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
Paddy Noonan Paddy Noonan Paddy Noonan (4 September 1875 – 27 January 1935) was an Australian rules footballer who played for the Fitzroy Football Club and Carlton Football Club in the Victorian Football League. A small rover, Noonan played in Fitzroy's inaugural VFL season in 1897 and then their inaugural premiership side the following year. In 1901 he crossed to Carlton and spent two seasons with the Blues. Noonan spent the rest of his career in the Victorian Football Association (VFA) where he captained North Melbourne to premierships in 1903 and 1904. Noonan also spent some time playing at fellow VFA side