Berry Airfield - History

History

Berry Airfield was completed May 15, 1943, however there was little or no room for expansion without an extensive earth moving project being put into action. The runway had an 8-inch (200 mm) base of crushed rock and pit gravel approximately 4,500' by 150'. It also had 40 dispersal bays, and 4 alert areas that would accommodate 15 fighter aircraft.

Berry hosted many units during its operational use, however the only long-term unit assigned was the 8th Fighter Squadron (49th Fighter Group) which flew P-39 Aircobras from July 20, 1942 - November 8, 1942.

Today, the road from Port Moresby runs overtop the old man runway. The Bomana Police Training College is located at the site of the former strip, and the Bomana War Cemetery is at the far end of the strip. Some of the officer's and command tents for the airfield were located in the high ground around the former field. Some war debris are scattered around the area, including barrels, metal pieces, and other objects.

Read more about this topic:  Berry Airfield

Famous quotes containing the word history:

    It’s nice to be a part of history but people should get it right. I may not be perfect, but I’m bloody close.
    John Lydon (formerly Johnny Rotten)

    The only history is a mere question of one’s struggle inside oneself. But that is the joy of it. One need neither discover Americas nor conquer nations, and yet one has as great a work as Columbus or Alexander, to do.
    —D.H. (David Herbert)

    If man is reduced to being nothing but a character in history, he has no other choice but to subside into the sound and fury of a completely irrational history or to endow history with the form of human reason.
    Albert Camus (1913–1960)