Mokerang Airfield
Encyclopedia
Mokerang Airfield, was an airfield
on the northwest tip of Los Negros Island
, 5 miles (8 km) NNW of Momote Airfield
.
during World War II
and liberated during the Battle of Los Negros as part of the Admiralty Islands campaign
.
The 836th Engineer Aviation Battalion constructed two runways 8000 feet (2,438.4 m) long × 150 feet (45.7 m) wide and 500 feet (152.4 m) overruns at each end, and the 104th Naval Construction Battalion and 46th Naval Construction Battalion built the taxiways and dispersal areas.
The runways had a bearing WNW/ESE 114 degrees/294 degrees magnetic. A storage depot for 30,000 barrels of fuel was stockpiled at Mokerang.
The airfield was abandoned at the end of the war and has been reclaimed by vegetation.
Aerodrome
An aerodrome, airdrome or airfield is a term for any location from which aircraft flight operations take place, regardless of whether they involve cargo, passengers or neither...
on the northwest tip of Los Negros Island
Los Negros Island
Los Negros Island is the third largest of the Admiralty Islands. It is significant because it contains the main airport of Manus Province on its eastern coastline, at Momote. It is connected to Lorengau, the capital of the province, on Manus Island via a highway and bridge...
, 5 miles (8 km) NNW of Momote Airfield
Momote Airport
Momote Airport is an airport on Los Negros Island in the Admiralty Islands, Papua New Guinea. It also serves Manus Island, which is connected to Los Negros by a bridge.-Hayne Airfield:...
.
History
It was built by the Imperial Japanese at Mokerang Plantation shortly after Lorengau AirfieldLorengau Airfield
Lorengau Airfield was an airfield located at Lorengau on the north coast of Manus Island.-History:An airfield built to service the missions near Lorengau. Extended by the Imperial Japanese during World War II. Consisted of a single grassed runway long x wide...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and liberated during the Battle of Los Negros as part of the Admiralty Islands campaign
Admiralty Islands campaign
The Admiralty Islands campaign was a series of battles in the New Guinea campaign of World War II in which the United States Army's 1st Cavalry Division occupied the Japanese-held Admiralty Islands....
.
The 836th Engineer Aviation Battalion constructed two runways 8000 feet (2,438.4 m) long × 150 feet (45.7 m) wide and 500 feet (152.4 m) overruns at each end, and the 104th Naval Construction Battalion and 46th Naval Construction Battalion built the taxiways and dispersal areas.
The runways had a bearing WNW/ESE 114 degrees/294 degrees magnetic. A storage depot for 30,000 barrels of fuel was stockpiled at Mokerang.
The airfield was abandoned at the end of the war and has been reclaimed by vegetation.
Units based at Mokerang
- 13th Air Force (13th Air Task Force)
- 307th Bombardment Group HQ
- 307th Bombardment Group, 424th Bombardment Squadron424th Bombardment SquadronThe 424th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 307th Bombardment Wing, based at Lincoln AFB, Nebraska. It was inactivated on 1 January 1962.-History:...
(B-24B-24 LiberatorThe Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
s) - 307th Bombardment Group, 370th Bombardment Squadron (B-24s)
- 307th Bombardment Group, 371st Bombardment Squadron371st Bombardment SquadronThe 371st Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 307th Bombardment Wing, based at Lincoln AFB, Nebraska. It was deactivated on 25 March 1965-History:...
(B-24s) - 307th Bombardment Group, 372nd Bombardment Squadron (B-24s)
- 307th Bombardment Group, 424th Bombardment Squadron
- 13th Bomber Command
- 18th Fighter Group, 419th Night Fighter Squadron419th Night Fighter SquadronThe 419th Night Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Thirteenth Air Force, being inactivated at Floridablanca, Luzon on February 20, 1947.-History:...
(detachment) P-61s