Koumac Airport

Koumac Airport is an airport in Koumac, New Caledonia (IATA: KOC, ICAO: NWWK).

Koumac Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
ServesKoumac, New Caledonia
Elevation AMSL42 ft / 13 m
Coordinates20°32′33″S 164°15′34″E
Map
KOC
Location of airport in New Caledonia
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
06/24 1,102 3,616 Asphalt

History

The airstrip was expanded during World War II in order to support a fleet of B-17 bombers by the 810th American aviation battalion, which was one of the first two all-black engineering battalions of the war.[1] The airstrip was used as a base from which targets in the Solomon Islands were bombed.[2]

An Air Loyauté flight was hit by a projectile while landing at Koumac in 2010.[3]

In 2023, the airport was used as a base for practice by a joint operation called Exercise Croix du Sud 2023 involving the militaries of 19 nations to prepare for a possible situation in which evacuation of the area due to war or natural disaster is ever necessary. [4]

Airlines and destinations

AirlinesDestinations
Air Caledonie Île Art, Nouméa–Magenta
Air Loyauté Nouméa–Magenta[5]

References

  1. "A look back at black aviation engineer units of World War II". Air Force. 27 Feb 2013. Retrieved 10 Mar 2024.
  2. "Service Units around the World". p. 595.
  3. "L'enquête va pouvoir commencer sur l'avion pris pour cible" (in French). les Nouvelles. 9 June 2010.
  4. "CLB-5 Marines Participate in Exercise Croix du Sud 2023". DVIDS. 4 Mar 2024. Retrieved 6 Mar 2024.
  5. "Air Loyauté". Nouvelle Caledonie travel.
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