US Naval Base Solomons was a number of

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

bases in the

Solomon Islands Solomon Islands is an island country consisting of six major islands and over 900 smaller islands in Oceania, to the east of Papua New Guinea and north-west of Vanuatu. It has a land area of , and a population of approx. 700,000. Its ca ...

in the

Pacific Ocean The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean (or, depending on definition, to Antarctica) in the south, and is bounded by the contine ...

. Most were built by the US Navy

Seabee United States Naval Construction Battalions, better known as the Navy Seabees, form the U.S. Naval Construction Force (NCF). The Seabee nickname is a heterograph of the initial letters "CB" from the words "Construction Battalion". Depending upon ...

s, Naval Construction Battalions, during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

as part of the Pacific War. In August 1942 the

United States Armed Forces The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. The armed forces consists of six service branches: the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard. The president of the United States is ...

took the

Guadalcanal Guadalcanal (; indigenous name: ''Isatabu'') is the principal island in Guadalcanal Province of Solomon Islands, located in the south-western Pacific, northeast of Australia. It is the largest island in the Solomon Islands by area, and the se ...

in the Solomon, in the

Battle of Guadalcanal The Guadalcanal campaign, also known as the Battle of Guadalcanal and codenamed Operation Watchtower by American forces, was a military campaign fought between 7 August 1942 and 9 February 1943 on and around the island of Guadalcanal in the ...

. US Navy Seabees built a new base at Guadalcanal, Naval Base Guadalcanal and then on other islands in the Solomons.

Naval Base Guadalcanal

One of the major activities of the Naval Base Guadalcanal was the support of the building of the airbase Henderson Field. The first aircraft landed on Henderson Field on August 12, 1942. Naval Base Guadalcanal also supported the many troops on Guadalcanal and staging for coming actions. The seas off Naval Base Guadalcanal, Savo Sound, were nicknamed ''

Ironbottom Sound "Ironbottom Sound" (alternatively Iron Bottom Sound or Ironbottomed Sound or Iron Bottom Bay) is the name given by Allied sailors to the stretch of water at the southern end of The Slot between Guadalcanal, Savo Island, and Florida Island o ...

'' due to the many ships and planes sunk off Guadalcanal, in the battle, codenamed

Operation Watchtower The Guadalcanal campaign, also known as the Battle of Guadalcanal and codenamed Operation Watchtower by American forces, was a military campaign fought between 7 August 1942 and 9 February 1943 on and around the island of Guadalcanal in the ...

. On 28 July 1942, the US Navy and

US Marine The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through ...

did a practice

amphibious landing Amphibious warfare is a type of Offensive (military), offensive military operation that today uses naval ships to project ground and air power onto a hostile or potentially hostile shore at a designated landing beach. Through history the opera ...

Naval Base Fiji Naval Base Fiji was a naval base built by the United States Navy in 1942 to support the World War II effort. The base was located on Fiji in the Central Pacific Ocean. The base was built as one of many advance bases in the island-hopping ...

Koro Island Koro (village in Fijian) is a volcanic island of Fiji that forms part of the Lomaiviti Archipelago. The Koro Sea is named after this volcanic island, which has a chain of basaltic cinder cones extending from north to south along its crest. W ...

. This landing was to prepare the troops for the upcoming landings at Guadalcanal, the Troop's first major offensive of the War. From the rehearsal, lessons were learned that helped at Guadalcanal. On 31 July 1942, the Troops departed Fiji for the invasion of Guadalcanal. The invasion of Guadalcanal being the first did not have the later advancements in amphibious warfare like the landing ships:

Landing Ship, Tank Landing Ship, Tank (LST), or tank landing ship, is the naval designation for ships first developed during World War II (1939–1945) to support amphibious operations by carrying tanks, vehicles, cargo, and landing troops directly onto shore wi ...

s or

Landing craft tank The Landing Craft, Tank (LCT) (or Tank Landing Craft TLC) was an amphibious assault craft for landing tanks on beachheads. They were initially developed by the Royal Navy and later by the United States Navy during World War II in a series of ve ...

s. Supplies were taken from

cargo hold 120px, View of the hold of a container ship A ship's hold or cargo hold is a space for carrying cargo in the ship's compartment. Description Cargo in holds may be either packaged in crates, bales, etc., or unpackaged ( bulk cargo). Access to ...

s of ships and loaded onto small landing craft, then taken to the landing beaches and hand unloaded.

