Dobodura Airfield

Dobodura Airfield

Type		119 Air Base
Historical Name of Location		Dobodura, Australian Papua
Coordinates		-8.804444000, 148.308889000

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseDobodura Airfield, or more accurately a complex of airfields, was located in Australian Papua in western New Guinea island. It was built by US Army Air Forces between Dec 1942 and early 1943. A total of 15 airstrips were in place at the height of the base's use during WW2, with the airstrips east of the town of Dobodura housing the main facilities. Aside from being the home of several bomber and fighter squadrons, Dobodura was also used to receive war material, including heavy field guns, to support the Allied over-land campaign on New Guinea island. After the war, all but one airstrip was abandoned. Today, the former Dobodura No. 7 "Kenney" airstrip is being used by the civilian Girua Airport.

ww2dbaseSources:
pacificwrecks.com
Wikipedia

Last Major Update: Oct 2014

Dobodura Airfield Interactive Map

Photographs

A Jeep brought litters to the B-17F Fortress “The Old Man” of the 65th Bomb Squadron shortly after landing at Dobodura, New Guinea, Mar 8 1943. The B-17 was attacked by 13 Japanese fighters during a photo-recon mission over Gasmata, New Britain

US Army radioman Corporal John Robbins operating his SCR 188, Dobodura, New Guinea, 9 May 1943

See all 38 photographs of Dobodura Airfield

Dobodura Airfield Timeline

26 Dec 1942	Japanese aircraft from Rabaul, New Britain attacked Dobodura Airfield in Australian Papua, causing minimal damage.
6 Mar 1943	The headquarters of USAAF 49th Fighter Group was transferred from Port Moresby to Dobodura Airfield, Australian Papua.
10 Apr 1943	8th Bomb Squadron (flying A-20 aircraft) of USAAF 3rd Bombardment Group was transferred from Port Moresby to Dobodura Airfield, Australian Papua.
11 Apr 1943	73 Zero fighters and 27 D3A carrier dive bombers attacked Oro Bay near Dobodura, Australian Papua, sinking 1 US cargo ship, sinking 1 US destroyer, damaging 1 transport, and damaging 1 Australian minesweeper.
15 Apr 1943	7th Fighter Squadron and 8th Fighter Squadron (both flying P-40 aircraft) of USAAF 49th Fighter Group were transferred from Port Moresby to Dobodura Airfield, Australian Papua.
30 Apr 1943	In Australian Papua, US 90th Squadron moved from Port Moresby to Dobodura Airfield to the northeast.
9 May 1943	89th Bomb Squadron (flying A-20 aircraft) of USAAF 3rd Bombardment Group was transferred from Port Moresby to Dobodura Airfield, Australian Papua.
15 May 1943	432nd Fighter Squadron (flying P-38 aicraft) of USAAF 475th Fighter Group was transferred to Dobodura No. 15 airstrip of Dobodura Airfield, Australian Papua.
20 May 1943	The headquarters of USAAF 3rd Bombardment Group was transferred from Port Moresby to Dobodura Airfield, Australian Papua.
21 May 1943	90th Bomb Squadron (flying B-25 aircraft) of USAAF 3rd Bombardment Group was transferred from Port Moresby to Dobodura Airfield, Australian Papua.
23 May 1943	13th Bomb Squadron (flying B-25 aircraft) of USAAF 3rd Bombardment Group was transferred from Port Moresby to Dobodura Airfield, Australian Papua.
11 Jul 1943	19th Bomb Squadron (flying B-25 and B-26 aircraft) of USAAF 22nd Bomb Group was transferred to Dobodura Airfield, Australian Papua.
12 Jul 1943	432nd Fighter Squadron (flying P-38 aicraft) of USAAF 475th Fighter Group was out of Dobodura No. 15 airstrip of Dobodura Airfield, Australian Papua.
14 Aug 1943	433rd Fighter Squadron (flying P-38 aicraft) and the headquarters unit of USAAF 475th Fighter Group was transferred to Dobodura Airfield, Australian Papua.
19 Aug 1943	The headquarters of USAAF 375th Troop Carrier Group was transferred to Dobodura Airfield, Australian Papua.
30 Aug 1943	8th Fighter Squadron (both flying P-40 aircraft) of USAAF 49th Fighter Group was transferred out of Port Moresby to Dobodura Airfield, Australian Papua.
28 Sep 1943	Edmund Herring and his staff officers R. B. Sutherland and R. Bierwirth boarded a USAAF B-25 bomber at Dobodura Airfield on New Guinea island for transport to Milne Bay. The undercarriage of the aircraft collapsed during takeoff, causing the propeller to break pieces off of the Marston Mat; Sutherland was struck and killed by one such piece.
3 Oct 1943	433rd Fighter Squadron (flying P-38 aicraft) of USAAF 475th Fighter Group was out of Dobodura No. 11 airstrip of Dobodura Airfield, Australian Papua.
9 Oct 1943	Japanese aircraft attacked the Dobodura Airfield in Australian Papua, setting oil dumps on fire. On the same day, 2nd Bomb Squadron (flying B-25 and B-26 aircraft) of USAAF 22nd Bomb Group was transferred to Dobodura.
11 Oct 1943	13 Beaufighter aircraft of 30 Squadron RAAF from Goodenough Island and 2 squadrons of US 38th Bomb Group arrived at Dobodura Airfield in Australian Squadron in preparation of a planned strike on Rabaul, New Britain on the next day.
15 Oct 1943	33rd Bomb Squadron and 408th Bomb Squadron (both flying B-25 aircraft) of USAAF 22nd Bomb Group were transferred from Australia to Dobodura Airfield, Australian Papua.
17 Oct 1943	56 A6M fighters attacked Dobodura Airfield and Oro Bay in Australian Papua; 43 P-38 and 3 P-40 fighters rose to defend. The Japanese lost 8 A6M fighters and the Americans lost 4 P-38 and 1 P-40 fighters.
29 Oct 1943	63rd Bomb Sauadron (flying B-24 aircraft) of USAAF 43rd Bomb Group was transferred from Port Moresby to Dobodura Airfield, Australian Papua.
16 Nov 1943	7th Fighter Squadron (both flying P-40 aircraft) of USAAF 49th Fighter Group was transferred out of Port Moresby to Dobodura Airfield, Australian Papua.
20 Nov 1943	The headquarters of USAAF 49th Fighter Group was transferred out of Dobodura Airfield, Australian Papua.
22 Nov 1943	418th Night Fighter Squadron (flying P-61 aircraft) of USAAF V Fighter Command was transferred from Milne Bay to Dobodura Airfield, Australian Papua.
1 Dec 1943	319th, 320th, 321st, and 400th Bomb Squadrons (all flying B-24 aircraft) of USAAF 90th Bomb Group were transferred from Port Moresby to Dobodura Airfield, Australian Papua.
10 Dec 1943	64th Bomb Squadron (flying B-24 aircraft) of USAAF 43rd Bomb Group was transferred from Port Moresby to Dobodura Airfield, Australian Papua.
11 Dec 1943	65th Bomb Squadron (flying B-24 aircraft) of USAAF 43rd Bomb Group and 80th Fighter Squadron (flying P-38 aircraft) of USAAF 8th Fighter Group were transferred from Port Moresby to Dobodura Airfield, Australian Papua.
13 Dec 1943	403rd Bomb Squadron (flying B-24 aircraft) of USAAF 43rd Bomb Group was transferred from Port Moresby to Dobodura Airfield, Australian Papua.
16 Dec 1943	The 9th Fighter Squadron (flying P-47 aircraft) of USAAF 49th Fighter Group was transferred out of Dobodura Airfield, Australian Papua.
19 Dec 1943	2nd Bomb Squadron (flying B-25 and B-26 aircraft) of USAAF 22nd Bomb Group and the headquarters of USAAF 375th Troop Carrier Group were transferred out of Dobodura Airfield, Australian Papua.
23 Dec 1943	501st Bomb Squadron of USAAF 345th Bomb Group was transferred out of Dobodura Airfield, Australian Papua.
28 Dec 1943	69th, 310th, and 311th Fighter Squadrons (all flying P-47 aircraft) of USAAF 58th Fighter Group were transferred from Brisbane, Australia to Dobodura Airfield, Australian Papua.
1 Jan 1944	500th Bomb Squadron (flying B-25 aircraft) of USAAF 345th Bomb Group was transferred from Port Moresby to Dobodura Airfield, Australian Papua.
3 Feb 1944	673rd Bomb Squadron (flying A-20 aircraft) of USAAF 417th Bomb Group was transferred from Cape Sudest Airfield to Dobodura Airfield, Australian Papua.
4 Feb 1944	672nd, 674th, and 675th Bomb Squadrons (all flying A-20 aircraft) of USAAF 417th Bomb Group were transferred from Cape Sudest Airfield to Dobodura Airfield, Australian Papua.
7 Feb 1944	The headquarters of USAAF 417th Bomb Group was transferred from Cape Sudest Airfield to Dobodura Airfield, Australian Papua.
28 Feb 1944	80th Fighter Squadron (flying P-38 aircraft) of USAAF 80th Fighter Group was transferred out of Dobodura Airfield, Australian Papua.
24 Mar 1944	The headquarters of USAAF 475th Fighter Group was transferred out of Dobodura Airfield, Australian Papua.
28 Mar 1944	418th Night Fighter Squadron (flying P-61 aircraft) of USAAF V Fighter Command was transferred out of Dobodura Airfield, Australian Papua.

