Lakunai Airfield

Lakunai Airfield, later known as Rabaul Airport, was an aerodrome located near Rabaul, East New Britain, Papua New Guinea. It was located at the foot of Tavurvur volcano, near Matupit Island. The airport was destroyed by the 1994 eruption that destroyed the town of Rabaul and subsequently a new airport was built and opened at Tokua, on the opposite side of the Rabaul caldera. The former airport was located at.

World War II

The airfield was constructed by the Royal Australian Air Force as an emergency landing strip for Vunakanau Airfield and consisted of an unpaved 4,700 foot single runway during World War II. The airfield was captured during the Battle of Rabaul in 1942 by the Imperial Japanese Army and was extensively modified and expanded. Lakunai was later neutralized by Allied air bombing from 1944.

Allied Units based at Lakunai Airfield

No. 8 Squadron RAAF, Bristol Beaufort

Japanese Units based at Lakunai Airfield

Chitose Kōkūtai
4th Kōkūtai - February 10, 1942
Tainan Kōkūtai
6th Kōkūtai
501st Kōkūtai
11th Sentai
1st Sentai
68th Sentai
78th Sentai
81st Sentai

Post-War and Subsequent Destruction

After World War II, it was used as a civilian airport until 1994, when a Volcanic eruption occurred at Tavurvur volcano at which the airport was located. The airport was covered in ash and destroyed, this led to a new airport being built for Rabaul.