Empire of Japan The also known as the Japanese Empire or Imperial Japan, was a historical nation-state and great power that existed from the Meiji Restoration in 1868 until the enactment of the post-World War II 1947 constitution and subsequent for ...

had built a base at

Tulagi Tulagi, less commonly known as Tulaghi, is a small island——in Solomon Islands, just off the south coast of Ngella Sule. The town of the same name on the island (pop. 1,750) was the capital of the British Solomon Islands Protectorate from 1 ...

, a smaller island just to the north of Guadalcanal. The US Naval repaired and improved the base after it was captured. The Guadalcanal base were given the code names ''Bevy'' and ''Cactus'', later renamed ''Mainyard''. The codename ''Ringbolt'' was used for the attacks that took

Florida Islands The Nggela Islands, also 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 chain is composed of four larger islands and about ...

, Tulagi,

Gavutu Gavutu is a small islet in the Central Province of the Solomon Islands, some in length. It is one of the Nggela Islands. History The first recorded sighting by Europeans was by the Spanish expedition of Álvaro de Mendaña on 16 April 1568. Mor ...

, and

Tanambogo Tanambogo is an islet in the Central Province of the Solomon Islands. It is one of the Florida Islands. History The first recorded sighting by Europeans was by the Spanish expedition of Álvaro de Mendaña on 16 April 1568. More precisely the sig ...

Islands. One of the reasons Guadalcanal was selected for amphibious landing, was on 20 June 1942 the US found Japan had begun building an airbase near

Lungga Point Lungga Point is a suburb of Honiara, Solomon Islands and is located East of the main center and North-West of Honiara International Airport : ''For the military history of the airport, see Henderson Field (Guadalcanal)'' Honiara Internationa ...

. An airbase on Guadalcanal could attack the sea route from the United States to the US Naval Bases in Australia. The US putting an airbase on Guadalcanal could both protect the shipping lanes and put a check-attacks on Japan's large base at

Rabaul Rabaul () is a township in the East New Britain province of Papua New Guinea, on the island of New Britain. It lies about 600 kilometres to the east of the island of New Guinea. Rabaul was the provincial capital and most important settlement in ...

in the northern Solomon Islands. Both the US troops and Japan's troops suffered from a lack of supplies during the Guadalcanal campaign. The US Naval would learn from the operation and improved the supply train to the fighting troops in the island hoping campaign. The 6th Naval Construction Battalion arrived on August 10 from

Naval Station Norfolk Naval Station Norfolk is a United States Navy base in Norfolk, Virginia, that is the headquarters and home port of the U.S. Navy's Fleet Forces Command. The installation occupies about of waterfront space and of pier and wharf space of the Hamp ...

by way of Naval Base Espiritu Santo, 13 days after the first

United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through ...

had landed. The Seabee found an incomplete 3,800-foot runway Japan's troops had started. The Seabees added 1,300-feet to the runway and paved it in

Marston mat Marston Mat, more properly called pierced (or perforated) steel planking (PSP), is standardized, perforated steel matting material developed by the United States at the Waterways Experiment Station shortly before World War II, primarily for the r ...

, due to the poor soil and rain. Work was stopped a few time due to bombing raids,

sniping A sniper is a military/paramilitary marksman who engages targets from positions of concealment or at distances exceeding the target's detection capabilities. Snipers generally have specialized training and are equipped with high-precision r ...

fire and shelling. When these had slowed down the Seabees were able to move out of foxholes and built a camp for the airfield and the Seabees. Seabees also built, a power station, a freshwater system for the camp and mess hall. For supplies, cargo ships unloaded into Higgins boats, tank lighters and pontoon barges, these were unloaded at the beach. Later, three timber

pier Seaside pleasure pier in England.html" ;"title="Brighton, England">Brighton, England. The first seaside piers were built in England in the early 19th century. A pier is a raised structure that rises above a body of water and usually juts out ...

s were built at the beach for unloading. A pier was also built at Lung Lagoon and was named Jennings landing in honor of Chief Ship fitter Jennings. Roads, bridges, and later fuel tank farms were built. The 6th Naval Construction Battalion was relieved by

Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 26 Naval Mobile Construction Battalion TWO SIX (NMCB 26) was a United States Navy Seabee battalion commissioned in 1942 for support to Naval Operations in the Pacific Theater in World War II and later a Reserve Naval Construction Battalion based in ...

on 5 January 1943. The 6th departed on the USS Hunter Liggett for R&R at Auckland in New Zealand. At Auckland the 6th did work on the camp at Victoria Park and at a US Navy Mobile Hospital there. The 6th departed Auckland to work at

Naval Base Noumea Naval Base Noumea was a major United States Navy sea and air base at Nouméa, New Caledonia. Naval Base Noumea was built at Noumea Harbor. Noumea was picked for a Naval Base as it was beyond the range of Japanese land-based planes. Noumea is o ...

