An interactive map showing the wartime airstrips at Nadzab, New Guinea. Zooming in on the white star will show the five airstrips highlighted in black and several locations mentioned in mission reports.
After a brief stay at Dobodura, the 345th moved 180 miles northwest to the recently developed Nadzab airfield. The 501st Squadron flew its first mission out of Nadzab on February 26, 1944. Nadzab strip #4 is often mentioned in mission reports as their takeoff and landing point. The Number 4 Strip was also known as Newton Field.
Part of a May 1944 topographic map sheet of the Nadzab area showing the locations of the five airstrips. Number 4 Strip and the 345th camp areas are highlighted in red. Digitized map courtesy of the Australian National UniversityOpen Research Repository.
The Number 1 Strip under construction at Nadzab. Photo courtesy of heritage.com.
The Number 4 Strip at Nadzab, looking to the northwest. Photo courtesy of heritage.com.
Contained within the official 345th Bomb Group History (on microfilm reel B0300, AFHRA) there were several well preserved photographs of the 345th’s area at Nadzab.
An aerial view of Number 4 Strip, looking to the northeast toward the 345th camp area. Numbers refer to: 1 – 345th camp area; 2 – V Bomber Command HQ; and 4 – Strip 4 with dispersal and hardstand areas. Photo from the 345th Bomb Group History, courtesy of AFHRA, Maxwell AFB, Alabama.
A closer view of the 345th camp area situated up against the foothills. Reference numbers are: 1 – 499th Squadron; 2 -498th Squadron; 3 – HQ; 4 – Officer’s camp areas; 5 – 500th Squadron; 6 – 501st Squadron; 7 – 892nd Chemical Company; and 8 – V Bomber Command HQ.Photo from the 345th Bomb Group History, courtesy of AFHRA, Maxwell AFB, Alabama.
The view of the 345th camp area parallell to the base of the foothills, looking to the north. Pertinent reference numbers are: 1 – 345th HQ enlisted area; 2 – enlisted men club; 3 – ball field; 9 – motor pool; 14 – 345th HQ; 16 – dispensary; 17 – 892nd chemical Company; 18 – 501st enlisted area; 19 – 1831 Ordnance Company; and 20 – V Bomber Command HQ.Photo from the 345th Bomb Group History, courtesy of AFHRA, Maxwell AFB, Alabama.
The officer’s camp area on the hills directly behind the rest of the 345th camp. Numbers refer to: 1 – CO’s house; 2 – chaplain’s house; 3 – officer’s mess; 4 – 498th officer area; 5 – 499th officer area; 6 – 500th officer area; 7 – 501st officer area; and 8 – V Bomber Command HQ.Photo from the 345th Bomb Group History, courtesy of AFHRA, Maxwell AFB, Alabama.
The 345th was based out of Nadzab for about five months until they moved farther west to Mokmer Airdrome on Biak Island. While at Nadzab, some of their longer missions were staged out of Hollandia after it was secured by Allied invasion forces.
Number 1 Strip was developed for commercial use after the war and is now Lae Nadzab Regional Airport.
