Roberta Aguirre
Johnston Atoll Airport is located on the Johnston Atoll, an unincorporated territory of the United States in the Pacific Ocean, about 700 nautical miles southwest of Hawaii. The airport was an active US military facility during the 20th century, playing a significant role as a refuelling base for submarines and aircraft during World War II. However, the airport was shut down in 2005, and the runway is no longer maintained, except for potential emergency landings. Today, the Johnston Atoll is uninhabited, except for a small number of workers involved in specific projects, and access to the island is strictly controlled by the United States Air Force.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Johnston Atoll, United States Minor Outlying Islands, Pacific Ocean |
| Distance from Hawaii | 717 nautical miles (1328 kilometers) |
| Status | Shutdown in 2005, not maintained |
| Runway Length | 6,000 feet (1,800 meters) |
| History | Active U.S. military facility during the 20th century, used as a refueling base for submarines and aircraft during WWII |
| Climate | Tropical savanna, hot semi-arid, monthly mean temperature above 18°C, pronounced dry season |
| Access | Restricted, requires authorization from the USAF and a special permit from the USFWS |
| Purpose | Served as a diversion airport for emergency landings, now used only in extreme emergencies |
| Facilities | Barracks, mess halls, cold storage, underground hospital, freshwater plant, fuel storage |
| Airlines | Aloha Airlines, Continental Micronesia |
| Incidents | Several aircraft crashes and incidents between 1943 and 1962 |
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What You'll Learn
History of Johnston Atoll Airport
Johnston Atoll Airport is located on the Johnston Atoll, which is an unincorporated territory of the United States, under the jurisdiction of the United States Air Force (USAF). The atoll is located in the Pacific Ocean, several hundred kilometres southwest of Hawaii. The airport was an active U.S. military facility during the 20th century but was shut down in 2005, and the runway is no longer maintained. However, it is still considered a preferable alternative to a water landing in an emergency.
The history of Johnston Atoll Airport began in September 1941 when construction of an airfield on Johnston Island commenced. The original runway, completed by December 7, 1941, was 4,000 feet (1,200 metres) long and 500 feet (150 metres) wide. In addition to the runway, the construction included two 400-man barracks, two mess halls, a cold storage building, an underground hospital, a freshwater plant, shop buildings, and fuel storage.
During World War II, the Johnston Atoll played a crucial role as a refuelling base for submarines and aircraft. It served as a refuelling stop for American bombers transiting the Pacific Ocean, including the Boeing B-29 Enola Gay. By 1944, the atoll had become one of the busiest air transport terminals in the Pacific. Following V-J Day on August 14, 1945, the flow of men and aircraft from the mainland into the Pacific began to reverse.
In December 1943, the 99th Naval Construction Battalion arrived at the atoll and extended the runway to 6,000 feet (1,800 metres). The runway was further lengthened and improved as the island was enlarged. By 1947, over 1,300 B-29 and B-24 bombers had passed through Johnston Island, returning military personnel to civilian life.
Following World War II, the Johnston Atoll Airport was used commercially by Continental Micronesia, which offered flights between Honolulu and Majuro. Aloha Airlines also made weekly scheduled flights to the island, carrying civilian and military personnel. In the 1990s, there were almost daily flights, with up to three arrivals on some days.
However, in December 1970, the Secretary of Defense issued instructions suspending missile launches and non-essential aircraft flights due to the storage of chemical munitions on the atoll. As a result, the Continental Micronesia service was discontinued, and missile firings were terminated, except for two critical suborbital target vehicle launches in 1975.
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Location and geography
Johnston Atoll Airport is located on the Johnston Atoll, which is an unincorporated territory of the United States, under the jurisdiction of the United States Air Force (USAF). The atoll is located in the Pacific Ocean, several hundred kilometres or 717 nautical miles (1,328 kilometres) southwest of Hawaii. The atoll is grouped as one of the United States Minor Outlying Islands and has a total land area of 2.67 square kilometres (1.03 square miles).
The atoll originally consisted of two islands: Johnston Island and Sand Island, surrounded partially by a coral reef. Over the 20th century, these two islands were expanded, and two new artificial islands, North (Akau) and East (Hikina), were created mostly by coral dredging. By 1964, dredging operations had increased the size of Johnston Island to 241 hectares from its original 19 hectares, and the size of Sand Island was also increased. Today, the four islands that make up the atoll feature low-growing vegetation and palm trees on mostly flat terrain, with a range of elevation from sea level to 5 metres (16 feet) at Summit Peak.
The climate of the atoll is tropical but generally dry, with little seasonal temperature variation. It has a hot semi-arid climate with a monthly mean temperature above 18°C in every month of the year and a pronounced dry season. The atoll experiences consistent northeast trade winds and has an annual rainfall of just over 26 inches (660 mm). The reefs and inshore waters of the atoll are home to about 300 species of fish.
The primary means of transportation to the atoll was through the airport, which had a paved military runway, or by ship via a pier and ship channel through the coral reef system. The Johnston Atoll Airport was an active U.S. military facility during the 20th century, but it was shut down in 2005, and the runway is no longer maintained. However, in extreme emergencies, it is still considered a preferable alternative to a dangerous water landing. During World War II, the atoll served as a refuelling base for submarines and aircraft, including American bombers transiting the Pacific Ocean. By 1944, it had become one of the busiest air transport terminals in the Pacific.
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Aircraft crashes
Johnston Atoll Airport is located on the Johnston Atoll in the United States Minor Outlying Islands, in the Pacific Ocean about 717 nautical miles (1328 kilometers) southwest of Hawaii. It was an active U.S. military facility during the 20th century and was shut down in 2005. The airport runway was used for emergency landings for both civil and military aircraft on many occasions. However, after its decommissioning, it could no longer serve as a potential emergency landing site for flights traversing the Pacific Ocean.
