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    Hayfield Airfield East Sepik Province Papua New Guinea (PNG)
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AWM April 1945

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AWM May 1945

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AWM July 28, 1945
Location
Lat 3° 38' 34S Long 143° 3' 18E  Hayfield Airfield is located at Maprik. Prewar known as Maprik Airfield. Also known as Maprik Emergency Landing Group (Maprik ELG). Prewar and during the Pacific War part of the Territory of New Guinea. Today located in Wewak District of East Sepik Province in Papua New Guinea (PNG).

Construction
Built prewar as an emergency landing ground. This location was not used by the Japanese during the war.

On April 22, 1945 occupied by the Australian Army in an overgrown condition, disused since at least 1942 and overgrown with thick kunai grass. Immediately, the pioneers from the 2/7th Infantry Battalion using 200 native laborers began clearing the airfield using improvised tools.

World War II Pacific Theatre History
Used by the Australian Army during late April 1945 until the end of the war.

On September 13, 1945 Japanese Army 18th Army commander Lt General Hatazo Adachi with Captain Iwama, civilian interpreter and three officers embarked on a RAAF Dakota from No. 36 Squadron and flown from Hayfield Airfield to Wewak Airfield. Next, the Japanese were transported by jeep to Cape Wom for the official surrender ceremony at 10:00am at Cape Wom Airfield. At 10:15am Adachi signed the instrument of surrender and handed over his sword in the presence of 3,000 troops drawn from various units of the Australian Army 6th Division. Afterwards, he attended meetings with Australian Army staff to discuss arrangements related to the surrender.

On September 14, 1945 in the morning DH.82A Tiger Moth A17-489 pilot F/O T .L. Collier with passenger Lt General Hatazo Adachi took off from Cape Wom Airfield and landed at Kiarivu Airfield to return Adachi to his headquarters at Kiarivu to provided further instruction to his staff about the surrender.

Today
Still in use today. Airport code IATA: HYF.

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Last Updated
April 19, 2021

 

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August 30, 1943

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