Rabaul Airfield Complex was an airfield complex, which consisted of multiple landing grounds mainly used by the Japanese. It was located on the Gazelle Peninsula of New Britain in Papua New Guinea.
History In 1941, the Allies had planned to convert Rabaul into a secure fleet anchorage, equipped with a radar station and a defensive minefield: however, these plans were shelved. The protection of Vunakanau Airfield was prioritised as it was the main Royal Australian Air Force station. It was used by No. 24 Squadron RAAF, which flew surveillance missions to record Japanese movements in the region. However, it was armed with 10 lightly armed CAC Wirraway training aircraft and 4 Lockheed Hudson light bombers, making them have little offensive capability.
The Japanese sought Rabaul because of its strategic proximity to the Caroline Islands, which was the site of an important Imperial Japanese Navy base on Truk. Following Guam's capture, the South Seas Force, under Major General Tomatiaro Hori, was tasked with capturing Kavieng and Rabaul, which was a part of Operation R. This operation involved the capture of region, mainly involving the airfields and the town of Rabaul. A multi-pronged landing focused on capturing the airfields and the centre of the town was chosen. Prior preparations were made, which involved the establishment of a brigade group based on the 55th Division. Its main combat components were from the 144th Infantry Regiment, which included a headquarters unit, three infantry battalions, an artillery company, signals unit, and a munitions squad. Additionally, platoons from the 55th Cavalry Regiment, a battalion from the 55th Mountain Artillery Regiment and finally a company from the 55th Engineer Regiment participated. These forces would be backed by a naval task force, and the landing would be preceded by a heavy aerial bombardment, aimed at destroying Allied air assets in the region, so that they were not able to interfere with the landing operations.
Invasion
In December 1941, the civilians who were unrelated to the defense of the base were evacuated. Shortly on 4 January, 1942, Rabaul was attacked by large numbers of Japanese carrier-base aircraft. 10 days later on 14 January, a Japanese force headed to Rabaul, consisting of two aircraft carriers Kaga and Akashi-seven cruisers, 14 destroys, and numerous smaller vessels and submarines commanded by Vice Admiral Shigeyoshi Inoue. On 20 January, over 100 Japanese aircraft attacked Rabaul in multiple waves. In response, 8 Wirraways of the 28 Squadron attacked, resulting in 3 RAAF planes shot down, two crash-landed, and another was damaged. Only one of the Japanese bombers was shot down by Allies anti-aircraft emplacements. As a result of the air attacks, the Australian coastal artillery was totaled, while the Australian infantry were withdrawn from Rabaul. On 23 January, Lakunai Airfield was captured by two battalions of the South Seas Force when Australian forces left several areas unguarded. The remaining RAAF elements had dwindled to two Wirraways and a single Hudson, and they had to withdraw to Lae. Despite the last effort plans that were made to split the remaining Australian soldiers and civilians into small companies in groups, it was ditched as the RAAF had instead organized evacuation plans.
In the six months that ensued after the invasion, approximately 1,200 Australian soldiers and civilians had died. Many had died in the jungles, 160 were massacred with bayonets at Tol plantation, and more than 1,000 military and civilian prisoners of war from Rabaul drowned when prison ship Montevideo Maru was sunk by an American submarine.
Rabaul No. 1 Location:
Rabaul No. 1, also known as Rabaul East, or Lakunai Airfield was originally built by the Australian administration before the war with a single runway measuring 4,709 feet long. It was surfaced with sand and volcanic ash for civil aircraft usage. In late November 1941, Lakunai Airfield were used by the Royal Australian Air Force as an advance base for the No. 24 Squadron's Hudsons. In November 1941, a Hudson numbered A16-13 crashed during take-off, causing multiple injuries.
Japanese occupation On 23 January, 1942, the airfield was occupied by the Japanese during the invasion of Rabaul. Immediately afterwards, the 7th Construction Unit was deployed to work and expand the airfield. It was known by the Japanese as Rabinjikku (Rabaul Lower).
The first Japanese aircraft landed at Lakunai Airfield on 17 February, 1942, which were six A6M2 Zeros from Japanese aircraft carrier Shōhō. By the end of January, two groups of A5M4 Claude fighters arrived to fly Combat Air Patrols and missions. Following this, Lakunai Airfield was constantly bombed by Allied bombers. It was expanded with revetments on the north and south, and taxiways built using Japanese Testuban, which was a variant of the Marston Mat. Additionally, a large number of anti-aircraft guns were installed, and were supported by guns positioned around the perimeter of the airfield. Afterwards, Lakunai Airfield served as the primary fighter airstrip at Rabaul, and was mainly used by the Japanese Navy. Constant eruptions from Tavurvur often coated the area with a layer of ash. During early 1943, Japanese Army Air Force aircraft were stationed before withdrawal in August 1943. In February 1944, the remaining aircraft were withdrawn to Truk. Afterwards, anti-aircraft defenses remained operational until the end of the war. By the end of the war, hundreds of bombing missions were flown against the airfield, and it became littered with wrecked aircraft.
