Location
Located at Munda Point at Munda on the southern coast of New Georgia. The high ground above the area is Kokenggololo Hill. Since 1902 the land at Munda Point was Methodist
mission, planted with coconut palms.
Construction
A Japanese directive in late October 1942 called for an air
base to be built at Munda Point, about 150 miles northwest of
Guadalcanal and Henderson Field.
Construction began in mid-November
with a great emphasis on keeping the forward airfield secret.
The majority of airfield work done before clearing the
main runway and surfacing it with crushed coral. By wiring the tops of palm trees to keep them in
place, allowing work to initially escape detection. Finally the
trunks were cut away, and runway completed.
Despite these efforts,
reports of the strip were relayed to Guadalcanal via coastwatcher Danny Kennedy
and aerial reconnaissance spotted
increased barge traffic and evidence of crushed coral being prepared
at the strip, but the Japanese succeeded in buying enough
time to complete a single 1094 x 44 yard all weather runway for
fighters operational on December 17, 1942. Once completed,
a 1,500' extension for bombers was begun, and a satellite field
at Vila.
Japanese Usage
Opened for usage on December 1, 1942. Until the American landings, it was used by the Japanese Navy and Japanese Army Air Force aircraft used the airfield as a forward operating base. As soon as it was operational, the airfield was hampered by the observation of coastwatchers in the area, including Kennedy and D.C. Horton who was observing the strip from Rendova. It was heavily bombed from the air prior to the American landing.
The first unit to occupy the airfield was the 252nd Kokutai (Zero) from December 22 - 25 advanced to the airfield. On December 29th, due to heavy bombing, all the pilots were picked up by 9 Zeros and 4 Bettys and transported back to Rabaul. Other units inclued the 204th Kokutai (Zero), 582nd Kokutai (Val), 11th Sentai (Oscar) used the airfield.
Natives loyal to the coastwatcher heard engines warming up as late as March 1943 at the airfield and observed aircraft on the ground in reconnaissance flights. These later flights were probably liaison / transport flights with escorts. Emergency landings occurred at Munda until it fell to the Americans. A Ki-21 Sally crash landed at Munda Airfield in July 1943.
Japanese Units Based at Munda
252nd Kokutai (A6M) December 23 - 29, 1942
No other units were permanently based there, but other JAAF and IJN units transited through Munda as a forward operating base.
American Missions Against Munda
December 2, 1942 - August 1, 1943
American Occupation
Munda airfield was the principal objective
of Central Solomons campaign, also known as Munda or Munda Point Airfield. Captured by the US Army XIV Corps forces after 12 continuous days
of fierce fighting in the jungle area. The high ground around the airfield fell on August 5, 1943.
American Expansion
Americans improved and expanded the airbase for their own operations. The first American aircraft landed at Munda on August 14, 1943 with landings by F4U piloted by Robert Owen of VMF-215, a 44th FS P-40 and J2F with Brig General J.P. Mulcahy aboard.
American Units Based at Munda:
(partial list only, know of others? Email me)
USN
VC-24 (SBD x 24) November 1943
VC-40 (TBF)
VF-33 (F6F)
VF-38 (F6F) September 1943
CASU 14 (Carrier Aircraft Service Unit)
VB-98 (SBD) 1944
VB-148 (PV-1) ? - April 1944
VB-140 (PV-1) April 1944 - ?
