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Emirau Airport is an airfield in Emirau Island, Papua New Guinea.[1]

Emirau Airport
IATA: EMI ICAO: AYEE
Summary
Location	Emirau Island, Papua New Guinea
Elevation AMSL	100 ft / 30 m
Coordinates	1°38.5′S 149°58.5′E
Map
EMI Location of airport in Papua New Guinea
Runways
Direction Length Surface m ft 12/30 1,455 4,773
Source: PNG Airstrip Guide[1]

History

World War II

Emirau Airfield
Emirau Island
F4Us on Emirau
Coordinates	01°38.5′S 149°58.5′E
Type	Military Airfield
Site information
Controlled by	United States Marine Corps Royal New Zealand Air Force
Site history
Built	1944
Built by	Seebees
In use	1944-present
Materials	Coral

Emirau was seized unopposed by two Battalions of the 4th Marine Regiment on 20 March 1944.[2] Naval Construction Battalions arrived shortly after the landings and began construction of two coral-surfaced 7,000 feet (2,100 m) by 150 feet (46 m) airfields on the island. Inshore Airfield had 35 double hardstands capable of parking 210 fighter or light-bomber planes, while North Cape Airfield had 42 hardstands with space for parking 84 heavy bombers. Both were fully equipped with towers, lighting, and a dispensary. The aviation tank farm consisted of three 1,000 barrels (~140 t) tanks and nineteen 1,000 barrels (~140 t) together with the appropriate filling and distribution points. A reserve of 40,000 barrels (~5,500 t) was stored in drums.[2]^: 304 Emirau was the staging point for attacks on the Japanese strongholds at Rabaul and Kavieng.

US Marine Corps units based here included:

• VMSB-243 operating SBDs from June–December 1944
• VMB-413 operating PBJs[3]
• VMB-433 operating PBJs[4]
• VMB-443 operating PBJs[5]
• VMB-611 operating PBJs[6]

Royal New Zealand Air Force units based here included:[7]

• No. 1 Squadron operating PV-1s from May–June 1945
• No. 3 Squadron operating PV-1s
• No. 4 Squadron operating PV-1s from November 1944-February 1945 and June–July 1945
• No. 8 Squadron operating PV-1s from February–March 1945
• No. 9 Squadron operating PV-1s from March–May 1945
• No. 14 Squadron operating F4Us from July–August 1945
• No. 19 Squadron operating F4Us from November 1944-January 1945
• No. 22 Squadron operating F4Us from January–March 1945
• No. 23 Squadron from March–May 1945
• No. 25 Squadron operating F4Us from May–July 1945

There was also one Australian unit located on the island - the 474 Heavy Anti-aircraft Troop.

Base roll-up commenced in December 1944 and was completed by May 1945.[2]^: 304

Postwar

The runways remain usable.

References

External links

• Accident history for EMI at Aviation Safety Network

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