Location
Located in the northern half of the island.
Construction
In
order to build their airbase, the Japanese cleared every
tree and bush on Falalop, turing the entire island into
an airfield. The single runway runs roughly east to west.
American Base
The 51st Sea Bee Battalion disembarked on October 8, 1944, with 797
enlisted men and 28 officers, and was assigned the task of
widening, lengthening, and improving the Japanese airfield
on Falalop Island. Marine Aircraft Group 45, consisting of Service Squadron 45 and Headquarter Squadron 45 and arrived at Falalop Island shortly after it was secured by the U.S. Army in late September 1944.
Stan Parker, MAG 45 adds:
"At the time we landed the island was completely without any type of facilities. A Seabee unit landed with us, and shortly began preparing the island for use as a headquarters base, and air strip. Marine Aircraft Group 45 provided logistics , supplies , maintenance and numerous other facilities for both Navy and Marine aircraft units operating from the airbase. Several Marine Fighter Squadrons, were attached to Group 45 for varying periods of time including VMF(N) 542 (Night Fighter), and VMTB 232. (Torpedo Bomber). Marine Aircraft Group 45 maintained a base of operations continuously until the island was physically disbanded in approximately late October 1945. At that time the island was returned to it's original state with removal of all evidence of occupation, including buildings, equipment etc. Marine Aircraft Group personnel then sailed for the United States, on the troop ship Botetort arriving in San Francisco in late November 1945."
A 3,500' by 150' runway was completed
in 27 days. The east end of the strip extended approximately
20 feet past the natural shoreline of the island, log cribs
being used as foundation for this addition to the island.
The first plane landed on the strip 15 days after work was
begun. Six taxiways were constructed; one, 4,000 by 100 feet;
and one, 3,250 by 700 feet; and four, 500 by 100 feet. Also
installed were hardstands, lighting, a traffic-control tower,
operations buildings, aviation-gasoline ready tanks, and a
tank farm; all work was completed by December 1, 1944. Pontoon piers installed by the 51st Battalion to be
used as aviation-gasoline mooring piers near the main airfield. Also, the 88th Battalion C, D and 1/2 of HQ company built shore facilities.
On November 8, 1944, CBMU 603 arrived, and
in addition to general maintenance of the airstrip and taxiways,
constructed a sewage-disposal system for the Marines and for
the Seabees galleys. Construction of a 3,000-man galley, a
refrigeration storage building, a butcher shop, an issue room,
a bakery an officers’ mess, and shops for a landing craft
unit was another important task. Other construction included
enlarging and improving a finger pier and the removal of 10,000
cubic yards of coral to improve beaching facilities for landing
craft. With the departure of the other battalions, CBMU 603
took over all duties of construction, maintenance, and stevedoring. On V-J Day, this base was still operating
at capacity, with CBMU 603 still attached.
Units Based at Falalop
VMD-354 (F4U Photo Recon)
VPB-23 (PBY) December 7, 1944 - end of war
VMF(N) 542 (F6F-3N) October 8, 1944 - February 15, 1945 to Okinawa
Light Plane Airstrip
A strip for light plane operations between the islands
of the atoll were built between December 12, 1944, and January
27, 1945.
Today
The airfield is still in use to this day.
References
Thanks to Frank O'Hara for info on VMF(N) 542
