US Naval Base Solomons consists of several

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...

bases in the

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 ...

in the

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

. 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 Forces (NCF). The Seabee nickname is a heterograph of the initial letters "CB" from the words "Construction Battalion". Dependi ...

s, Naval Construction Battalions, during

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 ...

as part of the

Pacific War The Pacific War, sometimes called the Asia–Pacific War or the Pacific Theatre, was the Theater (warfare), theatre of World War II fought between the Empire of Japan and the Allies of World War II, Allies in East Asia, East and Southeast As ...

. In August 1942 the

United States Armed Forces The United States Armed Forces are the Military, military forces of the United States. U.S. United States Code, federal law names six armed forces: the United States Army, Army, United States Marine Corps, Marine Corps, United States Navy, Na ...

took the

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

in the Solomon, in the

Battle of Guadalcanal The Guadalcanal campaign, also known as the Battle of Guadalcanal and codenamed Operation Watchtower by the United States, was an Allied offensive against forces of the Empire of Japan in the Solomon Islands during the Pacific Theater of W ...

. 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 support in the building of the airbase Henderson Field. The first aircraft landed at Henderson Field on August 12, 1942. Naval Base Guadalcanal also supported the many troops on Guadalcanal and was a staging area for coming actions. The seas off of the 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 the United States, was an Allies of World War II, Allied offensive against forces of the Empire of Japan in the Solomon Islands during th ...

. On 28 July 1942, the US Navy and

US Marines The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines or simply the Marines, is the Marines, maritime land force service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is responsible for conducting expedi ...

practiced an

amphibious landing Amphibious warfare is a type of 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 operations were conducted ...

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 (lit. "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 ...

. This landing aimed to prepare the troops for the upcoming landings at Guadalcanal, the Troops' 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 A Landing Ship, Tank (LST) is a ship first developed during World War II (1939–1945) to support amphibious operations by carrying tanks, vehicles, cargo, and landing troops directly onto a low-slope beach with no dock (maritime), docks or pier ...

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 ver ...

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 a ship or airplane compartment. Description Cargo in holds may be either packaged in crates, bales, etc., or unpackaged (bulk cargo). Acc ...

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

Empire of Japan The Empire of Japan, also known as the Japanese Empire or Imperial Japan, was the Japanese nation state that existed from the Meiji Restoration on January 3, 1868, until the Constitution of Japan took effect on May 3, 1947. From Japan–Kor ...

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 1896 t ...

, 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 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 ...

, Tulagi,

Gavutu Gavutu is a small islet in the Central Province of 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. More p ...

, and

Tanambogo Tanambogo is a small island in the Central Province of Solomon Islands in the Nggela Islands group, which was also known as the Florida Islands under the British Solomon Islands Protectorate and during World War II. History The first recorded s ...

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 : Honiara International Airport , formerly known as Henderson Field, is an airport in the province of ...

. An airbase on Guadalcanal could attack the sea route from the United States to the

US Naval Bases in Australia U.S. Naval Base Australia comprised several United States Navy bases in Australia during World War II. Australia entered World War II on 3 September 1939, being a self-governing nation within the British Empire. The United States formally en ...

. 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 to the east of the island of New Guinea. Rabaul was the provincial capital and most important settlement in the province ...

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 Ham ...

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 or simply the Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is responsible for conducting expeditionar ...

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 ...

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

sniping A sniper is a military or 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 telescopic si ...

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 boat The landing craft, vehicle, personnel (LCVP) or Higgins boat was a landing craft used extensively by the Allied forces in amphibious landings in World War II. Typically constructed from plywood, this shallow-draft, barge-like boat could ferry a ...

s, tank lighters and pontoon barges, these were unloaded at the beach. Later, three timber

pier A pier is a raised structure that rises above a body of water and usually juts out from its shore, typically supported by piling, piles or column, pillars, and provides above-water access to offshore areas. Frequent pier uses include fishing, b ...

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 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 on t ...

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 Island, Bougainville. History World War II The 3rd Marine Division (United States), 3rd Marine Division landed on B ...

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 (1943-45), Bougainville campaign in World War II. The amphibious warfare, amphibious landings w ...