12 March 1943. The Construction Battalion 26 continued improving the base at Guadalcanal and built: gun mounts and emplacements, tunnels, 6,000 feet of railroad, multiple docks, over 35 miles of primary roadway, 10 bridges and two radio stations with 150-foot transmitter towers. Construction Battalion 26 departed 2 March 1944. The 58th Naval Construction Battalion arrived on 12 December 1944. The 58th Naval Construction Battalion worked on the Solomons' Vella Lavella Island and Russell Island, and departed 11 March 1945. THe 14th Naval Construction Battalion worked at Guadalcanal from 4 November 1942 to 9 November 1943. Naval Base at Guadalcanal Fleet Post Office (FPO#) was 145.26th NCB history, NHHC, Seabee Museum, Port Hueneme, Ca
/ref>

History

After the

Battle of Tulagi and Gavutu–Tanambogo The Battle of Tulagi and Gavutu–Tanambogo was a land battle of the Pacific War, Pacific campaign of World War II, between the forces of the Imperial Japanese Navy and Allies of World War II, Allied (mainly United States Marine Corps) ground fo ...

in August 1942 Naval Bases were built by the 6th and 26th Seabees in the Solomons. At Tanambogo an airfield was built,

Torokina Airfield 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 Bo ...

Landings at Cape Torokina The Landings at Cape Torokina (1–3 November 1943), also known as Operation Cherryblossom, took place at the beginning of the Bougainville campaign in World War II. The amphibious landings were carried out by elements of the United States Mar ...

called Operation Cherry Blossom took place on November 1, 1943. At Tulagi the Navy built a

PT boat A PT boat (short for patrol torpedo boat) was a motor torpedo boat used by the United States Navy in World War II. It was small, fast, and inexpensive to build, valued for its maneuverability and speed but hampered at the beginning of the ...

base and at the

seaplane base A seaplane base is a type of airport that is located in a body of water, usually a river, bay, harbor, or lake, where seaplanes and amphibious aircraft take-off and land. History Initially following the invention of the seaplane, traditional boat ...

. The US bases built at the Solomon Islands worked to stop the Tokyo Express, the name given to Japan's supply line and reinforces from Rabaul to Guadalcanal. The US Navy Seabee built Naval Base, and airfields and help in the beach landing. At the end of World War II, with

Victory over Japan Day Victory over Japan Day (also known as V-J Day, Victory in the Pacific Day, or V-P Day) is the day on which Imperial Japan surrendered in World War II, in effect bringing the war to an end. The term has been applied to both of the days on ...

the bases were closed. Some of the airfields became civilian airports. Except for some troops left to build, garrison, operate, and defend the base at Tulagi, however, the majority of the U.S. Marines who had assaulted Tulagi and the nearby islets were soon relocated to Guadalcanal to help defend the airfield, later called Henderson Field by Allied forces, located at Lunga Point.

Solomon Islands Bases

* Naval Base at Guadalcanal, FPO# 145 * Base at

Torokina Torokina is a coastal village on Bougainville Island, in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, eastern Papua New Guinea. It is administered under Torokina Rural LLG. It is located on the western coast of the island. During World War II ...

Bougainville Island Bougainville Island ( Tok Pisin: ''Bogenvil'') is the main island of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, which is part of Papua New Guinea. It was previously the main landmass in the German Empire-associated North Solomons. Its land area ...

, FPO# 158, support of

and PT Boat base * Naval Base Banika Island in the

Russell Islands :''See also Russell Island (disambiguation).'' The Russell Islands are two small islands (Pavuvu and Mbanika), as well as several islets, of volcanic origin, in the Central Province (Solomon Islands), Central Province of Solomon Islands. They are l ...

, PT boat base, FPO# 60, built after

Operation Cleanslate During World War II, Operation Cleanslate was the occupation of Russell Islands about sixty miles northwest of Guadalcanal by the United States on 21 February, 1943. The Japanese had captured the island in January, 1943, but abandoned them after o ...

