Lae Airfield
Lae Airfield.svg)
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| Part of Fifth Air Force | |
| Located in Morobe Province, Paupa New Guinea | |
 Lae Airfield
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| Coordinates | 06°43′59″S 146°59′45″E / 6.73306°S 146.99583°E |
| Type | Civilian/Military Airfield |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | United States Army Air Forces |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1930s (prewar airport) |
| In use | 1942–1945 |
Lae Airfield is a former World War II airfield and later, civilian airport located at Lae, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea. The airport was closed in the 1980s, in favour of Lae Nadzab Airport, which was able to accommodate larger jet aircraft. The airport was known as Lae Drome or Lae Aerodrome
The airport was built in 1927 and was an operating airport until 1977. The airport construction resulted in Lae becoming a major city in Papua New Guinea.
In 1921 when the military administration ended after World War I, a gold prospector named Cecil John Levien was appointed District Officer of Morobe. On 1 January 1923 Levien acquired a mining right for the area and shortly after formed a syndicate called Guinea Gold (No Liability).
In November 1927 the Guinea Gold syndicate became Guinea Airways Limited and Levien arranged for the construction of the airstrip to assist the gold mine productions around Wau.
In February 1942 the airfield was occupied by the Japanese and was developed into a forward airbase. As part of the Lae defenses, the Japanese created many tunnels around the airport. During Japanese occupation they also upgraded the nearby Malahang runway to be used as a satellite of Lae Airfield.
In September 1943 the airfield was heavily bombed by Allied forces including six 65th Bombardment Squadron Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresss until its liberation in the Salamaua–Lae campaign. Encountering no anti-aircraft fire or enemy fighter opposition, the 65th BS historian wrote;
Lyndon B. Johnson was appointed Lieutenant Commander in the United States Naval Reserve on 21 June 1940. Eleven Martin B-26 Marauders of the 22nd Bombardment Group departed Townsville on 8 June 1942, arrived in Port Moresby and raided Lae on 9 June 1942. The mission was called "TOW 9" and Lieutenant Commander Lyndon Baines Johnson, the future 36th President of the United States, went on this raid as an observer on the aircraft, the Heckling Hare. Nine days after the raid, Johnson was awarded a Silver Star medal for his participation in the above bombing raid. in
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