Palikulo Bay Airfield
| Palikulo Bay Airfield | |
|---|---|
| Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides Islands | |
 | |
| Coordinates | 15°30′06″S 167°14′45″E / 15.50167°S 167.24583°E |
| Type | Military Airfield |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | United States Navy Royal New Zealand Air Force |
| Condition | abandoned |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1942 |
| Built by | Seebees |
| In use | 1942-5 |
| Materials | Coral |
Palikulo Bay Airfield or Bomber Field #1 is a former World War II airfield on the island of Espiritu Santo in the New Hebrides Islands at the Espiritu Santo Naval Base.
History
[edit]World War II
[edit]The 7th Naval Construction Battalion arrived on Santo on 11 August 1942 and began construction of more extensive air facilities to support the Guadalcanal Campaign. After completing a second fighter airfield at Turtle Bay they began constructing a bomber field at Palikulo Bay. The runway was 5,000 feet (1,500 m) by 150 feet (46 m) built of PSP over a coral base. The 15th Naval Construction Battalion arrived on Santo on 13 October 1942 and added taxiways, revetments, and a 1,000 feet (300 m) extension to the runway for air transport operation.[1]
Units of the 5th Bombardment Group based at Palikulo included the 23d Bombardment Squadron operating B-17Es and later B-24s from 1 December 1942 until 3 January 1944, and the 72d Bombardment Squadron and 394th Bombardment Squadron both operating B-17s. On 13 August B-17E #41-2463 of the 394th Bombardment Squadron piloted by Gene Roddenberry crashed on takeoff due to mechanical failure.
Navy and USMC units based at Palikulo included:
Following the sinking of the USS Wasp (CV-7) on 15 September 1942, VF-71 operating F4Fs was temporarily based at Palikulo.
On the nights of 15 and 23 October 1942 Palikulo was shelled by a Japanese submarine however no serious damage resulted.[2]
Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) units based at Palikulo included:
- No. 1 (Islands) Group Headquarters from 1 March 1943-January 1944[3]
- No. 3 Squadron operating Lockheed Hudsons from 9 October-6 December 1942[3]: 138 and later operating Lockheed Venturas in July 1944[3]: 277
- No. 9 Squadron operating Lockheed Hudsons from March 1943[3]: 163
- No. 14 Squadron operating P-40s from April–June 1943[3]: 163
- No.25 Squadron operating SBDs from 30 January to 22 March 1944
The RNZAF operated a base depot at Palikulo that assembled aircraft that arrived aboard US ships and were then assigned to RNZAF Squadrons.[3]: 277
Postwar
[edit]NOB Espiritu Santo disestablished on 12 June 1946.[4] Part of the airfield forms part of the main road along Palikulo Bay, while the remainder together with all taxiways and base facilities is largely overgrown with vegetation.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ 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. 228.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ Stone, Peter (1997). The Lady and the President: The life and loss of the S.S. President Coolidge. Oceans Enterprises. p. 67. ISBN 9780958665728.
- ^ a b c d e f Ross, John (1955). Royal New Zealand Air Force. Historical Publications Branch. p. 160. ISBN 0898391873.
- ^ Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons - Volume 2. Naval Historical Center. p. 757.
