- Butaritari Atoll Airport
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Butaritari Atoll Airport IATA: BBG – ICAO: NGTU Summary Location Butaritari, Kiribati Elevation AMSL 5 ft / 2 m Coordinates 3°05′11″N 172°48′41″E / 3.086521°N 172.811465°ECoordinates: 3°05′11″N 172°48′41″E / 3.086521°N 172.811465°E 3.086523,172.811465
Runways Direction Length Surface ft m 07/25 3,500 1,067 Asphalt Source: World Aero Data [1] Butaritari Atoll Airport (IATA: BBG, ICAO: NGTU) is an airport on Butaritari in the Pacific Ocean island nation of Kiribati.
Contents
History
Butaritari Atoll Airport was built in Kiribati during World War II by the United States after seizing the island from the Japanese. Construction lasted approximately one month, from November 20 to mid-December, of 1943. During the war, the airport was known as Butaritari Airfield, Antakana Airfield, or Starmann Field.
The airfield was the base of operations for the United States Army Air Force Seventh Air Force 41st Bombardment Group which flew four squadrons of B-25 Mitchell medium bombers. Missions from the airfield were flown against Japanese shipping, bypassing islands in the Marshalls and Caroline Islands. In addition to the 41st, the 43d Fighter Squadron (15th Fighter Group) flew P-39 Airacobras and the 531st Bomb Squadron (380th Bombardment Group) flew A-24 Dauntless light attack aircraft from the airfield in late 1943 and early 1944.
The Americans pulled out at the end of 1944, abandoning the airfield. After the war, the airfield was turned into a commercial airport.
Airlines and destinations
Airlines Destinations Air Kiribati Makin, Tarawa Coral Sun Airways Makin[1], Marakei[2], Tarawa[3] See also
- USAAF in the Central Pacific
Notes
- ^ Only way back; way there is via Tarawa.
- ^ Only way back; way there is via Tarawa.
- ^ Only way there; way back is via Marakei or Makin.
References
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of 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.
- Mauer, Mauer (1969), Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II, Air Force Historical Studies Office, Maxwell AFB, Alabama. ISBN 0-89201-097-5
External links
Previously: Hawaiian Air Force (1940-1942) Airfields Hawaii Okinawa Ie Shima · YontanPacific USAAF in the Central Pacific · USAAF in the Southwest Pacific
Units Commands VII Bomber · VII FighterWings 7th FighterGroups Bombardment 5th Bombardment · 11th Bombardment · 30th Bombardment · 41st Bombardment · 307th Bombardment · 494th BombardmentFighter Troop Carrier 419th Troop CarrierSquadrons Reconnaissance 28th Reconnaissance · 41st Reconnaissance · 43d ReconnaissanceTransport Night Fighter United States Army Air Forces
First · Second · Third · Fourth · Fifth · Sixth · Seventh · Eighth · Ninth · Tenth · Eleventh · Twelfth · Thirteenth · Fourteenth · Fifteenth · TwentiethCategories:- Airports in Kiribati
- Airfields of the United States Army Air Forces in the Pacific Ocean theatre of World War II
- Oceanian airport stubs
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