New Guinea airstrip

In Gerard Devlin’s “Silent Wings”, there are two pages about an airstrip for emergency landings and weather station established in Oct 1944 on “the western flank of the Owen Stanley Mountains”.  The closest village was Ifitamin.  This was part of the 54th Troop Carrier Wing redeployment to Biak, to provide weather conditions and continuous radio contact to pilots over the New Guinea hump.

It was occupied through the end of the war.  Although called Hidden Valley, and similarly at 5,000’ elevation, this is not related to the famed Shangri-La rescue in the Oranje Mountains eight months later.

In three days the airstrip was “large enough for a C-47” and the eight glider pilots returned by a few L-5 airplanes.  The four gliders sent to construct the airfield “were later retrieved from the valley.”  I’m trying to deduce if they were snatched up or conventionally towed out?

Devlin gives acknowledgment on New Guinea sources Earl F. Simson, David S. Kaufman, and Robert J. Meer, although no one was mentioned by name in this operation.

Any help on the runway length or another source on this story?  Alan Wood's "History of the World's Glider Forces" only confirms the date and glider quantity. 

Keith,

I wonder if this entry on pacificwrecks.com has something to do with the airstrip of your research: http://www.pacificwrecks.com/airfields/png/telefomin/index.html

See also http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A100032b.htm

If indeed so the case, then the airstrip is used till today for Twin Otter sized aircraft flying for the MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowhip)...

Regards,

Leendert

Thank you Leendert this is an excellent lead! 

Telefomin airstrip (TLF) is currently 4300 feet long per http://www.aircraft-charter-world.com/airports/oceania/papuanewguinea.htm
                                              1623m elevation (5325') per http://rses.anu.edu.au/geodynamics/gps/png/site_info/a421.htm
                                              and it is due for an expansion per http://www.thenational.com.pg/062408/ween_mamose.php

I'm still looking for its runway length in Oct 1944, but now I can at least ask in general would a C-47 or C-46 tow plane be able to conventionally tow a CG-4A out on a 4300' runway given this elevation? 

This heavy rainfall region would have ruined the gliders fairly quickly so they must have been removed sooner rather than later.  This is close to, but south of the equator so it would have been summertime for additional density altitude considerations on the engines. 

Keith,
I don't know about Telefomin runway, but Clinton County Army Air Field concrete runways were 3,315 feet and 2,605 feet which met the requirement of the time for handling a 60,000 lb bomber (p.5).

The tandem C-47 tows of the XCG-17 were done from the N/S 3,315 foot runway as were the XCG-10A and XCG-13A tows.  This is at 1,054 foot elevation. 

Forgot to ask:
Would the grass or dirt or stone surface runway slow the takeoff?

Charlie Day

Thanks Charlie.  This helps a bit.

I'll need to ask any pilot familiar with towing at high elevation, as the air thins considerably between 1,000ft and 5,000ft.  My rule of thumb is that 10,000ft has half the air as sea level.

Of course I still don't have the original runway length, just the assumption it was less than or equal to the current length.

As for grass or dirt surface, I don't think it's a big factor for takeoff distance unless it's poorly drained or mud.  I recall from my sailplane days that grass was preferred to over pavement to lengthen towline life and nose skid life by reduced wear. 

lg_glidr
Any help on the runway length or another source on this story?  Alan Wood's "History of the World's Glider Forces" only confirms the date and glider quantity.

Hi,
 
Two days to come are your big chance. There is this story on eBay now. Bid for it and the story is your. No, I do not advertise it because am a seller of it... The seller is American and in your country.
 
Click please http://cgi.ebay.com/Jan-1945-AIR-FORCE-US-ARMY-WWII-B29-TOKYO-JAPAN-GLIDERS_W0QQitemZ250409711537
 
This is an auction for the Air Force magazine of January 1945. There is the article there "Into Hidden Valley" by Capt. Manford Susman. And that's the story of the New Guinea airstrip built by glider forces you are looking for.
 
Good luck, best regards!
 
Gregory

Oops, I missed it.  Just as well that bidding went high!

Thank you very much Gregory for this invaluable lead;  I now know the article to research for this.