Pacific Wrecks

Missing In Action (MIA)

Prisoners Of War (POW)

Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)

Chronology

Palm Island Seaplane Base (NAS Palm Island) Queensland Australia

Justin Taylan 2006

Location
Located at the southwest corner of Palm Island. Also known as "NAS Palm Island" or "Palm Island Naval Air Station".

Construction
In early 1943, the US Navy base and repair facilities located here, including slipway and hanger facilities. Also, a repair base for the USN Fleet Air Wing 17 that operated PBY Catalinas.

American units Based at Palm Island
VP-34 (PBY) Relocated to Palm Island, under the operational control of FAW-17 starting Dec 18, 1943, with forward bases at Port Moresby and Samarai

VP-101 (PBY) Squadron headquarters were established at Palm Island, with advance bases at Port Moresby and Samarai

VP-11 (PBY) After Guadalcanal, based at Palm Island.

Postwar
At the end of the war, all the aircraft remaining there were sunk, bulldozed or rendered unserviceable and abandoned. Disused since the war.

Catalina Wreckage
PBY Catalina part were abandoned at Palm Island. A variety of aircraft wreckage was recovered in 1998 by RAAF Amberly for their restoration of PBV-1A Canso CV369. Despite nearly a half century exposed to the elements, many of the components were in mint condition and will be used in this beautiful restoration. Recovered were PBY, and Super Catalina parts. The pontoon was used as a canoe by islanders.

Contribute Information
Do you have photos or additional information to add?

Last Updated
July 19, 2024

Interviews & Oral Histories