Rogers Airfield

Rogers Airfield 30-Mile Drome
Part of Fifth Air Force
Located near Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea 09°02′37.12″S 146°53′40.32″E / 9.0436444°S 146.8945333°E / -9.0436444; 146.8945333
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

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

External links

• v
• t
• e

USAAF Fifth Air Force in World War II

Previously: Philippine Department Air Force (1941); Far East Air Force (1941-1942)

Airfields

Pacific	USAAF in Australia USAAF in the Southwest Pacific USAAF in Okinawa

Units

Commands	V Bomber V Fighter 5th Interceptor (Provisional)
Wings	54th Troop Carrier 85th Fighter 86th Fighter 91st Reconnaissance 308th Bombardment 309th Bombardment 310th Bombardment
Groups	Air Commando 3d Air Commando Bombardment 3d Bombardment 7th Bombardment 19th Bombardment 22d Bombardment 27th Bombardment 38th Bombardment 43d Bombardment 90th Bombardment 312th Bombardment 345th Bombardment 380th Bombardment 417th Bombardment Combat Cargo 2d Combat Cargo Fighter 8th Fighter 24th Pursuit 35th Fighter 49th Fighter 58th Fighter 348th Fighter 475th Fighter Reconnaissance 6th Reconnaissance 71st Reconnaissance Troop Carrier 317th Troop Carrier 374th Troop Carrier 375th Troop Carrier 433d Troop Carrier
Squadrons	Bombardment 31st Bombardment Night Fighter 418th Night Fighter 421st Night Fighter 547th Intelligence Reconnaissance 2d Observation 8th Photographic Reconnaissance 36th Photographic Reconnaissance Troop Carrier 21st Troop Carrier 22d Troop Carrier 65th Troop Carrier 66th Troop Carrier

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