Did you enjoy this article or find this article helpful? If so, please consider supporting us on Patreon. Even $1 per month will go a long way! Thank you.

Share this article with your friends:

Facebook
Reddit
Twitter

Stay updated with WW2DB:

RSS Feeds

Visitor Submitted Comments

1. Richard Lieven says:
19 Jan 2023 05:08:09 PM

This was taken from my dad’s (Robert H Lieven) diary. He was stationed at Dobudura from 10 Dec 1942 to 3 Feb 1943.
25 Dec 1942 Bombed 4 times at night.
26 Dec 1942 Strafed by 6 *** planes.
27 Dec 1942 Bombed and strafed by 42 *** planes.

All visitor submitted comments are opinions of those making the submissions and do not reflect views of WW2DB.

Posting Your Comments on this Topic

Your Name
Your Email
	Your email will not be published
Comment Type
Your Comments

Notes:

1. We hope that visitor conversations at WW2DB will be constructive and thought-provoking. Please refrain from using strong language. HTML tags are not allowed. Your IP address will be tracked even if you remain anonymous. WW2DB site administrators reserve the right to moderate, censor, and/or remove any comment. All comment submissions will become the property of WW2DB.

2. For inquiries about military records for members of the World War II armed forces, please see our FAQ.

Change View

Desktop View

Search WW2DB

WW2-Era Place Name	Dobodura, Australian Papua
Lat/Long	-8.8044, 148.3089

World War II Database

Dobodura Airfield