Jacksons International Airport
Encyclopedia
Jacksons International Airport , also known as Port Moresby Airport, is located 5 miles (8 kilometres) outside Port Moresby
, in Papua New Guinea
. It is the largest and busiest airport
in Papua New Guinea and is the main hub for Air Niugini
, the national airline of Papua New Guinea, as well as the main hub for Airlines PNG.
in Australia
as well as to Honiara
in Solomon Islands
and Nadi
in Fiji
. A Boeing 767-300, a Boeing 757-200 and an Embraer 190 operate the airline's other international destinations including Kuala Lumpur
, Singapore
, Manila
, Tokyo
, Hong Kong
, Sydney
and Brisbane
.
Cathay Pacific
also used to operate fifth freedom flights to Auckland
, New Zealand
via Port Moresby, as well as fourth freedom flights to Hong Kong
, but these were terminated, as were Continental Micronesia
's jet services from Guam
.
and Airlines PNG, and the International Terminal servicing all other airlines plus Air Niugini and Airlines PNG's international routes. The International Terminal features four aircraft parking bays, two of which are equipped with aerobridges. The two terminals are linked by a covered walkway.
Port Moresby Airport became one of the primary airfields used by the Allied forces during the New Guinea campaign
(1942–1945), and was part of a multiple-airfield complex in the Port Moresby area. The "Seven Mile Aerodrome" (so named because it was seven miles from Port Moresby) was renamed Jackson's Strip or Jackson's Field after Australian fighter ace
John Jackson
, leader of No. 75 Squadron RAAF, who was killed in a dogfight against Japanese planes over Port Moresby on 28 April 1942. During March–May 1942, the squadron's P-40 Kittyhawks destroyed over 60 enemy aircraft in air-to-air combat and strafing attacks for a loss of 24 aircraft and 12 pilots.
When American forces arrived in April 1942, the airfield was further developed and expanded. Revetments were constructed to protect parked aircraft and defenses. Also, a network of taxiways was built between Jackson and the adjacent Wards Airfield
(5-Mile Airdrome) which made it possible to taxi between the two airfields.
Jackson's Field was primarily a command and control facility, housing the headquarters of many groups, with their operational squadrons deployed in the forward areas, although it was used for some operational squadrons.
With the end of the war, the USAAF withdrew from the airfield in 1945, however it was used as a major disposal point for excess Allied aircraft, and for years disposed B-17s, P-47s, B-25s, P-38s, A-20Gs and even a few P-40s could be found in various states of decay in the area.
has its head office in the Air Niugini House, on the airport property.
Port Moresby
Port Moresby , or Pot Mosbi in Tok Pisin, is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea . It is located on the shores of the Gulf of Papua, on the southeastern coast of the island of New Guinea, which made it a prime objective for conquest by the Imperial Japanese forces during 1942–43...
, in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
. It is the largest and busiest airport
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
in Papua New Guinea and is the main hub for Air Niugini
Air Niugini
Air Niugini Limited is the national airline of Papua New Guinea, based in Air Niugini House on the property of Jacksons International Airport, Port Moresby. It operates a domestic network from Port Moresby and Lae, as well as international services in Asia, Oceania, and Australia. Its main base is...
, the national airline of Papua New Guinea, as well as the main hub for Airlines PNG.
Services
Air Niugini has an extensive domestic network throughout Papua New Guinea, using Bombadier Dash 8 turbo-prop aircraft (36 and 50 seat capacity) as well as the Fokker 100 jet aircraft (97 seat capacity). It also uses the Fokker 100 on some international services to Cairns and BrisbaneBrisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
as well as to Honiara
Honiara
Honiara, population 49,107 , 78,190 , is the capital of the Solomon Islands and of Guadalcanal Province, although it is a separately administered town...
in Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
and Nadi
Nadi
Nadi is the third-largest conurbation in Fiji. It is located on the western side of the main island of Viti Levu, and had a population of 42,284 at the most recent census, in 2007. Nadi is multiracial with many of its inhabitants Indian or Fijian, along with a large transient population of foreign...
in Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
. A Boeing 767-300, a Boeing 757-200 and an Embraer 190 operate the airline's other international destinations including Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
, Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
, Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
and Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
.
