Lae Airfield crane above the aircraft. The Lae airport is probably best remembered for being the point of departure in July 1937 for Amelia Earhart and navigator Fred Noonan on their flight to Howland Island. Earhart's plane disappeared near Howland Island some 19 hours after departing Lae airport. Lae Airfield Lae Airfield is a former World War II airfield and later, civilian airport located at Lae, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea. The airport was closed in the 1980s, in favour of Lae Nadzab Airport, which was able to accommodate larger jet aircraft. The airport was known as Lae Drome or Lae Aerodrome
Derek Noonan Noonan won caps for England while at Warrington in 1975 against Wales, in the 1975 Rugby League World Cup against France, and Wales, and in 1975 against Papua New Guinea (This match was played on 6 July 1975, en-route to Australia for the 1975 Rugby League World Cup, and was not classed as a full international, at least at the time). Derek Noonan won 5-caps for Lancashire while at Warrington. Derek Noonan played left-, i.e. number 4, in St. Helens' 2–25 defeat by the 1975 NSWRFL season premiers, Eastern Suburbs Roosters in the unofficial 1976 World Club Challenge at Sydney