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  13th AF Oct 31, 1943   David Paulley 1982 |
Location Lat 6° 44' 0" Long 155° 42' 0" Kara Airfield is located near Kara on southern Bougainville. Known to the Japanese as "Kara Airfield" or "Toripoil Airfield" for the nearby villages of the same names. Known to the Allies as "Kara Airfield". Postwar, known as Buin Airport, not to be confused with 1942–1945 Kahili Airfield (Buin Airfield) on the south coast of Bougainville. During the Pacific War part of the Territory of New Guinea in the North Solomons. Postwar between 1975–2002 located in Buin Rural LLG in Bougainville Province in Papua New Guinea (PNG). June 25, 2002 became part of Buin Rural LLG, South Bougainville District in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (AROB). Prewar The Kara area was land owned by the Catholic mission. Construction During 1943, the Japanese began construction of an airfield at this location, as a satellite strip for nearby Kahili Airfield (Buin) and their last airfield construction project in southern Bougainville. A single runway was completed during September 1943, measuring 4,000' x 280' running roughly northwest to southeast. On the eastern side of the runway were "U' shaped revetments and a control tower 30' to 40' tall was located at the northwest end of the runway. At the center of the runway and north and south ends were emplaced anti-aircraft guns. Wartime History During 1943, the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) used Kara Airfield as a fighter strip. When the Allies first detected the new runway, first targeted September 15, 1943. On October 1, 1943 Allied reconnaissance aircraft observed no aircraft parked on the ground. Fighters and bombers continued to strike Kara Airfield for the remainder of 1943 and as a secondary target during 1944. American missions against Kara September 15, 1943–October 15, 1944 After the November 1, 1943 landing at Torokina on western Bougainville, Kara Airfield was cut off from resupply and no flyable aircraft remained. As a morale boosting exercise for the roughly 60-70 maintenance personnel stuck at Kara Airfield, disabled A6M3 Zero 3844 Tail 2-152 repaired to flying condition by July 1945. At the end of the Pacific War, pilot Petty Officer Sekizen Shibayama, was flown as a passenger on a E13A Jake from Rabaul to Buin and was instructed to test fly the Zero then fly it back to Rabaul. Japan surrendered before he was able to conduct a test flight. Postwar After the Japanese surrender, rumors of the intact Zero at Kara reached the Australians. Two flights by Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) aircraft from Piva Yoke Airfield landed at Kara to investigate. On September 14, 1945 Auster A11-3 landed at Kara Airfield. The next day, a RAAF Wirraway from No. 5 Squadron landed at Kara with Wing Commander Bill Kofoed and Engineering Officer C. D. Kingsford, to inspect A6M3 Zero 3844 and fly it back to Piva Yoke Airfield. Today Postwar, repaired an became known as Buin Airport for Buin (Town) roughly five kilometers away. Used by Air Niugini and other local carriers for air service to the Buin area. Starting in 1989, this airfield ceased operations during the 'Bougainville Crisis" due to rebel activity in the area. Rapidly, it became overgrown and was abandoned as a landing ground. 75mm Anti-Aircraft Gun Type 88 (1928) Emplaced at Kara Airfield near the runway References AWM F07335 "Fauro Island natives, discovery of a complete Japanese aircraft & evacuation of sick patient from Kara airstrip Bougainville" cine footage September 15, 1945 The Siege of Rabaul (1996) by Henry Sakaida page 89 (footnote 1, Toropoli/Kara) Contribute
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 Oct 6, 1943  View in Google Earth  Photo Archive |
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