Gurney Airport

History

Built by the US Army 96th Engineer General Service Regiment, Company E of 46th Engineer General Service Regiment and No. 6 Mobile Works Squadron RAAF during World War II. Consisting of two parallel runways with the first runway 6,000 feet (1,800 m) long by 150 feet (46 m) wide surfaced with bitumen and the second runway 5,340 feet (1,630 m) long x 100 feet (30 m) wide surfaced with marston matting. Taxiways and revetments extended off both sides of the runways. Known as Fall River Aerodrome and No. 1 Strip. The airfield was named Gurney Field on 14 September 1942 in honour of Royal Australian Air Force Squadron Leader C.R. Gurney, who was killed in an aircraft crash.

The airfield was reopened in early 1966, as a part of the Australian colonial policy of having each of the provincial capitals served by daily flights. The last Sunbird PBY service to Samarai was in January of that year. A number of other WWII airfields were reopened in the area, such as Vivigani Airfield and Misima (April 1964). Several airlines then operated daily passenger and freight services into Gurney, using larger aircraft.

Allied Units based at Gurney Field

8th Fighter Group (18 September 1942 – February 1943)

Headquarters, 35th Fighter Squadron, P-40 Warhawk, 36th Fighter Squadron, (P-39 Airacobra, P-400, and P-40 Warhawk), 80th Fighter Squadron P-38 Lightning, P-39 Airacobra.

418th Night Fighter Squadron, (V Fighter Command), (2–22 November 1943), P-61 Black Widow

421st Night Fighter Squadron, (V Fighter Command), (4–27 January 1944), P-61 Black Widow

No. 32 Squadron RAAF - (Lockheed Hudson)

No. 75 Squadron RAAF (P-40)

No. 76 Squadron RAAF (P-40)

No. 100 Squadron RAAF

No. 10 Repair and Salvage Unit RAAF

A Troop, 9 Battery, 2/3 Australian Light Anti-aircraft Regiment

Facilities

The airport resides at an elevation of 88 feet (27 m) above mean sea level. It has one runway designated 09/27 with an asphalt surface measuring 1,690 by 30 metres (5,545 ft × 98 ft).