Halavo Seaplane Base Halavo Seaplane Base is a former World War II seaplane base in Halavo Bay, Florida Island, Solomon Islands. History The base was constructed by the 6th Naval Construction Battalion commencing in January 1943, the work was taken over by the 34t ...

Cape Torokina Cape Torokina is a promontory at the north end of Empress Augusta Bay, along the central part of the western coast of Bougainville, in Papua New Guinea. This cape formed the southern end of the landing zone where I Marine Amphibious Corps perfor ...

, Bougainville, runway built, PT boat base * Base at Barakoma,

Vella Lavella Vella Lavella is an island in the Western Province of the Solomon Islands. It lies to the west of New Georgia, but is considered one of the New Georgia Group. To its west are the Treasury Islands. Environment The island of Vella Lavella i ...

Island, FPO# 338, support of

Barakoma Airfield Barakoma Airfield is a former World War II airfield on Vella Lavella in the Solomon Islands archipelago. History World War II The U.S. 35th Infantry Regiment landed on Vella Lavella on 15 August 1943 as part of the Solomon Islands campaign. Th ...

, PT Boat base * Base at San Cristobal Island, FPO# 3092 (''Sea called Torpedo Alley'') * Base at

Nissan Island Nissan Island (also Green Island or Sir Charles Hardy Island) is the largest of the Green Islands of Papua New Guinea. It is located at , about 200 km east of Rabaul on New Britain and about 200 km north-west of Bougainville. The islan ...

, Northern Solomon Islands, FPO# 3202, support of Nissan Island Airfield *Seaplane Base Rekata Bay at

Rekata Bay Rekata Bay, also known as ''Suavanau'', is a bay located on the northeast coast of Santa Isabel Island in the Solomon Islands between Santa Isabel and Papatura Island. History Before the Second World War a copra plantation was built at Suavanau ...

, Santa Isabel Naval Base Treasury Islands * Naval Base Treasury Islands, FPO# 811 * Stirling PT Boat Base in Blanche Harbor *

Stirling Airfield Mono Airport is an airport on Stirling Island in the Solomon Islands . Airlines and destinations History Following the Allied invasion of the Northern Solomon Islands on October 25–27, 1943, an airstrip was built on Stirling Island by the ...

, Coronus Strip, built by 87th Construction Battalion Seabees *Treasury Islands Seaplane Base unit VP-14 with

Consolidated PBY Catalina The Consolidated PBY Catalina is a flying boat and amphibious aircraft that was produced in the 1930s and 1940s. In Canadian service it was known as the Canso. It was one of the most widely used seaplanes of World War II. Catalinas served wi ...

Naval Base Florida Islands ** Base at

, FPO# 152, PT boats and 20-bed dispensary *Tulagi Harbor base **Tulagi Seaplane Base with unit VP-14 with Consolidated PBY Catalina * Base at

Harbor,

Nggela Islands The Nggela Islands, also 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 chain is composed of four larger islands and about ...

, FPO# 705, seaplane base
Carter City
at Mbolo, Bolo, Florida Islands, large Naval Supply and repair depot * Makambo Island PT Boat base * Palm Island tank farm Naval Base New Georgia Islands At

New Georgia New Georgia, with an area of , is the largest of the islands in Western Province, Solomon Islands, and the 200th-largest island in the world. Geography New Georgia island is located in the New Georgia Group, an archipelago including most ...

Islands a number of base wer built: * Base at Seghe , New Georgia, , FPO# 252, support o
Segi Airfield
* Base at Munda, New Georgia FPO# 250 support of Munda Point Airfield * Base at

Rendova Island Rendova is an island in the Western Province (Solomon Islands), Western Province of the Solomon Islands in the Pacific Ocean, South Pacific, east of Papua New Guinea. Geography Rendova Island is a roughly rectangularly-shaped island, located in t ...

, off New Georgia, FPO# 251, PT Boat base * Naval Base Lever Harbor, New Georgia, near Kukudu, Vaeimbu Harbour, PT boat at * Base at

Viru Harbor Viru may refer to: * Virumaa, a region and ancient county in Northern Estonia, now divided between: ** Lääne-Viru County ** Ida-Viru County * Viru, Võru County, village in Rõuge Parish, Võru County, Estonia * Viru, Iran, a village in Golestan ...