USMC
ComAir New Georgia
VMSB-236 (SBD) Henderson Nov 25, 43 - ? Green Island
VMF 124
VMF-213 (F4U)
VMF 214 (F4U) September 7, 1943 -
VMF 215 (F4U) C.O. Major Robert Owen July 1943 - ? Barakoma
VMF 221 (F4U)
MABS-1 from Ondonga May 26, 44 - May 45 to Peleliu
VMSB-142 (TBF)
VMTB-143 (TBF) Henderson Field ? - June 1944 USA
VMTB-232 (TBF) 1944
VMSB-341 (SBD) 1944
VMTB-143 (TBF) 1944
USAAF 13th AF
4th PRG, 17th PRS (F-5s detachment ) Guadalcanal March 9 - Apr 1, 44
Guadalcanal
5th BG, HQ (B-24s) Espiritu Santo January 9 - April 7, 44 to Momote
5th BG, 72nd BS (B-24s) Espiritu Santo January 9 - April 15, 44 to Momote
5th BG, 23rd BS (B-24s) Espiritu Santo January 3 - Apr 16, 44 to Momote
5th BG 394th BS (B-24s) Guadalcanal February 24 - Apr 9, 44 to Guadalcanal
307th
BG. 370th BS Carney Nov 43 - May 13, 44 to Los
Negros
307th
BG, 371st BS Carney Nov 43 - May 13, 44 to Los
Negros
307th
BG, 372d BS Carney Nov 43 - May 13, 44 to Los
Negros
307th
BG, 424th BS Carney Nov 43 - May 13, 44 to Los
Negros
868th BS (SB-24 Snooper) Jan 1 - March 20, 1944
to Los Negros
Japanese Missions Against Munda
July 2, 1943 - July 4, 1943
By July 1945, the airstrip was 8,000' x 300'. the airfield was still in use, with limited accommodations for transient and emergency landings, and minor repairs. The field offered fuel and oil by truck delivery.
Today
The airfield is still in by for regional flights by Solomon Airlines.
Kokengola Hill (Kokenggolol)
Located behind the airfield, it was known as 'Bomb Hill' (Bakudan) by the Japanese due to the heavy raids against it.
The last fighting around Munda occupied here, on the fortified high ground, which fell on August 5, 1943. After the American occupation a control tower was built there.
Japanese Aircraft Captured at Munda
Many Japanese aircraft were disabled on the ground at Munda from American bombing. When they airfield was captured, they fell into the possession of the Americans including both the Navy and Army examples. The following Japanese aircraft were surveyed at Munda in August 1943 by US Army Technical Air Intelligence Unit (TAIU): 1 x Ki-48, 4 x D3A Val, 14 x A6M Zeros 4 x Ki-43. Some of the wrecks were loaded onto barge and transported to Guadalcanal. The remaining wrecks deemed too difficult to repair or otherwise useless were buried at Munda, to repair bomb craters as land fill material.
A6M2 Model 21 Manufacture Number 2182
Nakajima built.
A6M2 Model 21 Manufacture Number 1301
Nakajima built.
A6M2 Model 21 Manufacture Number 1302
Nakajima built.
A6M2 Model 21 Manufacture Number 8327
Nakajima built.
A6M2 Model 21 Manufacture Number 2389
Nakajima built.
A6M2 Model 21 Manufacture Number 5352
Nakajima built.
A6M3 Model 22 Manufacture Number 3415
This aircraftt was possibly A6M3 Zero Tail Code T2-17?
A6M3 Model 22 Manufacture Number 3499
This aircraftt was possibly A6M3 Zero Tail Code T2-17?
A6M3 Model 32 Manufacture Number 3116
This aircraft was possibly A6M3 Tail Code T2-157
A6M3 Model 32 Manufacture Number 3189
This aircraft was possibly A6M3 Tail Code T2-157
A6M3 Model 32 Manufacture Number 3196
A6M3 Model 32 Manufacture Number 3199
A6M3 Model 32 Manufacture Number 3202
A6M3 Model 32 Manufacture Number 3263
Ki-43-I Oscar Manufacture Number 493
Ki-43-I Oscar 685
Ki-43-I Oscar 695
Ki-43-I Oscar 725
Ki-48-I Manufacture Number 534
Ki-48-I Lily Manufacture Number 205
Ki-48-I Lily Manufacture Number 387
Ki-48-I Lily Manufacture Number 442
Ki-48-I Lily Manufacture Number 479
Ki-48 Lily Tail Number TB 2325
Ki-48 Lily Tail Number TB 2326
D3A1 Val Manufacture Number 3470 Tail T3-261
D3A2 Val Manufacture Number 3029 Tail T2-222
D3A2 Val Manufacture Number 3106
D3A2 Val Manufacture Number 3263
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Last Updated
November 2, 2009
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