Rogers Airfield

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
Type	Military airfield
Site information
Controlled by	United States Army Air Forces
Site history
Built	1942
In use	1942

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).

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

Rogers 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

• 7th Fighter Squadron (49th Fighter Group) P-40 Warhawk

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

• USAAF in the Southwest Pacific
• Port Moresby Airfield Complex

Kila Airfield (3 Mile Drome)

Wards Airfield (5 Mile Drome)

Jackson Airfield (7 Mile Drome)

Berry Airfield (12 Mile Drome)

Schwimmer Airfield (14 Mile Drome)

Durand Airfield (17 Mile Drome)

Fishermans (Daugo Island) Airfield

References

 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