Built by the
US Army 2nd Battalion of 43rd Engineer General Service Regiment (less Company E), during the
Battle of Milne Bay during
World War II with assistance from the 105th
Naval Construction Battalion. Originally known as
No. 3 Strip, the airfield was renamed
Turnbull Field on 14 September 1942 in honour of
Royal Australian Air Force Squadron Leader
Peter Turnbull, who was killed in an aircraft crash. The single runway was long x wide surfaced with
marston matting. Taxiways and
revetments extended off both sides of the runway. The aerodrome was abandoned in February 1944 and has been disused since the end of World War II.
Allied Units Based at Turnbull Field •
36th Fighter Squadron,
8th Fighter Group (18 September 1942 – 22 February 1943),
P-39 •
403d Bombardment Squadron,
43d Bombardment Group (23 November 1942 – 21 January 1943),
B-17 •
82d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron,
71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group (6–23 November 1943),
B-25, P-39 •
418th Night Fighter Squadron (2–22 November 1943),
P-38,
P-70 •
421st Night Fighter Squadron (4 January – 1 February 1944), P-70 •
No. 6 Squadron RAAF, (Lockheed Hudson) • 9 Battery, 2/3 Australian Light Anti-aircraft Regiment ==See also==