|
Location
Lat 2° 34' 46S Long 150° 48' 29E Kavieng Airfield is located at Kavieng on the North Cape of New Ireland. Also known as "Kawieng Airfield" and today as "Kavieng Airport". Today located in Kavieng District, New Ireland Province in Papua New Guinea (PNG).
Construction
During 1942 the Australian administration built a single runway at this location.
World War II Pacific Theatre History
During the night of January 23-24, 1942 when the Japanese landed at Kavieng, Australian commandos
blew craters into the runway then retreated through the nearby
swamps. Occupied by the Japanese, Kavieng Airfield was
expanded and improved. During the war, the single runway spanned 5,000' with large taxi and dispersal
area on each side of the runway.
Japanese Navy units
based at Kavieng
Junyō detachment (23 x A6M2 Zero, 6 x B5N2 Kate)
Junyō January 17, 1943 Wewak returns January 24, 1943
Zuihō detachment (20 x A6M2, 8 x B5N2) Zuihō Feb 18-19, 1943 Wewak returns Feb 28 - March 1-3, 1943 Truk
252 Kokutai (A6M Zero)
253 Kokutai (A6M Zero)
251 Kokutai (G4M1 Betty) Vunakanau November - December 1943
751 Kokutai (G4M1 Betty)
Japanese
and American missions against Kavieng
January 21, 1942 -
April 8, 1944
Post
War
After the war, the salvage rights
to the strip sold to Harry Croydon of Rabaul. He collected most of the aircraft wreckage and scrap metal and melted them down for scrap metal.
Brian
Bennett recalls:
"Harry Croydon with the scrapping rights for Kavieng did a very good job.
I had never been able to find any wreckage there, aside from a single tail wheel
assembly from a Betty."
Today
Still in use today as Kavieng Airport, the main airport
servicing
the Kavieng area. The runway measures 1782m x 30m oriented 30/12 surfaced with asphalt. Airport codes: ICAO: AYKV and IATA: KVG. Served by flights from Air Niugini and PNG Air.
A6M2 Model 21
Zero Manufacture
Number 51553
Abandoned at Kavieng, displayed
until 1974, salvaged today displayed at USAF Museum
References
NAC - Kavieng Airport
Contribute
Information
Do you have photos or additional information to add?
Last Updated
February 23, 2019
|
