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  USN 1944  USN August 1945 |
Location Majuro Airfield was located on Dalop Island (Salome Island) on the eastern tip of Majuro Atoll and bordered by Majuro Lagoon. Nearby Uliga Island and Darrit Island contained base facilities, camps and port director's area. Although named Majuro Airfield it was not located on Majuro Island. Construction Built by the Japanese using Korean and Marshallese laborers. By late 1942 a single runway 5,800' by 445' surfaced with coral spanning the length of the island was completed and the laborers were sent to Mili Atoll. American Usage On January 30, 1944 U.S. forces made an amphibious landing at Majuro Atoll, the airfield was briefly a battlefield until secured by February 2, 1944. Immediately, the Americans repaired and further developed the airfield into a major base. The U.S. Navy 100th Construction Battalion (Seabees) repaired and expanded the single crushed coral runway to 5,800' x 445' runway and adding revetments. The airfield was operational by D-Day +12 for emergency landings. By April 15, 1944 the runway, taxiways, aprons, housing, shops, and piers were completed. Additional construction included ten miles of coral roadways and 11,000' of 30' coral causeways connecting to Majuro to adjacent islands. By the middle of March 1944, USN and USMC fighters, bombers and seaplanes were operating from Majuro Airfield. The 4th Marine Air Wing (MAW-4) Headquarters and Marine Air Group 13 (MAG-13) were based at Majuro. Also, the airfield accommodated two Marine dive bomber squadrons, half a patrol squadron, and was the temporary staging base for one Army fighter group. On May 29, 1944 an aerial photo shows 274 aircraft parked at the airfield. American units based at Majuro During 1944, Majuro was used as a staging base for re-arming and re-fueling for U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) 7th Air Force (7th AF) B-24 Liberators and B-25 Mitchells flying missions from at Makin and Eniwetok. In February 1944, U.S. Navy Construction Battalion Detachment 1034 (Seabees) arrived with six officers and 250 men handled all cargo operations until August 1944, when they moved to Japtan Island in Eniwetok Atoll. The 60th Battalion performed all construction and maintenance work until relieved by CBMU 591 on June 18, 1944. The 60th departed Majuro on July 5, 1944 for Pearl Harbor while CBMU 591 remained to take care of construction and maintenance. By August 15, 1945 on V-J Day, all facilities were still operating at capacity and no roll-up steps had been taken to close down the base. Contribute
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