Cape Gloucester Airport

Cape Gloucester Airport is an airport in West New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea. (IATA: CGC, ICAO: AYCG). The airport is a single runway general aviation facility, at the present time, there is no scheduled commercial service to the airport.

Cape Gloucester Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
LocationCape Gloucester, Papua New Guinea
Elevation AMSL78 ft / 24 m
Coordinates05°27′33″S 148°25′57″E
Map
Cape Gloucester Airport
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
03/21 3,540 1,073 Asphalt
Source: World Aero Data

History

Construction of Cape Gloucester Airport originally began in 1942 by the Australians. When the area was seized by the Japanese, it was improved into a two-runway airfield. Later, the area was liberated by the United States Marines on 30 December 1943. Three American aviation engineer battalions were sent to the airfield where they found their work impeded by heavy rains. Marine L-4 aircraft (military versions of the Piper Cub) began operating from a road near the airfield as early as 2 January, and other aircraft made emergency landings. The available engineering forces planned to have the airfield operational for fighters by 1 February but American aircraft did not start operating from the strip until February 1944, but moved out by the end of March.

Cape Gloucester was later developed as an American and an Australian air base but it was never a particularly significant one. After the war, the airfield remained in use for civilian aircraft to service the Cape Gloucester area. It is not used by larger commercial flights, and is occasionally closed due to volcanic activity in the area.

Major USAAF units assigned
Headquarters, 35th Fighter Squadron, P-40 Warhawk; 80th Fighter Squadron, P-38 Lightning
  • 8th Photo Reconnaissance Squadron (6th Photo Reconnaissance Group) (dates undetermined)

In addition, the 12th Defense Battalion (USMC) was assigned to the airfield between 30 December 1943 and late May 1944. Royal Australian Air Force units based at Cape Gloucester consisted of No. 78 Squadron, equipped with P-40 Warhawks. The facility, however, was not very usable, as the mud during the winter rainy season was so bad most aircraft could not use the airfield.

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See also

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

  • 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.com


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