Guasopa Airport
| Guasopa Airport | |
|---|---|
| IATA: GAZ – ICAO: AYGJ | |
| Summary | |
| Serves | Guasopa, Woodlark Island |
| Coordinates | 9°14′00″S 152°57′00″E / 9.23333°S 152.95000°ECoordinates: 9°14′00″S 152°57′00″E / 9.23333°S 152.95000°E |
| Map | |
  Guasopa Airport | |
Guasopa Airport (IATA: GAZ, ICAO: AYGJ), is an airport at Guasopa on Woodlark Island, in the Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea.
History
World War II
U.S. forces captured Woodlark Island on 30 June 1943 as part of Operation Chronicle. The 60th US Naval Construction Battalion began construction on 2 July of a 3,000 by 150 feet (914 by 46 m) coral‑surfaced runway which was ready for use by 14 July. The runway was later expanded and by September measured 6,500 by 225 feet (1,981 by 69 m) and by October 12 a parallel 6,000 by 60 feet (1,829 by 18 m) runway was also built, together with 110 hardstands. The airfield was also known as Woodlark Airfield.[1] The airfield was used as a stopover point and refuelling point.
USAAF units based at Woodlark included:
- 39th Fighter Squadron operating P-39s
- 67th Fighter Squadron operating P-39s
References
- ↑ Building the Navy's Bases in World War II History of the Bureau of Yards and Docks and the Civil Engineer Corps 1940-1946. US Government Printing Office. 1947. p. 291.
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.