Kornasoren Airport

Kornasoren Airport Numfor Airport
IATA: FOO ICAO: WABF
Summary
Airport type	Public
Operator	DGCA
Location	Noemfoor, Schouten Islands, Indonesia.
Elevation AMSL	10 ft / 3 m
Coordinates	00°56′11.00″S 134°52′19.00″E
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 03/21 5,757 1,755 Asphalt
Source: World Aero Data [1]

Kornasoren (Noemfoor) Airport is a civil airport in Noemfoor, Schouten Islands, Indonesia. (IATA: FOO). Commercial service is provided by Merpati Nusantara Airlines and Susi Air between Manokwari and Biak.

History

The airfield was one of three constructed by the Japanese during their occupation of the island in 1943/1944. The US Army 158th Regimental Combat Team (RCT) (Arizona National Guard) landed on the beach and encountered stiff resistance. The 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment parachuted on Kamiri Airifled on 3 July 1944. The Japanese garrison was largely defeated after a suicidal counter-attack by the Japanese on 5 July. The island was finally secured after a month of hard fighting on 31 August 1944.

The three airfields on Nomefoor (Yebrurro, Kamiri and Namber) were used by the American forces after liberating the island. Kamari (00°56′49.77″S 134°49′29.23″E) is located along the northwest shoreline of the island and was used by the RAAF until July 1945 when it was abandoned. It has been disused since the end of the war.

Namber (01°04′21.72″S 134°49′51.57″E) is located along the southwest shoreline and was improved and used by American forces, then also abandoned after the end of the war.

Yebrurro Airfield, also used by the Americans, remained in service until the end of the war. It is still in use today as Kornasoren Airport.

Allied units stationed on Noemfoor

• 309th Bombardment Wing (28 July-9 November 1944)
• 417th Bombardment Group (9 September-6 December 1944)
• 58th Fighter Group (30 August 1944 – 3 April 1944)
• 348th Fighter Group (26 August 1944 – 16 November 1944)
• RAAF 75 Squadron (P-40) 22 July 1944
• RAAF 76 Squadron (P-40) July 1944
• RAAF 80 Squadron (P-40) November 1944
• RAAF 22 Squadron (A-20) August 1944
• RAAF 37 Squadron (Loadstar) August 1944

See also

• USAAF in the Southwest Pacific

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