Luganville Seaplane Base
| Luganville Seaplane Base | |
|---|---|
| Espiritu Santo,New Hebrides Islands | |
 PBY Catalinasat the Luganville Seaplane Base Ramp in February 1942 | |
| Coordinates | 15°33′18″S167°08′49.2″E/ 15.55500°S 167.147000°E |
| Type | Military Seaplane Base |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | United States Navy |
| Condition | abandoned |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1942 |
| Built by | Seebees |
| In use | 1942-5 |
Luganville Seaplane Baseis a formerWorld War IIseaplane base in theSegond Channelbetween the islands ofEspiritu SantoandAore Islandin theNew Hebrides Islandsat theEspiritu Santo Naval Base.
History
[edit]World War II
[edit]The first bases on Espiritu Santo were established by the United States as defensive bases to guard the existing facility atEfateand to support theSolomon Islands Campaign,however its strategic location led to its expansion into one of the largest advance bases in the South Pacific.[1] The7th Naval Construction Battalionarrived on Santo on 11 August 1942 and began construction of more extensive air facilities to support theGuadalcanal Campaign.The 7th Battalion constructed a parking area, two pre-fabricated 85 feet (26 m) by 100 feet (30 m) nose hangars, warehouses, quonset huts and two seaplane ramps at Belchif Point on the Segond Channel between the Renee and Sarakata Rivers.[2]The 57th Naval Construction Battalion later built two seaplane drydocks at the base.[2]: 232
United States Navyunits based at the base included:
- VP-1111 August 1942 – 1 February 1943[3]
- VP-1214 June-30 July 1944[3]: 115
- VP-141 September-10 December 1943[3]: 584
- VP-2315 July-1 October 1942 and 24 June-20 August 1943[3]: 430
- VP-241 February-29 September 1943[3]: 436
- VP-541 August-10 November 1944[3]: 477–8
- VP-724 September 1942 - 6 July 1943[3]: 195
- VP-914 September 1942 - March 1943[3]: 494
all operatingPBYs.
US Navy ships supporting seaplane operations included:
- USSCurtiss11 August 1942 – 9 July 1943.[3]: 402
- USSMackinacAugust–November 1942
- USSTangier28 February-12 August 1943
- USSWrightOctober 1945[3]: 584
Royal New Zealand Air Forceunits operating from the base included:
- No. 5 Squadronoperating PBYs from 10 November 1944[3]: 477–8
- No. 6 Squadronoperating PBYs from November 1943
Postwar
[edit]NOB Espiritu Santo disestablished on 12 June 1946.[3]: 757 The base's onshore facilities are now overgrown and are under private ownership. Erosion caused byCyclone Haroldin April 2020 revealed details of the layout of the base, including exposing one of the seaplane ramps.[4]
See also
[edit]- Luganville Airfield
- Palikulo Bay Airfield
- Santo-Pekoa International Airport
- Turtle Bay Airfield
- Seabees
References
[edit]- ^Stone, Peter (1997).The Lady and the President: The life and loss of the S.S. President Coolidge.Oceans Enterprises. p. 51.ISBN9780958665728.
- ^abBuilding 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. 230.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
- ^abcdefghijklDictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons - Volume 2.Naval Historical Center. p. 402.This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
- ^"Cyclone Harold uncovers treasure trove of World War II US military relics in Vanuatu".ABC News Australia. 6 May 2020.Retrieved13 May2020.