Lakunai

LAKUNAI

Airport codes: AYRB

Type: closed airport

Scheduled airline service:

No Serves: Rabaul, East New Britain, Papua New Guinea

Latitude: -4.223000 | 4 13.380000 S | S04 13 22

Longitude: 152.185000 | 152 11.100000 E | E152 11 06

Field elevation: 30 ft/9 m MSL

The early Rabaul airport terminal

The new Waiting room Lakunai Airfield

Lakunai
At the most Northwest point of New Britain is a mountainous crook-shaped area of land. It is the city of Rabaul and it surrounds a natural deep water harbor, Simpson Harbor. In January, 1942, Rabaul, then defended by Australia came under heavy aerial bombardment by the Japanese for three weeks. Japanese ships then landed approximately 5,000 troops to take the 1,500 garrisoned at Rabaul. Before withdrawing, the Australians would make a courageous stand. Remaining Australians evacuated in several small boats to sea, but the majority were taken prisoner and many were murdered. Rabaul's natural defence of surrounding high mountains and deep water harbor, Simpson Harbor was deep enough for submarines to enter and exit without surfacing. The main airfield, Lakunai Field was located only a mile south of Rabaul. Eight miles to the south is Vunakanau Field, another large airfield. Others are Tobera, a fighter field, Rapopo, a bomber field, and Keravat. Rabaul became a primary base for naval and air operation to support further Japanese advance and control of the South

Lakunai Airfield was an aerodrome located near Rabaul, East New Britain, Papua New Guinea. The airfield was later known as Rabaul Airport. It is located at the foot of Tavurvur volcano, near Matupi Island. Lakunai or "East Airfield" no longer exists. After WWII the airfield became to be known as Rabaul Airport. It was located at the foot of Tavurvur volcano, near Matupi Island. The airport was destroyed by the 1994 eruption that destroyed the town of Rabaul. Lakunai was an alternate airstrip to Vunakanau Airfield.

Rabaul East New Britain. 23rd January 1942, the Japanese Imperial Forces invaded Rabaul.The Japanese captured Rabaul in the Battle of Rabaul in February 1942. They were preparing to convert the town into a large Naval and Air base for supplies and forces needed for the expansion of the Japanese Empire perimeter in the South West Pacific.

Lakunai looking from a high altitude

The war over the construction of Lakunai was to begin

Rabaul 28^th December 1945 Australian Prime Minister Ben Chifley and Major General Eather meet at Lakuani

Rabaul 21^th December 1945 Lieutenant General H.H Robertson ,Commanding Officer first Army with Major General Eather, meet at Lakuani RAAF Catalina in background

Rabaul 11th November 1945 Lakunai airstrip overrun with vegetation

The first RAAF courier plane lands at the newly constructed runway , Lakunai receives it’s first plans a Dakota C47 also known as a DC3 or the Biscuits Bomber

Waiting for the mail plain

Nurses tour Lakuani inspecting the war trach

A birds eye view of runway beside golf course with new China Town in background was known as Matupi Farm, also the site of the pre war Race course

The loading of the TAA sunbird Service early morning

DC3 Taxing Rabaul Airport

DC3 Landing Rabaul Airport

1965 airport takeoff

The arrival of the huge aircraft caused a sensation at Rabaul. It was the biggest ever to land there, so wrote the Times Courier Lakunai airstrip shuddered on landing the fifty ton RAAF Lockheed Hercules aircraft diverted from their normal mission .

F28 Fokker Friendship at Rabaul Airport the last flight out before the 1994 Eruption

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