| Rabaul Old Airport (Lakunai Airfield) | |
|---|---|
 Lakunai on February 17, 1988 | |
| Summary | |
| Airport type | Civilian |
| Serves | Rabaul |
| Location | Rabaul, New Britain, Papua New Guinea |
| Closed | 1994 (Destroyed) |
| Passenger services ceased | 1994 |
Lakunai Airfield, later known as Rabaul Airport, was an aerodrome located near Rabaul, East New Britain, Papua New Guinea. It was located at the foot of Tavurvur volcano, near Matupit Island. The airport was destroyed by the 1994 eruption that destroyed the town of Rabaul and subsequently a new airport was built and opened at Tokua, on the opposite side of the Rabaul caldera. The former airport was located at 04°13′S 152°11′E / 4.217°S 152.183°E / -4.217; 152.183 (Rabaul Airport (old)).
World War II
The airfield was constructed by the Royal Australian Air Force as an emergency landing strip for Vunakanau Airfield and consisted of an unpaved 4,700 foot single runway during World War II. The airfield was captured during the Battle of Rabaul in 1942 by the Imperial Japanese Army and was extensively modified and expanded. Lakunai was later neutralized by Allied air bombing from 1944.
Allied Units based at Lakunai Airfield
- No. 8 Squadron RAAF, Bristol Beaufort (1945)
Japanese Units based at Lakunai Airfield
- Chitose Kōkūtai (A5M Claude)
- 4th Kōkūtai (A5M Claude & A6M Zero) - February 10, 1942
- Tainan Kōkūtai (A6M Zero)
- 6th Kōkūtai (A6M Zero)
- 501st Kōkūtai (D4Y Judy)
- 11th Sentai (Ki-43 Oscar)
- 1st Sentai (Ki-43 Oscar)
- 68th Sentai (Ki-61 Tony)
- 78th Sentai (Ki-61 Tony)
- 81st Sentai (Ki-46 Dinah and Ki-21 Sally)
Post-War and Subsequent Destruction
After World War II, it was used as a civilian airport until 1994, when a Volcanic eruption occurred at Tavurvur volcano at which the airport was located. The airport was covered in ash and destroyed, this led to a new airport being built for Rabaul.
Notes
- Airport information for AYRB at Great Circle Mapper.
References
- Sakaida, Henry (1996). The Siege of Rabaul. St. Paul, MN, USA: Phalanx. ISBN 1-883809-09-6.
- Gamble, Bruce (2006). Darkest Hour: The True Story of Lark Force at Rabaul. St. Paul, Minnesota: Zenith Imprint. ISBN 0-7603-2349-6.