Vivigani Airfield
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| Vivigani Airport | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| IATA: VIV – ICAO: none | |||
| Summary | |||
| Airport type | Public | ||
| Location | Vivigani, Goodenough Island, Papua New Guinea | ||
| Coordinates | |||
| Runways | |||
| Direction | Length | Surface | |
| ft | m | ||
| Asphalt | |||
Vivigani Airfield (IATA: VIV) is an airport at Vivigani on Goodenough Island, part of the D'Entrecasteaux Islands in Papua New Guinea.
Contents |
[edit] History
Constructed as a mission airstrip at Vivigani.
[edit] World War II
The Australian 2/12th Battalion reached Vivigani on 27 October 1942 after occupying the island after defeating the Imperial Japanese troops marooned on the island, during World War II.
The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) prepared the airfields, first building an emergency landing strip in April 1943. A road was built from the Vivigani docks to the airfield. The first use of the airfield was by 6 Bristol Beauforts of No. 100 Squadron RAAF, staging out of Gurney Airfield, Milne Bay for a strike on Gasmata, Papua New Guinea on 17 May 1943.
No. 7 Mobile Works Squadron RAAF worked on the strip between June and September 1943. The airfield consisted of two parallel runways 6,600 feet (2,000 m) long and 150 feet (46 m) wide.
The airfield was used by both the 5th Air Force and RAAF.
[edit] Units Based at Vivigani during World War II
- No. 6 Squadron RAAF (Bristol Beauforts)
- No. 8 Squadron RAAF (Bristol Beauforts)
- No. 22 Squadron RAAF (Bostons)
- No. 108 Communication Unit RAAF (PBY Catalinas)
[edit] Post War
Still in use today as an airport.
