Middleburg Airfield

Middleburg Airfield
Part of Fifth Air Force
Located on Middleburg Island, in West Irian Jaya Province, Indonesia.
Type	Military airfield
Coordinates	00°22′13.53″S 132°11′42.57″E / 0.370425°S 132.1951583°E / -0.370425; 132.1951583
Built	1944
In use	1944-1945
Controlled by	United States Army Air Forces

Middleburg Airfield

Middleburg Airfield, Indonesia

Middleburg Airfield (also known as Klenso or Toem Airfield) is a World War II airfield located on Middleburg Island, to the north of Sansapor in West Irian Jaya Province, Indonesia. The airfield was abandoned after the war and today is almost totally returned to its natural state.

On the linked satellite image the airfield is still clearly visible over 60 years after being abandoned.

History

The airfield was built by the Americans as a fighter airstrip, becoming operational on 15 August 1944. It was used by the 86th Fighter Wing from 15-19 August 1944, then by the 67th Fighter Squadron (47th Fighter Group) flying P-38 Lightnings from 15 August 1944 until 12 February 1945.

The capture of this island had a significant impact on the allied war effort in the Southwest Pacific, as the long-range P-38 Lightnings were now in range of several important Japanese installations blocking the route to the Philippines. B-25 Mitchells based on Biak also used Middleburg as a staging base to extend the range of their bombing operations into northern Celebes.

See also

	United States Air Force portal
	Military of the United States portal
	World War II portal

• USAAF in the Southwest Pacific

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

Links

• Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-89201-092-4.
• Pacific Wrecks website

External links