, New Georgia FPO# 254 * Wickham Feelt Anchorage, New Georgia, FPO# 253, near Seghe and Vangunu Island at . * Rice Anchorage at Enogai * Base at Sasavele Island, in Roviana Lagoon, FPO# 529, . *Base at Vila, Kolombangara Island, FPO# 627 *Base at

Ondonga Ondonga is a traditional kingdom of the Ovambo people in what is today northern Namibia. Its capital is Ondangwa, and the kingdom's palace is at Onambango. Its people call themselves ''Aandonga''. They speak the Ndonga dialect. The Ondonga kingd ...

, FPO# 626 to support

Ondonga Airfield Ondonga Airfield is a former World War II airfield on New Georgia in the Solomon Islands archipelago. History World War II The Munda Point area was secured on 5 August 1943. While the rehabilitation and expansion of Munda Point Airfield was t ...

**Ondonga Seaplane Base with VP-14 and

New Hebrides The

New Hebrides New Hebrides, officially the New Hebrides Condominium (french: link=no, Condominium des Nouvelles-Hébrides, "Condominium of the New Hebrides") and named after the Hebrides Scottish archipelago, was the colonial name for the island group ...

Islands are just south of the Solomons, as such are sometimes included in the Navy's list of Solomon bases: * Naval Base Espiritu Santo one of the largest bases of the war. New Caledonia The New Caledonia Islands are south of the Solomons, as such are sometimes included in the Navy's list of Solomon bases: *

a large base

Guadalcanal Airfields

Built after the

Battle for Henderson Field The Battle for Henderson Field, also known as the Battle of Guadalcanal or Battle of Lunga Point by the Japanese, took place from 23 to 26 October 1942 on and around Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. The battle was a land, sea, and air battle ...

* Henderson Field (Lunga Point, Bomber 1, Honiara Airport) * Henderson Field Fighter 1, called Lunga, abandoned * Henderson Field Fighter 2, called Kukum, abandoned
Fighter 3
Emergency Field, near the

Tenaru River The Tenaru is the name of a river on the northern coast of Guadalcanal with a tributary at Ironbottom Sound (called Savo Sound prior to World War II). During World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as ...

, abandoned
Crash Strip
(The Grassy Strip) located nea

Bloody Ridge
Crash Strip Koli Point
at

Koli Point Koli may refer to: Places * Koli, Finland, a hill in Finland * Koli National Park, a national park in Finland * Koli, Iran (disambiguation), several places in Iran * Koli Airfield, a former airfield in the South Pacific Other uses * Koli people ...

, near Carney Field and Koli Field *

Carney Field Carney Airfield is a former World War II airfield on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands in the South Pacific. It is located near Koli Point about six miles from Henderson Field, close to the Metapona River to the east and the Naumbu River to the west ...

, Bomber 2, near Koli Point and the

Honiara Honiara () is the capital and largest city of Solomon Islands, situated on the northwestern coast of Guadalcanal. , it had a population of 92,344 people. The city is served by Honiara International Airport and the seaport of Point Cruz, and l ...

's Metapona River
Koli Field
(Bomber 3) located near the Metapona River.
At Henderson Field, (

Cactus Air Force Cactus Air Force refers to the ensemble of Allied air power assigned to the island of Guadalcanal August 1942 until December 1942 during the early stages of the Guadalcanal Campaign, particularly those operating from Henderson Field. The term ...

), the US Navy had stationed: *VF-5 with

Grumman F4F Wildcat The Grumman F4F Wildcat is an American carrier-based fighter aircraft that entered service in 1940 with the United States Navy, and the British Royal Navy where it was initially known as the Martlet. First used by the British in the North Atla ...

*VC-40 with

Douglas SBD Dauntless The Douglas SBD Dauntless is a World War II American naval scout plane and dive bomber that was manufactured by Douglas Aircraft from 1940 through 1944. The SBD ("Scout Bomber Douglas") was the United States Navy's main carrier-based scout/ ...

and TBF Avenger *VF-26 (F4F) *VF-27 (F4F) *VF-28 (F4F) *

Carrier Air Wing Eleven Carrier Air Wing Eleven (CVW-11) is a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California. The air wing is attached to the aircraft carrier .VF-11 Fighter Squadron 11 or VF-11 was an aviation unit of the United States Navy. It was originally established as VF-5 on 1 February 1927, redesignated as VF-5S on 1 July 1927, redesignated as VF-5B in January 1928, redesignated VB-1B on 1 July 1928, ...

