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 / 20.54250°S 164.25944°E / -20.54250; 164.25944
Map
KOC is located in New Caledonia
KOC
KOC
Location of airport in New Caledonia
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
06/24 1,102 3,616 Asphalt

History

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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

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AirlinesDestinations
Air Calédonie Île Art, Nouméa–Magenta
Air Calédonie Nouméa–Magenta[5]

References

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  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.