Dubadora
Airbase
Dubadora was a massive American airbase
complex, with multiple landing strips. Here, we can see one of
the main runways. Although overgrown, the surface is just below
the grass and in remarkable condition. Fewer pot holes than some
of the roads that I drive in New York!
Looking sideways at one of the Dubodora runways.
One can see why the Popondetta area was developed as a base. This
is The country is flat and wide open grass. In the distance are
the Owen Stanley Mountains, an obstacle pilots would not have
to cross, as they did when flying out of Port Moresby.
The WWII taxi-ways and service roads are still
clear and used today. Here concrete surface is in excellent condition.
It was not hard to imagine a B-24 with engine starting up just
around one of the bends...
Although the airfields are overgrown and mostly
empty, most wreckage was scrapped after the war. For those who
know where to look, there are still bits and pieces,like the vehicle
remains in the grass.
The Americans built many buildings that today
villagers have occupied, and still use today. This one is built
on a concrete foundation courtesy of Uncle Sam. Like in other
locations, marston matting, 55-gallon drums and metal piping from
the war are reused to this day and can be found everywhere.
Mount Lamington in the late afternoon. The cloud
build up was deadly to pilots during the war attempting to return
to Port Moresby. Mount Lamington lethally erupted several times
since WWII.
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