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Palikulo Bay Airfield

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Palikulo Bay Airfield
Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides Islands
Coordinates15°30′06″S 167°14′45″E / 15.50167°S 167.24583°E / -15.50167; 167.24583
TypeMilitary Airfield
Site information
Controlled byUnited States Navy
Royal New Zealand Air Force
Conditionabandoned
Site history
Built1942
Built bySeebees
In use1942-5
MaterialsCoral

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

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World War II

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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:

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 

An RNZAF SBD-4 being serviced by ground personnel on Santo in 1943

Postwar

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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

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References

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  1. ^ 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.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ Stone, Peter (1997). The Lady and the President: The life and loss of the S.S. President Coolidge. Oceans Enterprises. p. 67. ISBN 9780958665728.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Ross, John (1955). Royal New Zealand Air Force. Historical Publications Branch. p. 160. ISBN 0898391873.
  4. ^ Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons - Volume 2. Naval Historical Center. p. 757.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.