Cathay Pacific
Cathay Pacific
Cathay Pacific is the flag carrier of Hong Kong, with its head office and main hub located at Hong Kong International Airport, although the airline's registered office is on the 33rd floor of One Pacific Place...
also used to operate fifth freedom flights to Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
via Port Moresby, as well as fourth freedom flights to Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, but these were terminated, as were Continental Micronesia
Continental Micronesia
Continental Micronesia, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Continental Airlines. It operated daily flights to Honolulu, Hawaii, as well as international services to Asia, Micronesia and Australia from its base of operations at Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport on Guam, a U.S. territory in...
's jet services from Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
.
Terminals
Jacksons International Airport consists of two terminals: The Domestic Terminal housing Air NiuginiAir Niugini
Air Niugini Limited is the national airline of Papua New Guinea, based in Air Niugini House on the property of Jacksons International Airport, Port Moresby. It operates a domestic network from Port Moresby and Lae, as well as international services in Asia, Oceania, and Australia. Its main base is...
and Airlines PNG, and the International Terminal servicing all other airlines plus Air Niugini and Airlines PNG's international routes. The International Terminal features four aircraft parking bays, two of which are equipped with aerobridges. The two terminals are linked by a covered walkway.
Airlines and destinations
History
The pre-World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Port Moresby Airport became one of the primary airfields used by the Allied forces during the New Guinea campaign
New Guinea campaign
The New Guinea campaign was one of the major military campaigns of World War II.Before the war, the island of New Guinea was split between:...
(1942–1945), and was part of a multiple-airfield complex in the Port Moresby area. The "Seven Mile Aerodrome" (so named because it was seven miles from Port Moresby) was renamed Jackson's Strip or Jackson's Field after Australian fighter ace
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
John Jackson
John Francis Jackson
John Francis Jackson DFC was an Australian fighter ace of World War II, credited with eight aerial victories. Born in Brisbane, he was a grazier and businessman when he joined the Royal Australian Air Force Reserve in 1936...
, leader of No. 75 Squadron RAAF, who was killed in a dogfight against Japanese planes over Port Moresby on 28 April 1942. During March–May 1942, the squadron's P-40 Kittyhawks destroyed over 60 enemy aircraft in air-to-air combat and strafing attacks for a loss of 24 aircraft and 12 pilots.
When American forces arrived in April 1942, the airfield was further developed and expanded. Revetments were constructed to protect parked aircraft and defenses. Also, a network of taxiways was built between Jackson and the adjacent Wards Airfield
Wards Airfield
Wards Airfield is a former World War II airfield near Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. The airfield was abandoned after the war and was developed into the Waigani area of Port Moresby....
(5-Mile Airdrome) which made it possible to taxi between the two airfields.
Jackson's Field was primarily a command and control facility, housing the headquarters of many groups, with their operational squadrons deployed in the forward areas, although it was used for some operational squadrons.
With the end of the war, the USAAF withdrew from the airfield in 1945, however it was used as a major disposal point for excess Allied aircraft, and for years disposed B-17s, P-47s, B-25s, P-38s, A-20Gs and even a few P-40s could be found in various states of decay in the area.
Major USAAF units assigned
- 43d Bombardment Group43d Airlift WingThe 43rd Airlift Group is a United States Air Force unit assigned to Pope Army Airfield, part of Fort Bragg, North Carolina.The 43 AG performs en route operations support at Pope AAF to include mission command & control, aircrew management, aircraft maintenance, aircraft loading, aircraft fueling...
, (14 September 1942 – 10 December 1943)
- Headquarters, 63d63d Bombardment SquadronThe 63d Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 43rd Bombardment Wing, based at Little Rock AFB, Arkansas. It was inactivated on January 31, 1970.-History:...
, 64th64th Bombardment SquadronThe 64th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 72d Strategic Wing , based at Andersen AFB, Guam. It was inactivated on 15 November 1973.-History:...
, 65th65th Bombardment SquadronThe 65th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 72d Strategic Wing , based at Andersen AFB, Guam. It was inactivated on 15 November 1973.-History:...
