG, 431st FS (P-38) arrives August 8, 1943–October 3, 1943 departs North Embi Airfield Naming On November 10, 1942 officially named "Berry Drome" in honor off Major Jack W. Berry pilot P-39D 41-7165 MIissing In Action (MIA) August 4, 1942. Japanese missions against 12 Mile Drome (Berry) May 12, 1942–May 18, 1942 Today Disused since the Pacific War. Today, the road from Port Moresby runs atop the former runway. The Bomana Police Training College is located at the site of the former strip, and the Bomana War Cemetery is at the far end of the strip. Some of the officer's and command tents for the airfield were located in the high ground around the former field. Some war debris are scattered around the area, including barrels, metal pieces, etc. L-4B Grasshopper Serial Number 43-1137 Crashed near Berry Drome on July 27, 1943 P-39 Airacobra Serial Number ? Pilot Rose crashed June 25, 1942 pilot survived References Allied Air Transport Operations South West Pacific Area in WWII - Volume One pages 52, 433-434, 435 (April 12, 1943 air raid Berry Airfield, 427-428 (RAAF Air Transport Service, No. 33 Squadron... From January to September 1943, No. 33 Squadron remained at Berry Airfield (12 Mile), Port Moresby, equipped with the De Haviland DH-84 Dragon, Avro Anson and Tiger Moth light transport aircraft, hauling freight and passengers mostly to the smaller aerodromes in Papua. The main effort were the runs to Kokoda, Terapo, Garaina, Wau, Bulolo and Bulldog with occasional trips to Myola, Gurney (Milne Bay), Goodenoguh, Yule Island, Amau, Tsili Tsili and Rorona), 546 (index Berry Airfield 12-Mile, Port Moresby). Contribute
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