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Location
Lat
7° 34' 0S Long 158° 43' 60E Also spelled Rakata Bay on post war maps. The Japanese referred to the area as Re-ka-ta, using those three katakana characters. Located on the eastern
coast of Santa Isabel Island. Rekata Bay encompasses Suavanao Point (Suavanau). Directly to the east across Rekata Bay is Papatura Island (Papatura Fa). Located exactly 135 miles to the north-east of Lunga
Point (Henderson Field).
Suavanao (Suavanau)
Point bordering Rekata Bay. Defenses and facilities were located at this location.
Rekata
Bay Seaplane Base
Japanese forward seaplane base, located
along to the west of Suavanau Point.
Suavanao Airport
Airfield built in the early 1990s by the logging company for operations in the area.
Wartime History
Occupied by the Japanese, Kamikawa Maru and Kiyokawa Maru went to Rekata Bay to support the landings at Tulagi in early May 1942. Developed into a seaplane base, and ditching point for aircrews returning with damage from Guadalcanal.
R Area Air Force
By September 12, 1942 The "R Area Air Force" has nine E13A1 plus F1M2 and A6M2-N aircraft. By October 8, 1942, The R Area Air Force's strength was then 12 F1M2 Petes from the Kunikawa Maru, Sanuki Maru and Sanyo Maru. Plus, the Chitose Air Group of five A6M2-N Rufes from the Kamikawa Maru Air Group and nine E13A1 Jakes from the Chitose Maru and Sanyo Maru Air Groups. Other ships provide two more F1M2s, two E13A1s and nine E7K2 Alfs.
On October 13, 1942, one G4M1 Betty of the 751st Kokutai ditches at Rekata.
Abandoned Base
Japanese forces evacuated the area during early September 1943.
The Allies visited Rekata in early September - October 1943 and surveyed the area. Later, around July 1945, RNZAF Catalina of 5 Squadron went
up to Rekata bay for a picnic and to inspect the former Japanese
base. On this visit, one of the group went missing (attributed
to saltwater crocodile). The group took some photos of
area. (Thanks to Ewan Stevenson for this information.)
Today
It was abandoned after the war. During the 1990's a logging operation
began operations nearby, and developed a Suavanao Airstrip and camp area. Logging ceased during the 1990s and resumed more recently by the company 'Earthmovers' in 2003 and continues to this day.
Papatura Island (Papatura Fa)
Large, flat island to the north of Rekata Bay and Suavanao with a mangrove cover shore. Prewar, there was a Burns Phillips copra plantation at this location, known as Papatura Plantation. Japanese maintained some limited facilities on the south-western shore, nearest to Rekata Bay.
 Ekiti Island
Small island to the west of Papatura, due north of Rekata Bay. Japanese maintained some limited wartime facilities on the island.
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Last Updated
November 17, 2009
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