Allied capture In September 1945, it was captured by Australian forces and repaired for Allied usage between September and October. On 1 November, 1945, a USMC PBJ Mitchell took off from Manus and landed at the airfield, which was the first Allied aircraft to land here since the start of the Pacific War. On 30 October, 1945, a RAAF Dakota arrived with mail for Australian servicemen. By late 1945, Lakunai Airfield fully returned to service and briefly based the No. 8 Squadron RAAF's Beaufort. From 1945 until 1994, Lakunai Airfield operated as a civilian airport for the region. In 1983, Tokua Airport was built with assistance and funding from Japan as an alternative for Lakunai Airfield for if it was unusable during a volcanic eruption. In 1994, a volcanic eruption covered the airport and runway with a layer of ash, rendering it unserviceable. Following the eruption, Tokua Airport was activated for use, and Lakunai Airfield was abandoned.
Present Today, the runway is covered with a layer of ash. Beside the runway are the wreckage of Japanese aircraft, which included a Ki-21 Sally, Ki-48, and Ki-43 Oscar. A P-39 Airacobra and TDR-1 Attack Drone was also among the wreckage. In 1966, the wreckage of the TDR-1 was destroyed with a 2,000 lbs bomb, as locals feared evil spirits from an airplane without its cockpit. These wreckages remain as a popular tourist site.
Units The following lists the units that were based at Lakunai: Allied Units No. 8 Squadron RAAF, Bristol Beaufort (1945)
Japanese Units 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)
Rabaul No. 2 Location:
Rabaul No. 2, also known as Rabaul West, or Vunakanau Airfield was originally built by the Australian administration before the war with a single unpaved runway and a building. During December 1941, the airfield was used by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) by No. 24 Squadron RAAF, equipped with 10 Wirraways, 4 Hudsons, and additional planes that operated from the nearby Lakunai Airfield. This was done in preparation for the defense of Rabaul. On 6 January, 1942, Japanese flying boats bombed Vunakanau Airfield for the first time. On 20 January, 1942, 8 Wirraways of the No. 24 Squadron struggled to intercept over a hundred Japanese aircraft raiding Rabaul. However, escorting A6M2 Zeros shot all of their planes down, rendering them damaged and written off afterwards.
On 21 January, 1942, commanding officer of the No. 24 Squadron John M. Lerew, sent the radio message “We who are about to die salute you” to the RAAF headquarters located in Melbourne. Finally, on 22 January, 1942, the last Hudson loaded with wounded personnel took off from the airfield, bound for Port Moresby. Remaining Australian personnel trekked southward towards the southern coast of New Britain. Following this, the squadron withdrew and Vunakanau Airfield was left abandoned with multiple damaged Wirraways.
Japanese occupation During late January, 1942, Vunakanau Airfield was occupied by the Japanese after they captured the Rabaul area. The Imperial Japanese Navy subsequently began to repair and expand the runway for bomber and fighter usage. Subsequently, Allied aircraft began bombing the airfield, mainly targeting the runway and parked aircraft. However, the Japanese were able to keep it serviceable until the end of the war. The airfield was expanded and improved. By 10 November, 1943, Vunakanau Airfield had two parallel runways both measuring 5,100 feet long with taxiways. There were also 64 bomber and 81 fighter revetments, and defenses included 15 heavy-anti aircraft guns, 14 medium anti-aircraft guns, 12 light machine guns, and 3 searchlight batteries. These additions were noted by Allied intelligence.
On 20 February, 1944, the last Japanese aircraft were ordered to withdraw from Vunakanau Airfield and head northward to Truk. These aircraft were assigned to the 105th Naval Base Air Unit, and became a part of the “Rabaul Air Force” which continued to fly reconnaissance and occasional strike missions. By 25 February, 1944, the withdrawal was completely, which marked the end of the air war over the Rabaul area. Afterwards, anti-aircraft defenses remained active and continued to fire at Allied aircraft.
Surrender Following the surrender of Japan, in early September 1945, the remaining aircraft were painted in white with green crosses to signify surrender. The pilots requested permission to surrender the aircraft to the Air Force, and on 18 September, 1945, the four aircraft were flown to Jacquinot Bay Airfield. During the flight, they were escorted by Royal New Zealand Air Force Corsairs. After landing, they saluted, made a report, and were flown back to Rabaul where they became Japanese Prisoners of War.
Present After the war ended, Vunakanau Airfield was repaired and continued to be operational. In the 1970s, behind the Catholic Mission at Malmaluan an underground radio back bunker with radio racks was rediscovered. By 1983, only one of the runways remained in use, until the activation of Tokua Airfield in 1994, and the airfield was fully abandoned. During the 1980s, much of the remaining wreckage was transported to the Kokopo Museum display. Today, the former runways are overgrown but still visible from above. Walking trails and roads trace the old runway and taxiways.
Units The following lists the units that were based at Vunakanau: Imperial Japanese Navy 4th Kōkūtai, February 14–18, 1942 - unknown, equipped with G4M1s Misawa Kōkūtai, August 7, 1942 - Oct 1942, equipped with 9 G4M1s 705 Kōkūtai, January 1943 - April 1943, equipped with G4M1s 702 Kōkūtai, May 1943 - 11 December, 1943 equipped with G4M1 Bettys 751 Kōkūtai, 11 October, 1942 - May 1943 Tainan Kōkūtai, April 1942 - November 1942, equipped with A6M Zeros 251 Kōkūtai, November 1942 - mid-1943, equipped with A6M Zero and J1NA Irving Japanese Army Air Force 1st Hiko Sentai, January - August 1943, equipped with Ki-43 Oscar 11th Hiko Sentai, December 18, 1943 - June 1943, equipped with Ki-43 Oscar