Luganville Airfield: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox military structure |
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|name=Luganville Airfield |
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|partof = |
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|location=[[Espiritu Santo]], [[New Hebrides Islands]] |
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|coordinates={{Coord|15|30|17|N|167|07|12|E}} |
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|image= |
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|caption= |
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|type=Military Airfield |
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|code= |
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|built=1943 |
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|builder=Seebees |
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|materials=Coral |
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|height= |
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|used= 1943-4 |
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|demolished= |
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|condition=abandoned |
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|ownership= |
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|controlledby=[[United States Army Air Forces]] |
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|garrison= |
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|commanders= |
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|occupants= |
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|battles= |
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}} |
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'''Luganville Airfield''' or '''Bomber Field #3''' is a former [[World War II]] airfield on the island of [[Espiritu Santo]] in the [[New Hebrides Islands]]. |
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==History== |
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===World War II=== |
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The [[Seebee|40th Naval Construction Battalion]] arrived on Santo on 3 February 1943 and were tasked with building a third bomber field in dense jungle to the west of Luganville. Within 120 days the batallion had completed a 6,800 ft by 300 ft coral runway, with 27,000 ft of taxiway and 75 hardstands. Additional facilities constructed included a tank farm of six 1,000-barrel steel tanks, two truck-loading stations, two repair areas, fifteen 40-by-10-foot arch-rib warehouses, one 100-by-90-foot hangar, eighteen 20-by-48-foot quonset huts for living quarters, six mess halls, and all necessary utilities. Fifteen miles of two-lane access and supply roads, were cut through dense jungle.<ref>{{Cite book|last=|first= |title=Building the Navy's Bases in World War II History of the Bureau of Yards and Docks and the Civil Engineer Corps 1940-1946| publisher=US Government Printing Office| year=1947| isbn=|page=230}}</ref> |
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[[VP-44]] operating [[Consolidated PBY Catalina|PBY-5s]] operated from Luganville from 11 March 1944 until 15 June 1944 when it moved to [[Green Island]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=|first= |title=[[Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons]] - Volume 2| publisher=Naval Historical Center| year=| isbn=|page=463-4}}</ref> |
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[[VMF-323]] was based at Luganville from 29 October 1944 until 23 February 1945 when it moved to Okinawa. |
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===Postwar=== |
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NOB Espiritu Santo disestablished on 12 June 1946.<ref>{{Cite book|last=|first= |title=[[Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons]] - Volume 2| publisher=Naval Historical Center| year=| isbn=|page=757}}</ref> The airfield is largely overgrown with vegetation. |
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==See also== |
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*[[Pallikulo Bay Airfield]] |
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==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
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==External links== |
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[[Category:Pacific theatre of World War II]] |
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[[Category:Espiritu Santo]] |
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Revision as of 12:05, 4 June 2013
| Luganville Airfield | |
|---|---|
| Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides Islands | |
| Coordinates | 15°30′17″N 167°07′12″E / 15.50472°N 167.12000°E |
| Typ | Military Airfield |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | United States Army Air Forces |
| Condition | abandoned |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1943 |
| Built by | Seebees |
| In use | 1943-4 |
| Materials | Coral |
Luganville Airfield or Bomber Field #3 is a former World War II airfield on the island of Espiritu Santo in the New Hebrides Islands.
History
World War II
The 40th Naval Construction Battalion arrived on Santo on 3 February 1943 and were tasked with building a third bomber field in dense jungle to the west of Luganville. Within 120 days the batallion had completed a 6,800 ft by 300 ft coral runway, with 27,000 ft of taxiway and 75 hardstands. Additional facilities constructed included a tank farm of six 1,000-barrel steel tanks, two truck-loading stations, two repair areas, fifteen 40-by-10-foot arch-rib warehouses, one 100-by-90-foot hangar, eighteen 20-by-48-foot quonset huts for living quarters, six mess halls, and all necessary utilities. Fifteen miles of two-lane access and supply roads, were cut through dense jungle.[1]
VP-44 operating PBY-5s operated from Luganville from 11 March 1944 until 15 June 1944 when it moved to Green Island.[2]
VMF-323 was based at Luganville from 29 October 1944 until 23 February 1945 when it moved to Okinawa.
Postwar
NOB Espiritu Santo disestablished on 12 June 1946.[3] The airfield is largely overgrown with vegetation.
See also
References
- ^ Building the Navy's Bases in World War II History of the Bureau of Yards and Docks and the Civil Engineer Corps 1940-1946. US Government Printing Office. 1947. p. 230.
- ^ Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons - Volume 2. Naval Historical Center. p. 463-4.
- ^ Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons - Volume 2. Naval Historical Center. p. 757.