History
The airport was used by the Americans beginning in 1942 and expanded into an airfield for fighters, light bombers and service aircraft. Many USAAF squadrons were briefly stationed at the airfield during the war, and major units assigned to Kila were:
- Headquarters, 3d Bombardment Group (January 28 – May 20, 1943)
- 8th Bomb Squadron, A-20 Havoc
- 13th Bomb Squadron, A-20 Havoc
- 89th Bomb Squadron, A-20 Havoc
- 90th Bomb Squadron, A-20 Havoc
- 8th Fighter Squadron (49th Fighter Group), 25 September-15 April 1943, P-39 Aircobra
- 80th Fighter Squadron (8th Fighter Group), 21 March-11 December 1943, P-39 Aircobra
A large hill at on the approach to the field limited its usefulness. The runway was 5,000' x 100' surfaced with black loam with marston matting (as of October 8, 1943). A dispersal area with revetments and taxiways were located on the northern side of the runway. Several buildings were located at the center of the runway.
After the war the airfield was returned to the New Guinea government. Today the airfield is now part of the Kila Police Barracks, a golf course and a technical school. Some of the wartime revetments remain on the police property and portions of the wartime taxiways and runway are visible.
Read more about this topic: Kila Airfield
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