Jacksons International Airport - History

History

The pre-World War II Port Moresby Airport became one of the primary airfields used by the Allied forces during the New Guinea campaign (1942–1945), and was part of a multiple-airfield complex in the Port Moresby area. The "Seven Mile Aerodrome" (so named because it was seven miles from Port Moresby) was renamed Jackson's Strip or Jackson's Field after Australian fighter ace John Jackson, leader of No. 75 Squadron RAAF, who was killed in a dogfight against Japanese planes over Port Moresby on 28 April 1942. During March–May 1942, the squadron's P-40 Kittyhawks destroyed over 60 enemy aircraft in air-to-air combat and strafing attacks for a loss of 24 aircraft and 12 pilots.

When American forces arrived in April 1942, the airfield was further developed and expanded. Revetments were constructed to protect parked aircraft and defenses. Also, a network of taxiways was built between Jackson and the adjacent Wards Airfield (5-Mile Airdrome) which made it possible to taxi between the two airfields.

Jackson's Field was primarily a command and control facility, housing the headquarters of many groups, with their operational squadrons deployed in the forward areas, although it was used for some operational squadrons.

With the end of the war, the USAAF withdrew from the airfield in 1945, however it was used as a major disposal point for excess Allied aircraft, and for years disposed B-17s, P-47s, B-25s, P-38s, A-20Gs and even a few P-40s could be found in various states of decay in the area.