Santo-Pekoa International Airport

Santo-Pekoa International Airport
IATA: SON – ICAO: NVSS SON Location of airport in Vanuatu
Summary
Operator		Airports Vanuatu Limited
Location		Luganville, Vanuatu
Elevation AMSL		184 ft / 56 m
Coordinates		15°30′18.12″S 167°13′11.07″E
Runways
Direction	Length		Surface
	ft	m
12/30	6,523	1,988	Asphalt
Source: World Aero Data [1]

Boeing B-17F 41-24457 (Aztec's Curse), 11th Bomb Group, 26th Bomb Squadron from Luganville Airfield, Espiritu Santo, flying over Rendova, Solomon Islands 5 October 1942 after a raid of Japanese-held positions on Gizo Island.

Santo-Pekoa International Airport is an airport in Luganville on Espiritu Santo in Vanuatu (IATA: SON, ICAO: NVSS). Airports Vanuatu Limited provides aviation services for the airport.

Airlines and destinations

Airlines	Destinations
Air Vanuatu	Brisbane, Gaua, Longana, Lonorore, Norsup, Olpoi, Port Vila, Sola, Sydney, Walaha

History

During World War II, the airport was known as "Luganville Airfield", "Bomber Field No. 2" or "Pekoa Field". It was built by the Americans on a prewar plantation.

Large numbers of Americans and aircraft used these airfields as a staging area prior to moving north into the Solomon Islands. Units assigned were:

• Headquarters, XIII Bomber Command, 13 January-20 August 1943
• Headquarters, XIII Fighter Command, 22 January-December 1943
• 5th Bombardment Group, 1 December 1942-19 August 1943
• 11th Bombardment Group, 22 July 1942-8 April 1943
• 18th Fighter Group, 11 March-17 April 1943
• 4th Reconnaissance Group, 23 January 1943-6 May 1944
• 403d Troop Carrier Group, 13 September 1943-30 August 1944

There were originally three wartime airfields on Espiritu Santo, "Bomber 1" (Pallikulo, Palikulo Field, Fighter 1), Turtle Bay Airfield and Pekoa. Today, Pekoa is the remaining wartime airfield which is still being used as an airport.

See also

• USAAF in the South Pacific

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

• Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-89201-092-4.
• Mauer, Mauer (1969), Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II, Air Force Historical Studies Office, Maxwell AFB, Alabama. ISBN 0-89201-097-5

External links

• Airports Vanuatu Ltd.