Rogers Airfield (also known as 30-Mile Drome) is a former World War II airfield near Redscar Bay, Papua New Guinea. It was part of a multiple-airfield complex in the Port Moresby area, located 30 miles (48 km) north-west of Port Moresby by air, near Rorona (also spelled Rarona).
| Rogers Airfield 30-Mile Drome  | |
|---|---|
| Part of Fifth Air Force | |
Located near Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
  Rogers Airfield Rogers Airfield (Papua New Guinea) | |
| Coordinates | 09°02′37.12″S 146°53′40.32″E / 9.0436444°S 146.8945333°E |
| Type | Military airfield |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | United States Army Air Forces |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1942 |
| In use | 1942 |
On November 15, 1942, the airfield was named in honor of Major Floyd "Buck" W. Rogers (C.O. of 3rd BG, 8th BS) who was KIA flying A-24 41-15797.
History
editRogers Airfield was built by American forces in mid-1942, and in use by the first week of June. The airfield served as both a crash strip and also based aircraft for short periods in the early stages of the war. Known units based at Rogers were:
- Headquarters, 35th Fighter Group (July 22, 1942 – August 15, 1943)
- 39th Fighter Squadron, P-39 Airacobra
- 40th Fighter Squadron, P-39 Airacobra
- 41st Fighter Squadron, P-39 Airacobra
After the war Rogers Field was used as a small commercial airport by Air Niugini. Its commercial use ended in the 1960s and today the airfield is unused.
See also
edit- USAAF in the Southwest Pacific
- Port Moresby Airfield Complex
References
edit
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-89201-092-4.
- www.pacificwrecks.com