Emirau Airport | |||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||
| Location | Emirau Island, Papua New Guinea | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 100 ft / 30 m | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 1°38.5′S149°58.5′E / 1.6417°S 149.9750°E | ||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||
  EMI Location of airport in Papua New Guinea | |||||||||||
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| Runways | |||||||||||
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Source: PNG Airstrip Guide [1] | |||||||||||
Emirau Airport is an airfield in Emirau Island, Papua New Guinea. [1]
| Emirau Airfield | |
|---|---|
| Emirau Island | |
 F4Us on Emirau | |
| Coordinates | 01°38.5′S149°58.5′E / 1.6417°S 149.9750°E |
| Type | Military Airfield |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | United States Marine Corps Royal New Zealand Air Force |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1944 |
| Built by | Seabees |
| In use | 1944-present |
| Materials | Coral |
Emirau was seized unopposed by two Battalions of the 4th Marine Regiment on 20 March 1944. [2] Naval Construction Battalions arrived shortly after the landings and began construction of two coral-surfaced 7,000 feet (2,100 m) by 150 feet (46 m) airfields on the island. Inshore Airfield had 35 double hardstands capable of parking 210 fighter or light-bomber planes, while North Cape Airfield had 42 hardstands with space for parking 84 heavy bombers. Both were fully equipped with towers, lighting, and a dispensary. The aviation tank farm consisted of three 1,000 barrels (~140 t ) tanks and nineteen 1,000 barrels (~140 t) together with the appropriate filling and distribution points. A reserve of 40,000 barrels (~5,500 t) was stored in drums. [2] : 304 Emirau was the staging point for attacks on the Japanese strongholds at Rabaul and Kavieng.
US Marine Corps units based here included:
Royal New Zealand Air Force units based here included: [7]
There was also one Australian unit located on the island - the 474 Heavy Anti-aircraft Troop.
Base roll-up commenced in December 1944 and was completed by May 1945. [2] : 304
The runways remain usable.
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