The Johnston Atoll runway has witnessed several aircraft crashes over the years. Here are some notable incidents:
Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina Crash (1943)
On March 29, 1943, a US Navy Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina (2354) was involved in a tragic accident. The aircraft was searching for survivors after a B-24 crash that occurred en route to Johnston Atoll from Oahu. As the Catalina plane returned in the dark of night with no moonlight, it suddenly nosedived from 1,000 feet and crashed into the water about 1.65 km (1 mile) northwest of Johnston Atoll. The plane erupted into flames upon impact, claiming the lives of all ten occupants. The cause of this crash remains undetermined.
Curtiss R5C-1 Crash (1946)
On February 21, 1946, a Curtiss R5C-1 (50695) aircraft from the USMC suffered a landing accident at Johnston Atoll Airport. The plane overshot the runway during landing and sustained irreparable damage. Fortunately, there were no reported fatalities in this incident.
Lockheed P-2H Neptune Crash (1962)
On November 1, 1962, a Lockheed P-2H Neptune (140158) aircraft from the US Navy encountered trouble while approaching Johnston Atoll. The aircraft crashed into a reef located about 1.8 km (1.1 miles) off the coast of Johnston Atoll after the starboard engine failed. Luckily, there were no fatalities reported in this incident.
Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina Sinking (1942)
On May 26, 1942, a US Navy Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina (2453) experienced a sinking incident at Johnston Atoll. During landing, the plane swerved violently and entered a waterloop, causing the hull to break open. Fortunately, all eight occupants of the aircraft survived this incident.
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Military use
Johnston Atoll Airport, located on the Johnston Atoll in the United States Minor Outlying Islands, was an important military facility for the United States during the 20th century. The atoll, situated in the Pacific Ocean about 700 nautical miles southwest of Hawaii, played a strategic role during World War II as a refuelling base for submarines and aircraft.
During the war, the airport was a bustling hub for American bombers transiting the Pacific Ocean, including the Boeing B-29 Enola Gay. By 1944, the Johnston Atoll had become one of the busiest air transport terminals in the Pacific region. It served as a vital stopover for Air Transport Command aeromedical evacuation planes en route to Hawaii. The airport's runway was constructed in 1941, initially measuring 4,000 feet in length, and was subsequently lengthened to 6,000 feet in 1943 to accommodate the increasing military air traffic.
Following V-J Day in August 1945, the flow of aircraft and personnel through the atoll began to reverse as military operations wound down. By 1947, over 1,300 B-29 and B-24 bombers had passed through Johnston Island, returning military personnel to civilian life. Even after World War II, the airport continued to serve military purposes, with Aloha Airlines making weekly scheduled flights carrying civilian and military personnel to the island. In the 1990s, flight activity increased, with some days seeing up to three arrivals.
The military presence on the atoll was significant, with an average of about 300 American military personnel and 1,000 civilian contractors residing there during the latter part of the 20th century. The island was wired with advanced communication systems, including multiple telephone lines, a submarine cable, satellite circuits, and various radio systems, ensuring effective communication and coordination for military operations. However, the airport ceased operations in 2005, and the runway is no longer maintained. While it is no longer a designated diversion airport, it could still be used in extreme emergencies as a safer alternative to a water landing.
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Commercial use
Johnston Atoll Airport, located on the Johnston Atoll in the United States Minor Outlying Islands, was an important commercial hub during and after World War II. The atoll, situated in the Pacific Ocean about 700-750 nautical miles southwest of Hawaii, played a crucial role as a refuelling base for submarines and aircraft.
During the war, the airport became one of the busiest air transport terminals in the Pacific. It served as a stopover for American bombers transiting the Pacific Ocean, including the Boeing B-29 Enola Gay. By 1947, over 1,300 B-24 and B-29 bombers had passed through the atoll en route to returning military personnel to civilian life.
Following World War II, the airport continued to see commercial use. Continental Micronesia, later known as Continental Air Micronesia, operated flights that touched down between Honolulu and Majuro. These flights were surrounded by armed soldiers, and passengers were not permitted to disembark. Aloha Airlines also made weekly scheduled flights to the island, carrying civilian and military personnel. In the 1990s, flight frequency increased, with some days seeing up to three arrivals.
The airport's runway was constructed in 1941 and initially measured 4,000 feet in length. However, it was extended to 6,000 feet in 1943 to accommodate the increasing air traffic. The atoll itself was enlarged over time, with two additional artificial islands, North (Akau) and East (Hikina), being created through coral dredging.
Despite its past significance, the Johnston Atoll Airport was shut down in 2005, and the runway is no longer maintained. While it is no longer a designated diversion airport, it could still be used in extreme emergencies as a safer alternative to a water landing.
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Frequently asked questions
The Johnston Atoll Airport is located on the Johnston Atoll in the United States Minor Outlying Islands, in the Pacific Ocean about 700-750 nautical miles southwest of Hawaii.
The airport was an active US military facility during the 20th century. During World War II, it served as a refueling base for submarines and American bombers transiting the Pacific Ocean. It was shut down in 2005 and the runway is no longer maintained, although it can still be used in extreme emergencies.
The Johnston Atoll is an unincorporated territory of the United States, under the jurisdiction of the United States Air Force (USAF). It consists of four islands: Johnston, Sand, North (Akau), and East (Hikina). The atoll has never had any indigenous inhabitants and is currently uninhabited except for a small number of workers with the Crazy Ant Strike Team project.