(VB-11) 1943 * VT-11 (TBF Avenger) 1943 *VB-21 (SBD) 1943 *CASU-11 ( Carrier Aircraft Service Unit 11) Feb 1943 – July 1944 *VS-54 (SBD, and

Vought OS2U Kingfisher The Vought OS2U Kingfisher is an American catapult-launched observation floatplane. It was a compact mid-wing monoplane, with a large central float and small stabilizing floats. Performance was modest because of its low-powered engine. The OS2U ...

) June 11, 1943 – August 3, 1944
At Carney Field the US Navy had stationed: U.S. Navy (USN) units based at Carney flying

Consolidated B-24 Liberator The Consolidated B-24 Liberator is an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and some initial production aircraft were laid down as export models ...

called PB4Y-1 *VD-1 *VB-106 *VB-101 *VB-102 * VB-104

New Georgia Airfield

, New Georgia, after the

New Georgia campaign The New Georgia campaign was a series of land and naval battles of the Pacific campaign of World War II between Allied forces and the Empire of Japan. It was part of Operation Cartwheel, the Allied strategy in the South Pacific to isolate the ...

At Ondonga Field the US Navy had stationed: *VF-17 with

Vought F4U Corsair The Vought F4U Corsair is an American fighter aircraft which saw service primarily in World War II and the Korean War. Designed and initially manufactured by Chance Vought, the Corsair was soon in great demand; additional production contract ...

VF-33 Fighter Squadron 33 (VF-33) was an aviation unit of the United States Navy. Originally established on 11 October 1948 it was disestablished on 1 October 1993. It was the second U.S. Navy squadron to be designated VF-33. VF-33 History Korean War ...

with

Grumman F6F Hellcat The Grumman F6F Hellcat is an American carrier-based fighter aircraft of World War II. Designed to replace the earlier F4F Wildcat and to counter the Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero, it was the United States Navy's dominant fighter in the second ...

*VP-12 with

Segi Airfield

At Segi Field the US Navy had stationed: *47th Naval Construction Battalion (47th NCB) "Seabees", C Company * VF-38 F6F Hellcat * VF-40 F6F Hellcat *

F6F Hellcat

Naval Base Banika Island airfields

Built at Naval Base Banika Island. The airfields were used to attack the Japan on ew Georgia and Munda. * Banika Field, used by US Navy for

Interstate TDR The Interstate TDR was an early unmanned combat aerial vehicle — referred to at the time as an " assault drone" — developed by the Interstate Aircraft and Engineering Corporation during the Second World War for use by the United States Nav ...

Assault Drones,

United States Army Air Forces The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF or AAF) was the major land-based aerial warfare service component of the United States Army and ''de facto'' aerial warfare service branch of the United States during and immediately after World War II ...

(USAAF) and

Renard Field Yandina Airport is an airport on Mbanika in the Solomon Islands. History The 33rd Naval Construction Battalion arrived on Banika Island in late February 1943 and commenced construction of a fighter airfield. By 13 April a basic airfield known a ...

used by USAAF and US Navy VB-140 and VB-148, both with Lockheed Ventura PV-1 *Renard Sound Seaplane Base, near Banika Field, in the channel to the east of the runway, the US Navy operated the Renard Sound Seaplane Base. The Base was at

Nissan Island Airfield

US Navy stationed at Nissan Island Airfield: *VPB-53 with PBY *Special Task Air Group One with Interstate TDR Assault Drones. Later depart to Banika

Operation Huddle

Operation Huddle was the code name of the base planned for the base on Ndeni island, in the

Santa Cruz islands The Santa Cruz Islands are a group of islands in the Pacific Ocean, part of Temotu Province of the nation of Solomon Islands discovered by the Spaniards. They lie approximately 250 miles (400 km) to the southeast of the Solomon Island ...

group, about 250 miles (400 km) to the east of the Solomons islands. The plan was abandoned as the site had unfavorable terrain and there was

cerebral malaria Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease that affects humans and other animals. Malaria causes symptoms that typically include fever, tiredness, vomiting, and headaches. In severe cases, it can cause jaundice, seizures, coma, or death. ...

on the island. After the

Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands The Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, fought during 25–27 October 1942, sometimes referred to as the Battle of Santa Cruz or Third Battle of Solomon Sea, in Japan as the Battle of the South Pacific ( ''Minamitaiheiyō kaisen''), was the fourt ...

