| North American B-25J-5-NC Mitchell serial number 43-28105 leads the lineup of the 69th Bomb Squadron, 42nd Bomb Group, on the tarmac at Mar Airdrome. The 69th Bomb Squadron, 42nd Bomb Group was based at Mar from September 14, 1944, to March 12, 1945, when it relocated to Puerto Princesa, Palawan. On July 30, 1944, the United States Army landed at Mar, occupying the area. Immediately, the 1896th Engineer Aviation Battalion worked 24 hours a day to clear the jungle, drain swamps and build a single coral surfaced runway sealed with asphalt with marston matting (PSP) at the center oriented parallel to the coast with taxiways and revetments on the southern inshore side. The airfield was operational by middle August 1943 and fully completed by September 3, 1944. | |
| Image Filename | wwii2195.jpg |
| Image Size | 294.57 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 1800 x 1191 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | United States Army Air Force |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | January 1, 1945 |
| Location | Mar Airdrome |
| City | Cape Sansapoor |
| State or Province | West Papua |
| Country | New Guinea |
| Archive | National Museum of the United States Air Force |
| Record Number | 050613-F-1234P-034 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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