History

Built by the US Army 2nd Battalion of 43rd Engineer General Service Regiment (less Company E), during the Battle of Milne Bay

Battle of Milne Bay

The Battle of Milne Bay, also known as Operation RE by the Japanese, was a battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II. Japanese marines attacked the Australian base at Milne Bay on the eastern tip of New Guinea on 25 August 1942, and fighting continued until the Japanese retreated on 5...

 during World War II

World 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...

. Originally known as No. 3 Strip. The airfield was renamed Turnbull Field on 14 September 1942 in honour of Royal Australian Air Force

Royal Australian Air Force

The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...

 Squadron Leader Peter Turnbull

Peter Turnbull (RAAF officer)

Peter St George Bruce Turnbull DFC was an Australian fighter ace of World War II, credited with twelve aerial victories. Born in Armidale, New South Wales, he was an electrician before he joined the Royal Australian Air Force in January 1939...

, who was killed in an aircraft crash. The single runway was 5000 feet (1,524 m) long x 100 feet (30.5 m) wide surfaced with marston matting

Marsden Matting

Marsden Matting is standardized, perforated steel matting material originally developed by the United States at the Waterways Experiment Station shortly before World War II, primarily for the rapid construction of temporary runways and landing strips...

. Taxiways and revetment

Revetment

Revetments, or revêtements , have a variety of meanings in architecture, engineering and art history. In stream restoration, river engineering or coastal management, they are sloping structures placed on banks or cliffs in such a way as to absorb the energy of incoming water...

s extended off both sides of the runway.

The aerodrome was abandoned in February 1944 and has been disused since the end of World War II.

Allied Units Based at Turnbull Field

• 36th Fighter Squadron
  36th Fighter Squadron
  The 36th Fighter Squadron is part of the 51st Fighter Wing at Osan Air Base, South Korea. It operates the F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft conducting air superiority missions.-Mission:...
  
  , 8th Fighter Group (18 September 1942 - 22 February 1943), P-39
• 403d Bombardment Squadron
  403d Bombardment Squadron
  The 403d Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 43rd Bombardment Wing, based at Carswell AFB, Texas. It was inactivated on 1 January 1961.-History:...
  
  , 43d Bombardment Group (23 November 1942 - 21 January 1943), B-17
• 82d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group (6 November - 23 November 1943), B-25, P-39
• 418th Night Fighter Squadron
  418th Night Fighter Squadron
  The 418th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 58th Tactical Fighter Training Wing, being inactivated at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona on 1 October 1976.-World War II:...
  
   (2 November - 22 November 1943), P-38, P-70
• 421st Night Fighter Squadron (4 January - 1 February 1944), P-70
• No. 6 Squadron RAAF
  No. 6 Squadron RAAF
  No. 6 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force training and bomber squadron. The squadron was first formed in 1917 and served as a training unit based in England during World War I. It was disbanded in 1919 but re-formed at the start of 1939...
  
  , (Lockheed Hudson)