Halavo Seaplane Base is a former

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

seaplane base in Halavo Bay,

Florida Island The Nggela Islands or Ngella Islands, previously known as the Florida Islands, are a small island group in the Central Province of Solomon Islands, a sovereign state, since 1978, in the southwest Pacific Ocean. The name Florida Islands fell in ...

Solomon Islands Solomon Islands, also known simply as the Solomons,John Prados, ''Islands of Destiny'', Dutton Caliber, 2012, p,20 and passim is an island country consisting of six major islands and over 1000 smaller islands in Melanesia, part of Oceania, t ...

History

The base was constructed by the 6th Naval Construction Battalion commencing in January 1943, the work was taken over by the 34th Naval Construction Battalion on 12 February 1943. A tent camp was built for 1,500 men and 300 officers. Due to a shortage of cement it was decided to use PSP on the seaplane ramps and apron. A temporary PSP seaplane ramp, wide, was completed by May 1943. At the end of June, another temporary PSP ramp was built for use by a second PBY squadron operating from the base. Construction of a 12,000-barrel tank farm including a filling line to the beach and a delivery line to the ramp was also completed together with 30 wooden buildings for administration and workshops. The PSP ramps were considered wholly satisfactory in service, and it was estimated that their substitution for concrete saved approximately two months' construction time. In late 1943, expansion of the base was begun with an increase in apron area, structures more permanent than the original canvas-covered ones, and the reconstruction of housing facilities. Two PSP ramps each wide, and a coral apron, by , were installed. Dock facilities were constructed, consisting of a small-boat wharf, by and a boat refueling wharf, by . Twelve screened frame wards with canvas roofing were provided for a 200-bed bas hospital. In September, ten

Quonset hut A Quonset hut is a lightweight prefabricated structure of corrugated galvanized steel with a semi-circular cross-section. The design was developed in the United States based on the Nissen hut introduced by the British during World War I. Hund ...

s, by , were erected for accommodation. By December 3 PBY squadrons occupied the base. US Navy units based at the base included: *

VP-33 VP-33 was a Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron 12-F (VP-12F) on 1 November 1935, redesignated Patrol Squadron 12 (VP-12) on 1 October 1937, redesignated Patrol Squadron 51 (VP-51) on 1 July 1939, ...

June 1943 *

VPB-23 VPB-23 was a patrol bombing squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron 10-S (VP-10S) on 1 July 1930, redesignated Patrol Squadron 10-F (VP-10F) on 17 July 1933, redesignated Patrol Squadron 10 (VP-10) on 1 October ...

August–December 1943 * VPB-44 January–May 1943 *

VPB-91 VPB-91 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron 91 (VP-91) on 1 December 1941, redesignated as Patrol Bombing Squadron 91 (VPB-91) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 2 April 1946. Oper ...

October 1943–January 1944 *

VPB-197 VPB-197 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron 21 (VP-21) on 1 September 1938, redesignated Patrol Squadron 45 (VP-45) on 1 July 1939, redesignated Patrol Squadron 14 (VP-14) on 1 December ...

December 1943–January 1944 No. 6 (Flying Boat) Squadron RNZAF was based at Halavo from Christmas 1943 until the end of the war, carrying out marine surveillance and air-sea rescue tasks, including rescuing 69 US and 2 New Zealand servicemen. On 26 October 1944 the CO of the Squadron took over command of Halavo from the US Navy.Agar, John. Unofficial History of No. 6 Squadron by Wing Commander Agar. ADQA 17330 R17389474, Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga, Wellington

References

{{reflist Airfields in the Pacific theatre of World War II Airfields of the United States Navy Military installations closed in the 1940s Seaplane bases Closed installations of the United States Navy Buildings and structures in the Solomon Islands 1943 establishments in the Solomon Islands

History

See also

References