Kila Airfield (also known as Kila Kila Airfield and 3-Mile Drome) is a former World War II airfield near Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. It was part of a multiple-airfield complex in the Port Moresby area, located north of Joyce Bay, three miles from the town of Port Moresby near the village of Kila Kila.
The airport was used by the Americans beginning in 1942 and expanded into an airfield for fighters, light bombers and service aircraft. Many USAAF squadrons were briefly stationed at the airfield during the war, and major units assigned to Kila were:
A large hill on the approach to the field limited its usefulness. The runway was 5,000' × 100' surfaced with black loam with marston matting (as of October 8, 1943). A dispersal area with revetments and taxiways was located on the northern side of the runway. Several buildings were located at the center of the runway.
After the war the airfield was returned to the New Guinea government. Today the airfield is now part of the Kila Police Barracks, a golf course and a technical school. Some of the wartime revetments remain on the police property and portions of the wartime taxiways and runway are visible.
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency.
Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN0-89201-092-4.
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December 15, 2023
kila, airfield, also, known, kila, mile, drome, former, world, airfield, near, port, moresby, papua, guinea, part, multiple, airfield, complex, port, moresby, area, located, north, joyce, three, miles, from, town, port, moresby, near, village, kila, kila, kila. Kila Airfield also known as Kila Kila Airfield and 3 Mile Drome is a former World War II airfield near Port Moresby Papua New Guinea It was part of a multiple airfield complex in the Port Moresby area located north of Joyce Bay three miles from the town of Port Moresby near the village of Kila Kila Kila AirfieldKila Kila Airfield3 Mile DromePart of Fifth Air ForceLocated near Port Moresby Papua New Guinea Kila AirfieldKila Airfield Papua New Guinea Coordinates09 29 24 92 S 147 11 31 19 E 9 4902556 S 147 1919972 E 9 4902556 147 1919972TypeMilitary airfieldSite informationControlled byUnited States Army Air ForcesSite historyBuilt1944In use1944The airfield was Port Moresby s first civilian airfield built in 1933 by the Australian administration Contents 1 History 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksHistory editThe airport was used by the Americans beginning in 1942 and expanded into an airfield for fighters light bombers and service aircraft Many USAAF squadrons were briefly stationed at the airfield during the war and major units assigned to Kila were Headquarters 3d Bombardment Group January 28 May 20 1943 8th Bomb Squadron A 20 Havoc 13th Bomb Squadron A 20 Havoc 89th Bomb Squadron A 20 Havoc 90th Bomb Squadron A 20 Havoc8th Fighter Squadron 49th Fighter Group 25 September 15 April 1943 P 39 Airacobra 80th Fighter Squadron 8th Fighter Group 21 March 11 December 1943 P 39 AiracobraA large hill on the approach to the field limited its usefulness The runway was 5 000 100 surfaced with black loam with marston matting as of October 8 1943 A dispersal area with revetments and taxiways was located on the northern side of the runway Several buildings were located at the center of the runway After the war the airfield was returned to the New Guinea government Today the airfield is now part of the Kila Police Barracks a golf course and a technical school Some of the wartime revetments remain on the police property and portions of the wartime taxiways and runway are visible See also edit nbsp World War II portalUSAAF in the Southwest Pacific Port Moresby Airfield ComplexWards Airfield 5 Mile Drome Jackson Airfield 7 Mile Drome Berry Airfield 12 Mile Drome Schwimmer Airfield 14 Mile Drome Durand Airfield 17 Mile Drome Rogers Rarona Airfield 30 Mile Drome Fishermans Daugo Island AirfieldReferences edit nbsp This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency Maurer Maurer 1983 Air Force Combat Units Of World War II Maxwell AFB Alabama Office of Air Force History ISBN 0 89201 092 4 www pacificwrecks comExternal links edit Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kila Airfield amp oldid 1011521214, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
