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    Kerau Central Province Papua New Guinea (PNG)
Location
Lat 8° 15' 0S Long 147° 4' 0E. Kerau located at an elevation of 5,869' / 1,788m in the Owen Stanley Range near Goilala and Mount Albert Edward (Mt. Albert Edward).

Prewar
A Catholic mission was established at Kerau, also known as Kerau Catholic Mission or the Sacred Heart Mission at Kerau. Staffed by American missionaries and nuns, including Father A. Wendling.

Wartime History
During World War II, the mission was headed by Father Wendling. During 1943 to 1944, several American aircraft crashed in the vicinity.

On October 18, 1943 the crew of B-24D "Sky Lady" 41-24043 bailed out near Kerau and were assisted by natives and led to Catholic Mission at Kerau and cared for by the missionaries.

On December 8, 1943 locals with Father Wendling visited the crash site of B-24D Liberator 42-41075 crashed November 22, 1943 and recovered the remains of the crew and buried them the next morning.

On August 6, 1944 he located the crash site of P-47D Thunderbolt 42-22681 crashed August 6, 1944.

Today
Postwar, a small airfield was build at Kerau.

Kerau Airfield
Small airfield built postwar

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Last Updated
March 20, 2022

 

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