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, and it was valued for its maneuverability and speed. However, PT boats were hampe ...

base and at the

seaplane base An aerodrome, airfield, or airstrip is a location from which aircraft flight operations take place, regardless of whether they involve air cargo, passengers, or neither, and regardless of whether it is for public or private use. Aerodromes in ...

. The US bases built at the Solomon Islands worked to stop the

Tokyo Express The Tokyo Express was the name given by Allied forces to the use of Imperial Japanese Navy ships at night to deliver personnel, supplies, and equipment to Japanese forces operating in and around New Guinea and the Solomon Islands during the ...

, 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 Surrender of Japan, Imperial Japan surrendered in World War II, in effect bringing the war End of World War II in Asia, to an end. The ...

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. Its land area is . The highest point is Mount Balbi, on the main island, at . The much smaller Buk ...

, FPO# 158, support of

and PT Boat base *

Naval Base Banika Island Naval Base Banika Island was a United States Navy base built during World War II on Mbanika Island in the Russell Islands, part of the Solomon Islands. A larger supply depot was built to support the ships fighting in the Pacific War. Also bu ...

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 of Solomon Islands. They are located approximately northwe ...

, PT boat base, FPO# 60, built after Operation Cleanslate *

Halavo Seaplane Base Halavo Seaplane Base is a former World War II seaplane base in Halavo Bay, Nggela Islands, Florida Island, Solomon Islands. History The base was constructed by the Seabees in World War II, 6th Naval Construction Battalion commencing in January 194 ...

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

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

Island, FPO# 338, support of

Barakoma Airfield Barakoma Airfield is a former World War II airfield on Vella Lavella in the Solomon Islands (archipelago), Solomon Islands archipelago. History World War II The U.S. 35th Infantry Regiment (United States), 35th Infantry Regiment Land Battle of Ve ...

, 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 isla ...

, 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 The Battle of the Treasury Islands was a Second World War battle that took place between 27 October and 12 November 1943 on the Treasury Islands group, part of the Solomon Islands. The battle formed part of the wider Pacific War and involved New ...

, FPO# 811 * Stirling PT Boat Base in

Blanche Harbor Blanche Harbour is a natural harbour between Mono Island and Stirling Island of the Treasury Islands archipelago, located in the Western Province of Solomon Islands Solomon Islands, also known simply as the Solomons,John Prados, ''Isla ...

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

Consolidated PBY Catalina The Consolidated Model 28, more commonly known as the PBY Catalina (U.S. Navy designation), is a flying boat and amphibious aircraft designed by Consolidated Aircraft in the 1930s and 1940s. In U.S. Army service, it was designated as the OA- ...

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 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 ...

, 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), Western Province, Solomon Islands, and the List of islands by area, 203rd-largest island in the world. Since July 1978, the island has been par ...

Islands a number of bases were built: * Base at Seghe, New Georgia, FPO# 252, support o
Segi Airfield
* Base at

Munda __NOTOC__ Munda may refer to: Places India * Munda, a village in Hanumangarh district, Rajasthan, India * Munda Majra, a former village in Haryana, India * Munda Pind, a village in Punjab, India Pakistan * Munda, a village near Bilyamin in Kur ...

, New Georgia FPO# 250 support of Munda Point Airfield * Base at

Rendova Island Rendova is an island in Western Province (Solomon Islands), Western Province, in the independent nation of Solomon Islands, in the Pacific Ocean, South Pacific, east of Papua New Guinea. Geography Rendova Island is a roughly rectangular island, ...

, 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, 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 kingdom ...

, 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 ...

**Ondonga Seaplane Base with VP-14 and

New Hebrides The

New Hebrides New Hebrides, officially the New Hebrides Condominium () and named after the Hebrides in Scotland, was the colonial name for the island group in the South Pacific Ocean that is now Vanuatu. Native people had inhabited the islands for three th ...

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 New Caledonia ( ; ) is a group of islands in the southwest Pacific Ocean, southwest of Vanuatu and east of Australia. Located from Metropolitan France, it forms a Overseas France#Sui generis collectivity, ''sui generis'' collectivity of t ...

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, abandoned
Crash Strip
(The Grassy Strip) located nea

Bloody Ridge
Crash Strip Koli Point
at

Koli Point Koli may refer to: People * Koli people, Indian caste group * Koli Christians, a Christian subgroup * Muslim Kolis, Muslim community * Koli (surname), Indian surname * Koli Sewabu (born 1975), Fijian rugby union footballer Places * Koli, Fin ...

