"Poopy II" P-40E Warhawk Assigned to 1st Lt. A.T. House,Jr. from the 7th Fighter Squadron, 49th Fighter Group. He was an ace with a total of 5 victories. Photo was taken while preparing to take-off after getting an alert for enemy aircraft at Dobodura in May 1943.
Girua Airport is located near Dobodura, to the north-east of the Embi Lakes, north-east of Inonda. To the south is Mt. Lamington, a volcano that dominates the skyline. The airport was built during World War II as part of the Dobodura Airfield Complex during late 1942 and early 1943. During the war, the airfield had several names, including No. 7, West 7, or Horanda No. 7 Airstrip or West 7. It was also known as Kenney Strip, in honor of Fifth Air Force Commander General George Kenney.
The main Dobodura complex had eleven airstrips, most interconnected for taxiing purposes. At the height of the Battle of Buna-Gona supplies began landing at the airfields including artillery spotting planes, a 105mm and five Bren Gun Carriers used to assault Cape Endaiadere,
After the battle, Dobodura was developed into a major airbase, with storage and repair facilities, and interconnecting taxiways to adjacent airfields. Today, Girua is the only airfield still in use, the others being abandoned after the war.
[3][4]
.svg)