Bomb Squadrons- 90th Bombardment Group, (10 February – December 1943)
- Headquarters (Jackson's Field) Squadrons at Wards AirfieldWards AirfieldWards Airfield is a former World War II airfield near Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. The airfield was abandoned after the war and was developed into the Waigani area of Port Moresby....
)
- 345th Bombardment Group, (5 June 1943 – 18 January 1944)
- 8th Fighter Group8th Fighter WingThe United States Air Force 8th Fighter Wing is the host unit at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea and is assigned to Seventh Air Force...
, (16 May – 23 December 1943) - 49th Fighter Group49th Fighter WingThe 49th Wing is an air combat unit of the United States Air Force and the host unit at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. The 49 WG is part of the Air Combat Command Twelfth Air Force....
, (9 October 1942 – March 1943) - 348th Fighter Group108th Air Refueling WingThe 108th Air Refueling Wing is a unit of the New Jersey Air National Guard tasked with aerial refueling and other air mobility missions. It is based at McGuire Air Force Base and operationally gained by the Air Mobility Command . The current Commander of the 108th is...
, (23 June – 16 December 1943)
Other facilities
Air NiuginiAir Niugini
Air Niugini Limited is the national airline of Papua New Guinea, based in Air Niugini House on the property of Jacksons International Airport, Port Moresby. It operates a domestic network from Port Moresby and Lae, as well as international services in Asia, Oceania, and Australia. Its main base is...
has its head office in the Air Niugini House, on the airport property.
Incidents and accidents
- On 11 August 2009, Airlines PNG Flight 4684Airlines PNG Flight 4684Airlines PNG Flight 4684 was a passenger flight which crashed near Kokoda Airport, Oro Province, Papua New Guinea on 11 August 2009, killing all eleven passengers and two crew....
, flying from Jacksons International Airport, crashed into a mountain whilst attempting a go around at Kokoda AirportKokoda AirportKokoda Airport is an airport in Kokoda, Papua New Guinea . The airfield was a focal point of the intense battle along the famous Kokoda trail, during the second World War...
, Papua New GuineaPapua New GuineaPapua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
. All 11 passengers and 2 crew died in the accident.
See also
- USAAF in the Southwest PacificUnited States Army Air Forces in the South West Pacific TheatreDuring World War II, the United States Army Air Forces engaged in combat against the air, ground and naval forces of the Empire of Japan in the South West Pacific Theatre....
- Port Moresby Airfield Complex
- Kila Airfield (3 Mile Drome)Kila AirfieldKila Airfield is a former World War II airfield near Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. It was part of a multiple-airfield complex in the Port Moresby area, located north of Joyce Bay, three miles from the town of Port Moresby near the village of Kila Kila.The airfield was Port Moresby's first...
- Wards Airfield (5 Mile Drome)Wards AirfieldWards Airfield is a former World War II airfield near Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. The airfield was abandoned after the war and was developed into the Waigani area of Port Moresby....
- Berry Airfield (12 Mile Drome)Berry AirfieldBerry Airfield is a former World War II airfield near Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. It was part of a multiple-airfield complex in the Port Moresby area, located inland from Port Moresby....
- Schwimmer Airfield (14 Mile Drome)Schwimmer AirfieldSchwimmer Airfield is a former World War II airfield near Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. It was part of a multiple-airfield complex in the Port Moresby area, located north of the Laloki River....
- Durand Airfield (17 Mile Drome)Durand AirfieldDurand Airfield is a former World War II airfield near Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. It was part of a multiple-airfield complex in the Port Moresby area, located from Port Moresby, to the north of the Waigani swamp....
- Rogers (Rarona) Airfield (30 Mile Drome)Rogers AirfieldRogers Airfield is a former World War II airfield near Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. It was part of a multiple-airfield complex in the Port Moresby area, located north-west of Port Moresby by air, near Rorona .On November 15, 1942, the airfield was named in honor of Major Floyd "Buck" W. Rogers...
- Fishermans (Daugo Island) AirfieldFishermans AirfieldFishermans Airfield is a former World War II airfield near Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. It was part of a multiple-airfield complex in the Port Moresby area, located offshore of Port Moresby. The island's name is derived from the names of the island's two villages - Dag and Ugo...