Yap International Airport

Yap International Airport (IATA: YAP, ICAO: PTYA, FAA LID: T11) is an airport on Yap, the main island of the State of Yap in the Federated States of Micronesia. The airport receives regular commercial flights from Guam. Pacific Missionary Aviation makes periodic trips to the outer island airfields of Ulithi Atoll and Fais Island. Woleai airfield is currently closed for repairs.[1]

Yap International Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
OperatorCivil government
LocationYap
Elevation AMSL91 ft / 28 m
Coordinates09°29′56″N 138°04′57″E
Websitehttp://www.ict.fm/civilaviation/yap.html
Map
Yap International Airport is located in Federated States of Micronesia
Yap International Airport
Yap International Airport
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
07/25 6,000 1,829 Asphalt

History

Yap Airport was originally built by the Japanese in WWII as Colonia Airfield, being completed in May 1944.

On April 1, 1944, US Navy aircraft from Task Force 58 sighted Colonia and bombed it.[2] This raid was conducted at the same as air raids were being conducted on the Palau Islands. There were however no aircraft based yet as the 26th Air Flotilla were to based at Colonia after it was completed.[3] In May, there still were no aircraft based. On May 3, the IJN issued Combined Fleet Operations Order No.76, effectively calling for the 265 Kokutai (Air Group), which mainly had Model 21 Zeros and 523 Kokutai with D4Ys to rebase themselves at Yap before the last ten days of May.[3] As part of this, 261 and 263 Kokutai as well as the Kokutai 321 which had night fighters would designate Yap as a dispersal base for them. On May 16, the 202nd and 503rd Kokutai were rebased at Yap.[3] Towards the end of May, half of the Judys from the 523rd were ordered to Colonia.

Task Group 58.1 reverses course, during attacks on Yap, 28 July 1944.
Task Group 58.1 reverses course, during attacks on Yap, 28 July 1944.

A few days after an air raid on the Marinas from US Navy aircraft on the 11th of June, they attacked Colonia. As part of the Battle of the Philippine Sea, aircraft from Colonia conducted strikes against the US Carriers.[3] On the 17th, an airstrike of 31 Zeros, 17 Judys and 2 P1Y Frances aircraft were sent to attack ships at the Charan Kanoa area. They damaged LST-84 and despite 44 FM-2 Wildcats in the air, they scored a bomb hit on the escort carrier, USS Fanshaw Bay CVE-70, causing serious damage and killing several onboard.[3]

Colonia was repeatedly attacked from April 1 on until August 10, 1944 when it was deemed neutralized.[4][2] After August 2, the remaining 8 usable aircraft were sent to Palau.[1]

Units of the IJNAS based at Colonia included the:

  • 202 Kokutai - A6M Zero (Late May 1944 - July 1944) - Disbanded
  • 261 Kokutai - A6M Zero (Late May 1944 - July 1944) - Disbanded
  • 265 Kokutai - A6M Zero (Mid June 1944 - July 1944) - Disbanded
  • 523 Kokutai - D4Y Judy (Late May 1944 - July 1944) - Disbanded
  • 201 Kokutai Buntai S306 (Formed from the survivors of the 263 and 343 Kokutai) July 16, 1944 - August 2, 1944 - Disbanded

Airlines and destinations
Terminal building as viewed from the airport apron.
Terminal Building of Yap International Airport
AirlinesDestinations
Caroline Islands AirCharter: Chuuk, Fais, Koror, Pohnpei, Ulithi
Pacific Missionary AviationFais, Ulithi, Koror
United AirlinesGuam

In addition to the listed air services, Asia Pacific Airlines transports cargo (including U.S. mail) to and from Yap from Palau and to Guam, respectively. [5]


References
  1. "Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) Division of Civil Aviation | Yap International Airport (YAP) (PTYA), Wa'ab, Micronesia". www.ict.fm. Retrieved 2016-04-27.
  2. PacificWrecks.com. "Pacific Wrecks - Colonia Airfield (Yap Airport) Yap State, Federated States of Micronesia". pacificwrecks.com. Retrieved 2021-08-12.
  3. "YAP ISLAND—THE AIR BATTLES by Richard L. Dunn". www.missingaircrew.com. Retrieved 2021-08-12.
  4. PacificWrecks.com. "Pacific Wrecks". pacificwrecks.com. Retrieved 2021-08-12.
  5. https://www.asiapacificairlines.com/networks/
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