the island was used. While a land base was not built at Ndeni the USS McFarland a destroyer/

seaplane tender A seaplane tender is a boat or ship that supports the operation of seaplanes. Some of these vessels, known as seaplane carriers, could not only carry seaplanes but also provided all the facilities needed for their operation; these ships are rega ...

supported a flying boat squadron of

at Graciosa Bay Ndeni anchorage port. The floating base depart after defeat in the naval

battle of Savo Island The Battle of Savo Island, also known as the First Battle of Savo Island and, in Japanese sources, as the , and colloquially among Allied Guadalcanal veterans as the Battle of the Five Sitting Ducks, was a naval battle of the Solomon Islands cam ...

in August 1942. PBY Catalina returned to Ndeni for reconnaissance work during the naval

Battle of the Eastern Solomons The naval Battle of the Eastern Solomons (also known as the Battle of the Stewart Islands and, in Japanese sources, as the Second Battle of the Solomon Sea) took place on 24–25 August 1942, and was the third carrier battle of the Pacific cam ...

on 24 August 1942 and

Battle of Santa Cruz Islands The Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, fought during 25–27 October 1942, sometimes referred to as the Battle of Santa Cruz or Third Battle of Solomon Sea, in Japan as the Battle of the South Pacific ( ''Minamitaiheiyō kaisen''), was the fourt ...

on 26 October 1942.Operation Huddle
'codenames.info'

Tenders

Tenders that were stationed at Solomons: *

USS McFarland (DD-237) USS ''McFarland'' (DD-237/AVD-14) was a in the United States Navy during World War II. She was named for American Civil War sailor and Medal of Honor recipient John McFarland. ''McFarland'' was laid down on 31 July 1918 and launched on 30 Ma ...

, destroyer converted to

USS George E. Badger (DD-196) USS ''George E. Badger'' (DD-196/CG-16/AVP-16/AVD-3/APD-33) was a in the United States Navy during World War II; she was named for Secretary of the Navy George E. Badger (1795–1866). Construction and commissioning ''George E. Badger'' w ...

, destroyer converted to seaplane tender *

USS Williamson (DD-244) USS ''Williamson'' (DD-244/AVP-15/AVD-2/APD-27) was a in the United States Navy during World War II. She was named for Commander William Price Williamson. ''Williamson'' was laid down on 27 March 1919 and launched on 16 October 1919 by the Ne ...

, destroyer converted to seaplane tender *

USS Thornton (DD-270) USS ''Thornton'' (DD-270/AVD-11) was a in the United States Navy during World War II. She was named for James and Ryan Thornton, naval officers during the American Civil War, and was the second ship to bear this name. History ''Thornton' ...

, destroyer converted to seaplane tender *

USS Goldsborough (DD-188) USS ''Goldsborough'' (DD-188/AVP-18/AVD-5/APD-32) was a in the United States Navy during World War II. She was the second Navy ship named for Rear Admiral Louis M. Goldsborough (1805–1877). Entering service in 1920, the ship had a brief ...

, destroyer converted to seaplane tender * USS Curtiss (AV-4), seaplane tender * USS Mackinac (AVP-13), seaplane tender *

USS Chandeleur (AV-10) USS ''Chandeleur'' (AV-10), a seaplane tender, was launched on 29 November 1941 by Western Pipe and Steel Company, San Francisco, California, under a Maritime Commission contract; transferred to the U.S. Navy 19 November 1942; and commissione ...

, seaplane tender *

USS Chincoteague (AVP-24) USS ''Chincoteague'' (AVP-24) was a United States Navy seaplane tender in commission from 1943 to 1946 that saw service in the Pacific during World War II. After the war, she was in commission in the United States Coast Guard as the cutter USC ...

, seaplane tender *

USS Ballard (DD-267) The second USS ''Ballard'' (DD-267/AVD-10) was a ''Clemson''-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II. She was named for Edward J. Ballard. History ''Ballard'' (DD-267) was launched 7 December 1918 by Bethlehem Steel ...

, seaplane tender *

USS Coos Bay USS ''Coos Bay'' (AVP-25) was a United States Navy ''Barnegat''-class small seaplane tender in commission from 1943 to 1946 that saw service during the latter half of World War II. After the war, she was in commission in the United States Coas ...

