Turnbull Field
Turnbull Field was an aerodrome near Gili Gili, Papua New Guinea.
Turnbull Field.svg.png) | |
|---|---|
| Part of Fifth Air Force | |
| Located in Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea | |
| Type | Military airfield |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | United States Army Air Forces |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1942 |
| In use | 1942–1944 |
History
Built by the US Army 2nd Battalion of 43rd Engineer General Service Regiment (less Company E),[1] during the Battle of Milne Bay during World War II with assistance from the 105th Naval Construction Battalion.[2] Originally known as No. 3 Strip, the airfield was renamed Turnbull Field on 14 September 1942 in honour of Royal Australian Air Force Squadron Leader Peter Turnbull, who was killed in an aircraft crash.[3] The single runway was 5,000 feet (1,500 m) long x 100 feet (30 m) wide surfaced with marston matting. Taxiways and revetments extended off both sides of the runway.
The aerodrome was abandoned in February 1944 and has been disused since the end of World War II.
Allied Units Based at Turnbull Field
- 36th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group (18 September 1942 – 22 February 1943), P-39
- 403d Bombardment Squadron, 43d Bombardment Group (23 November 1942 – 21 January 1943), B-17
- 82d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group (6–23 November 1943), B-25, P-39
- 418th Night Fighter Squadron (2–22 November 1943), P-38, P-70
- 421st Night Fighter Squadron (4 January – 1 February 1944), P-70
- No. 6 Squadron RAAF, (Lockheed Hudson)
- 9 Battery, 2/3 Australian Light Anti-aircraft Regiment[4]
References
- "43rd Engineer General Services Regiment, US Corps of Engineers, in Australia during WW2". Ozatwar.com. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
- 105th Naval Construction Battalion Cruise book, 1946, p. 57/155, Seabee Archives, Port Hueneme, Ca.
- "PNGAA Library". Pngaa.net. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
That strip was named “Turnbull Field”, after RAAF Squadron Leader Peter Turnbull who was killed whilst strafing the retreating Japanese, and crashed into one of the ravines near the later site of Alotau.
- Rae, CJE, Harris, AL & Bryant, RK 1987, On target: the story of the 2/3 Australian Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment from formation on 18th July 1940 until disbandment on 14 July 1943 and the subsequent service of 7th Battery, 8th Battery, and 9th Battery, until the end of World War II, 2/3rd Australian Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment Association, [Melbourne].
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