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 AWM 1943  AWM April 1944 |
Location Lat 8° 31' 13S Long 140° 25' 7E Merauke Airfield is located at an elevation of 10' above sea level five miles east of Merauke near the southwestern coast of New Guinea. Prewar and during the Pacific War, part of Dutch New Guinea (DNG) forming the western portion of the Netherlands East Indies (NEI). Today located in Merauke Regency in Papua Province in Indonesia. Today, known as "Mopah Airport". Construction Built prewar by the Dutch as a single runway surfaced with dirt. Wartime History During September 1939, German pilots Werner Garms and Paul Raabe stole Junkers F.13 "Papua" VH-UTS and flew it from Malahang Airfield near Lae to Merauke and abandoned it at the airfield then made their way back to Europe to enlist in the Luftwaffe (German Air Force). In the middle of 1943, the Japanese Navy seaplanes and land attack bombers bombed Merauke Airfield. During 1943 the runway was surfaced with marston matting (PSP) and used by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as a forward base for P-40 Kittyhawks and Vultee Vengeance bombers. Merauke Airfield was defended by the 76th Anti-Aircraft Searchlight Battery. Allied units based at Merauke Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) RAAF No. 86 Squadron (P-40) 1943 - 1944 RAAF No. 12 Squadron (Vengeance) December 1943 Today This airfield is still in use today as a small airport known as Mopah Airport. The single runway is oriented 34/16 measures 6,070' x 98' surfaced with asphalt. Airport code ICAO: WAKK IATA: MKQ. References AWM F01742 "Merauke Force" by Frank N. Bagnall May 24, 1944 Contribute
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