, seaplane tender *

USS Dixie (AD-14) The second USS ''Dixie'' (AD-14) was the first of Dixie-class destroyer tender, her class of destroyer tender, destroyer tenders built just before the start of World War II for the U.S. Navy. Her task was to service destroyers in, or near, bat ...

destroyer tender A destroyer tender or destroyer depot ship is a type of depot ship: an auxiliary ship designed to provide maintenance support to a flotilla of destroyers or other small warships. The use of this class has faded from its peak in the first half of ...

USS Rigel (AD-13) USS ''Rigel'' (AD-13/ARb-1/AR-11) was an destroyer tender named for '' Rigel'', the brightest star in the constellation Orion. Originally built in 1918 as SS ''Edgecombe'' by the Skinner and Eddy Corporation of Seattle, Washington for the Un ...

, destroyer tender * USS Jamestown (PG-55), PT Boat tender *

USS Varuna (AGP-5) USS ''Varuna'' (AGP-5) was a ''Portunus''-class motor torpedo boat tender of the United States Navy during World War II. The ship was laid down on 23 August 1942 by the Dravo Corporation at Neville Island, Pennsylvania as the ''LST-14''. Launch ...

, PT Boat tender * USS Niagara (PG-52), PT Boat tender *

USS Willoughby (AGP-9) The second USS ''Willoughby'' (AGP-9) was a motor torpedo boat tender that served in the United States Navy from 1944 to 1946, seeing service in the later stages of World War II. Transferred to the United States Coast Guard in 1946, she wa ...

, PT Boat tender *

USS Heron (AM-10) USS ''Heron'' (AM-10) was an acquired by the United States Navy for the dangerous task of removing mines from minefields laid in the water to prevent ships from passing. ''Heron'' was named by the U.S Navy after the heron, a long-necked, lon ...

, PT Boat tender * USS Alecto, PT Boat tender * USS Vestal, repair ship

Gallery

File:Tokyo Express Slot.jpg, Tokyo Express Slot File:Pacific_Theater_Areas;map1.JPG, Pacific War Theater Areas map 1942,

Pacific Ocean Areas Pacific Ocean Areas was a major Allied military command in the Pacific Ocean theater of World War II. It was one of four major Allied commands during the Pacific War, and one of three United States commands in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater. Adm ...

File:GuadHendersonJuly1942.gif, The airfield at

Lunga Point Lunga Point is a promontory on the northern coast of Guadalcanal, the site of a naval battle during World War II. It was also the name of a nearby airfield, later named Henderson Field. is also the name of a United States Navy escort carrier ...

under construction by Japanese and conscripted Korean laborers in July 1942 File:Guadalcanal Aug 7 landings.svg, Routes of Allied amphibious forces for landings on Guadalcanal and

, 7 August 1942 File:Henderson1944.jpg, Henderson Field in 1944 File:Shipwrecks in Ironbottom Sound, Solomon Islands.png, Shipwrecks in Ironbottom Sound, Solomon Islands File:SolomonsNewGeorgiaPacificWarMap.jpg, Solomons New Georgia in Pacific War File:NavalBaseBanikaIsland withdepot.jpg, Naval Base Banika Island File:Aerial view of Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, in late August 1942.jpg, Aerial view of Henderson Field on Guadalcanal, late August 1942. The view looks northwest with the

Lunga River Lunga may refer to: Places ;Democratic Republic of Congo * Lunga, DRC, a town located in Katanga Province ;Moldova * Lunga, Floreşti, a commune in Floreşti district * Lunga, Transnistria, a commune in Transnistria ;Romania * Lunga, a village ...

and

at the top of the image File:Map of Solomons area in 1942.png, The Solomon Islands. "The Slot" (

New Georgia Sound New Georgia Sound is the sound in the New Georgia Islands region that runs approximately southeast–northwest through the middle of the Solomon Islands archipelago in the Southern Pacific Ocean and Melanesia.U.S. Marine patrol crosses a pontoon bridge built by US Navy Seabees on the Lunga River in 1942 TulagiGavutuLandings.gif, Map Tulagi-Gavutu-Tanambogo from August 7, 1942 File:NewGeorgiaGroup5.jpg, The

group of islands File:NggelaSolomons.png, Map

in Solomons File:USS LST-460 Guadalcanal 23 July 1943.jpg, US Navy USS LST-460 unloading supplies at Naval Base Guadalcanal on 23 July 1943 File:South Pacific islands 1945.jpg, South Pacific islands in 1945

External links

YouTube Seabees of World War II

References

{{Islands of the Solomon Islands Military installations established in 1942 Closed installations of the United States Navy 1942 in the Solomon Islands