Torokina Airfield: Difference between revisions
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==History== |
==History== |
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===World War II=== |
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Construction of the airfield by [[United States Navy]] [[Seabees]] began shortly after the [[landings at Cape Torokina]], with the runway being surfaced with perforated high strength steel sheets, known as [[Marston mats]]. The airfield became operational on December 10, 1943 when the Marine Fighting Squadron [[VMF-216]] landed with 17 [[F4U Corsair]]s. |
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The [[3rd Marine Division (United States)|3rd Marine Division]] landed on Bougainville on 1 November 1943 at the start of the [[Bougainville Campaign]], establishing a beachhead around Cape Torokina. Small detachments of the [[Seebee|25th, 53rd, 71st and 75th Naval Construction Battalions]] landed with the Marines and the 71st Battalion was tasked with establishing a {{convert|5150|ft}} by {{convert|200|ft}} fighter airfield that would become [[Torokina Airfield]].<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=268}}</ref>The airfield became operational on December 10, 1943 when the Marine Fighting Squadron [[VMF-216]] landed with 17 [[F4U Corsair]]s. |
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On |
On 9 March 1944, the Japanese shelled the airfield and forced the squadrons that were based their to take off to avoid damage to their aircraft. [[Royal New Zealand Air Force]] squadrons also began operating from the airfield from January 1, 1944. Units assigned to the airfield included: |
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[[File:SBD and F4Us at Bougainville in December 1943.jpg|thumb|right|SBDs and F4Us at Torokina, December 1943]] |
[[File:SBD and F4Us at Bougainville in December 1943.jpg|thumb|right|SBDs and F4Us at Torokina, December 1943]] |
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*'''[[United States Navy]]''' |
*'''[[United States Navy]]''' |
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:[[VC-40]] |
:[[VC-40]] operating [[TBF Avenger|TBFs]] |
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:[[ACORN 13]] |
:[[ACORN 13]] |
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:[[VF(N)-75]] |
:[[VF(N)-75]] operating [[F4U Corsair|F4Us]] |
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*'''[[United States Marine Corps]]''' |
*'''[[United States Marine Corps]]''' |
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:[[VMTB-233]] |
:[[VMTB-233]] operating TBFs |
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:[[VMF-211]] |
:[[VMF-211]] operating F4Us |
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:[[VMF- |
:[[VMF-212]] operating F4Us |
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:[[VMF-215]] |
:[[VMF-215]] |
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:[[VMF- |
:[[VMF-216]] operating F4Us |
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:[[VMF(N)-531]] |
:[[VMF(N)-531]] operating [[PV-1 Ventura|PV-1]] night-fighters |
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*'''[[Royal New Zealand Air Force]]''' |
*'''[[Royal New Zealand Air Force]]''' |
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:[[No. 19 Squadron RNZAF|No. 19 Squadron]] |
:[[No. 19 Squadron RNZAF|No. 19 Squadron]] operating F4Us |
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===Postwar=== |
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Today the airfield is no longer used and most of the runway is overgrown with vegetation. |
Today the airfield is no longer used and most of the runway is overgrown with vegetation. |
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Revision as of 07:33, 12 June 2013
| Torokina Airfield Cape Torokina Airfield | |
|---|---|
| Bougainville | |
 Aerial view of Torokina Airfield in December 1943 | |
| Typ | Military airfield |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | United States Marine Corps |
| Condition | abandoned |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1943 |
| In use | 1943-5 |
| Materials | Marsden Matting over sand |
| Battles/wars | Bougainville Campaign |
Torokina Airfield, also known as Cape Torokina Airfield, is a former World War II airfield located at Cape Torokina, Bougainville.
History
World War II
The 3rd Marine Division landed on Bougainville on 1 November 1943 at the start of the Bougainville Campaign, establishing a beachhead around Cape Torokina. Small detachments of the 25th, 53rd, 71st and 75th Naval Construction Battalions landed with the Marines and the 71st Battalion was tasked with establishing a 5,150 feet (1,570 m) by 200 feet (61 m) fighter airfield that would become Torokina Airfield.[1]The airfield became operational on December 10, 1943 when the Marine Fighting Squadron VMF-216 landed with 17 F4U Corsairs.
On 9 March 1944, the Japanese shelled the airfield and forced the squadrons that were based their to take off to avoid damage to their aircraft. Royal New Zealand Air Force squadrons also began operating from the airfield from January 1, 1944. Units assigned to the airfield included:
- VMTB-233 operating TBFs
- VMF-211 operating F4Us
- VMF-212 operating F4Us
- VMF-215
- VMF-216 operating F4Us
- VMF(N)-531 operating PV-1 night-fighters
- No. 19 Squadron operating F4Us
Postwar
Today the airfield is no longer used and most of the runway is overgrown with vegetation.
See Also
References
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
External links
6°14.8302′S 155°02.9256′E / 6.2471700°S 155.0487600°E
- ^ 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. 268.