Dobodura Airfield Complex was an airfield complex, which consisted of 15 landing grounds. It was located in Dobodura, inland from the Northern coast of New Guinea.
The Allies acknowledged the need for an airfield on the northern coast of New Guinea, while also being on the vicinity of Buna for use if Lae Airfield and Salamaua Airfield were attacked by Japanese forces. On July 9, 1942, an Allied reconnaissance was scheduled of the area, and two days later on July 11, a Royal Australian Air Force Catalina flew over Dobodura. Aboard were six officers including one US Army engineering officer, and three Australian officers, which determined that the plain and flat terrain at Dobodura should be developed.[1] Afterwards, the Dobodura Airfield Complex was built by the United States Army Air Forces between December 1942 and early 1943. A total of 15 landing grounds were built and put to use, which held several bomber and fighter squadrons, however, it was unclear which specific airfield each unit was based. Dobodura was also used to receive war supplies, including heavy field guns to support the Allied campaign on New Guinea Island.[2][3]
Airfields
Raways Airfield (Dobodura No. 1)
Raways Airfield was completed by late 1943 by the US Army for the usage of liaison planes and light aircraft.[4]
Dobodura No. 2
Dobodura No. 3
Horanda 4 (Dobodura No. 4)
The Horanda No. 4 Strip had two runways. On January 1944, there was a camp consisting of a mess hall and tents located two miles from the strip, which the 22nd Bomb Group was stationed in before. After they left, the 501st unit had moved in, reoccupying facilities and using the No. 4 strip which was within walking distance.[5]
Dobodura No. 5
Dobodura No. 6
Kenney Airfield (Dobodura No. 7)
Between late 1942 and early 1943, Kenney Airfield was constructed, named in honor of in honor of Fifth Air Force Commander General George Kenney. It was also known as No. 7, West 7, or Horanda No. 7 Airstrip or West 7, however it was more commonly known as Kenney Airfield. It was the only airfield that was not abandoned after the war, and is known as Girua Airport today.
On July 1943, the construction of Borio Airfield No. 11 was proposed. Between late 1943 and early 1944, the airfield was built by the US Army with taxiways connecting to North Borio Airfield and North Embi Airfield. It was used as a USAAF fighter base, and had a compound with US Army nurses and personnel stationed. After the Pacific War, it was abandoned, however it was listed as Embi Landing Ground in the 1970s.[7]
After World War II, all airfields except for Kenney Airfield had been abandoned. There were over a thousand aircraft wrecks left to disuse in the Dobodura region, however, most were scrapped by the late 1940s to early 1950s for scrap metal. In the 1990s, most of the airfield area has been converted into oil palm farms, which remains today. The Oil Parm Industries Corporation is lending money to individual developers to plant oil parm in the area. No plants grow on the runways, as the high compacted earth and bitumen is still present.[1]
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