, 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 wes ...

, 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 lies ...

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

Cactus Air Force The Cactus Air Force was the ensemble of Allies of World War II, Allied air power assigned to the island of Guadalcanal from August 1942 until December 1942 during the most heavily contested phases of the Battle of Guadalcanal, Guadalcanal Campa ...

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

Grumman F4F Wildcat The Grumman F4F Wildcat is an American carrier-based A carrier-based aircraft (also known as carrier-capable aircraft, carrier-borne aircraft, carrier aircraft or aeronaval aircraft) is a naval aircraft designed for operations from aircra ...

*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 aircraft, ...

and

TBF Avenger The Grumman TBF Avenger (designated TBM for aircraft manufactured by General Motors) is an American World War II-era torpedo bomber developed initially for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, and eventually used by several air and naval av ...

*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 US Navy K-class blimp Carrier Aircraft Service Units (CASU) were United States Navy units formed during World War II for the Pacific War to support naval aircraft operations. From 1942 to 1946, 69 Carrier Aircraft Service Units were formed to ...

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 desi ...

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

VB-104 Patrol Squadron 24 (VP-24) was a Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Bombing Squadron One Hundred Four (VB-104) on 10 April 1943, redesignated as Patrol Bombing Squadron One Hundred Four (VPB-104) on 1 October 1944, ...

New Georgia Airfield

, New Georgia, after the New Georgia campaign At Ondonga Field the US Navy had stationed: *VF-17 with

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

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 aircraft, carrier-based fighter aircraft of World War II. Designed to replace the earlier Grumman F4F Wildcat, F4F Wildcat and to counter the Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero, it was the United St ...

*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

. The airfields were used to attack the Japanese on New Georgia and

. *

Banika Field Banika Field was a World War II airfield on Mbanika in the Russell Islands in the Solomon Islands. Banika Field was built and supported by Naval Base Banika Island. History A US Navy Seebee Naval Construction Battalion began construction for tw ...

, used by US Navy for

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

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 form an archipelago in Temotu Province, Solomon Islands. They lie approximately to the southeast of the Solomon Islands (archipelago), Solomon Islands archipelago, just north of the archipelago of Vanuatu and are con ...

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 vertebrates and '' Anopheles'' mosquitoes. Human malaria causes symptoms that typically include fever, fatigue, vomiting, and headaches. In severe cases, it can cause jaundice, s ...

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 warfare, naval battle during the So ...

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 campa ...

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 M ...

, destroyer converted to

* USS George E. Badger (DD-196), destroyer converted to seaplane tender * USS Williamson (DD-244), destroyer converted to seaplane tender * USS Thornton (DD-270), destroyer converted to seaplane tender * USS Goldsborough (DD-188), destroyer converted to seaplane tender *

USS Curtiss (AV-4) USS ''Curtiss'' (AV-4) was the first purpose-built seaplane tender constructed for the United States Navy. She was named for Glenn Curtiss, an American naval aviation pioneer that designed the Curtiss NC-4, the first aircraft to fly across th ...

, seaplane tender *

USS Mackinac (AVP-13) The second USS ''Mackinac'' (AVP-13) was a United States Navy small seaplane tender in commission from 1942 to 1947 that saw service during World War II. After the war, she was in commission in the United States Coast Guard from 1949 to 1967 a ...

, 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 United States Maritime Commission, Maritime Commission contract; transferred to the United St ...

, 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 C ...

, seaplane tender * USS Coos Bay, seaplane tender *

USS Dixie (AD-14) The second USS ''Dixie'' (AD-14) was the first of destroyer tender, destroyer tenders Dixie-class destroyer tender, class built for the United States Navy just before the start of the Second World War. Her objective was to assist destroyers wi ...

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 Unite ...

, destroyer tender * USS Jamestown (PG-55), PT Boat tender * USS Varuna (AGP-5), PT Boat tender * USS Niagara (PG-52), PT Boat tender * USS Willoughby (AGP-9), PT Boat tender *

USS Heron (AM-10) USS ''Heron'' (AM-10) was a 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, long ...

, 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 (POA) 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. ...

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 t ...

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,

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 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 The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines or simply the Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is responsible for conducting expeditionar ...

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