The District Commissioner
Addendum 38: Dobuduru / Dobadura / Doboduru Airfields
Additional information for Chapter 15 – Building the Dobuduru (Dobadura) airfield
There were a total of 15 airstrips around Dobodura. Most were built by the US Army Airforce between December, 1942 and early 1943.
Wikipedia at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girua_Airport states “The main Dobodura complex had eleven airstrips, most interconnected for taxiing purposes. At the height of the Battle of Buna-Gona, supplies began landing at the airfields including artillery spotting planes, a 105mm and five Bren Gun Carriers used to assault Cape Endaiadere.”
David Marsh in chapter 15 describes building Dobodura No 2 near Popondetta with native labour including the native man Embogi in November, 1942.
The photo above of the Dobodura Airfield is believed to have been from the David Pennefather’s World War II Collection and was sourced 30 January, 2022 from the website wartimeloveletters.blogspot.com/2016/03/15-dobodura-airfield.html in the online article “My Parents WWII Love Letters” which was posted 3 March, 2016.
The photo above was taken by photographer Jack Heyn and is of the actor Gary Cooper with a B-25 Mitchell bomber at Dobodura Airfield in mid 1943. The actor visited the area to entertain the troops. The photo was sourced 30 January, 2022 from the website jackheyn.yolasite.com.
The photo above was taken by photographer Jack Heyn and is of the actor Gary Cooper with pilots of the 90th Squadron of USAAF 3rd Bomb Group and B-25D bomber 'Here's Howe' at Dobodura Airfield in mid-1943 The photo was sourced 30 January, 2022 from the website jackheyn.yolasite.com.
The map below is of the Road to Popondetta from page 405 of “Field Guide to the Kokoda Track --- An historical Guide to the Lost Battlefields” by Bill James (Kokoda Press edition 2011). It shows the airstrips built by David Marsh near Popondetta in November 1942. Also illustrates their strategic location in relation to Allied action to force the Japanese out of Gona, Buna, and Sanananda in November 1942 to February 1943. Assistance provided by Mr Eddy Durkan in regards to provision of this map from Mr Bill James.
After the war, all but one airstrip were abandoned.
Today, the former Dobodura No 7 "Kenney" airstrip is being used by the civilian Girua Airport serving Popondetta north of Mt Lamington in Oro Province.
The photos above is of PNG bridge builder Stan Rybarz with his daughter Jane Rybarz (left) and her friend Anita Loader nee Kranz (right) at Popondetta’s Girua Airport in approximately 1970 or 1971.
A 2 year development of Girua Airport was completed in early 2018 and was opened by the PNG Prime Minister at that time Mr Peter O’Neill and Governor Gary Juffa. A new look terminal, a new interior look, improved runway, and better luggage belts was developed in partnership with the World Bank.
The photo above of Girua Airport in 2018 was sourced online 3 September, 2023 from www.bing.com/images/search?q=girua+airport&form=HDRSC3&first=1
which is believed to have been sourced from the EMTV article at https://emtv.com.pg/new-girua-look-as-airport-facility-improves/by Jack Lapauve Jnr 27 March, 2018.