Location
Located on the southern coast of Kairiru Island, near St. John's Mission, to the east of the ship jetty. Also known as Barakam.

Wartime History
Japanese Navy seaplane base. The base had limited or minimal facilities, with mooring near the sandy shore. Based F1M2 Pete biplanes. On March 21, 1944, the area was heavily bombed, destroying most of the buildings and area.

Japanese Units based at Kairiru
958th Kokutai (detachment F1M2)

Tetsuo Watanabe in The Naval Land Unit that Vanished in the Jungle:
"The seaplanes had been engaged in spotting duties, mainly spotting submarines, but most were downed except one transferred to Hollandia in April 1944. Probably this plane was also destroyed when the Americans landed there."

Today
Abandoned as a base since the war, the land is owned by Catholic mission. In a small swamp are small pieces from several Pete seaplanes, including firewalls, and pieces of wreckage and two pontoons.

F1M2 Pete
Fuselage section abandoned at the base

F1M2 Pete
Sunk offshore upside down

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Last Updated
October 1, 2009