Location
Lat 17 40' 0S Long 168 25' 0E  Circular island roughly in the center of the Vanuatu Islands.

Port Vila (Vila)
Pre-war town on the island, located on the south-west coast. Today, it is the capital city of Vanuatu.

US Army 24th Infantry (Black GIs) posted to Efate in April 1942, to provide defense to free more troops up to move to Guadalcanal.

Bauerfield Airfield (Via, Port Vila Airport)
Airfield north of Port Vila. Today Vanuatu's International Airport

Quoin Hill Airstrip (Fighter Strip, Quine Hill)
Wartime fighter strip, today used by light aircraft only.

F4U-1 Corsair Bureau Number 02270
Pilot Vittitoe ditched May 5, 1944

Havanah Bay (Port Havanah)
Located on the north-west coast of the island. Moso Island is directly across the bay to the north. This bay was used as a landing area for seaplanes and flying boats. Later in the war, this area was a rear area and staging point for thousands of American troops for their R&R.

Units based at Havanah Bay
RAAF No. 11 Squadron (PBY-4/5), based at Havanah Bay and Noumea until the May 1942

Havannah Harbor Airstrip (Fighter Strip)
Wartime fighter airstrip, disused since the war.

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Last Updated
October 1, 2009