Pacific Wrecks
Pacific Wrecks    
  Missing In Action (MIA) Prisoners Of War (POW) Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)  
Chronology Locations Aircraft Ships Submit Info How You Can Help Donate
 
    Majuro Airfield Majuro Marshall Islands
Click For Enlargement
Click For Enlargement
USN 1944

Click For Enlargement
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
VF-39 (F6F Hellcat)
VMF-155 (F4U) 1945
|VMF-224 late 1944
VMSB-231 (SB2C Helldivers) 1945

In addition, it used by Naval Air Transport Service (NATS) and the island provided medical facilities and a LORAN transmitting station. Repair ships, submarine and destroyer tenders, together with tankers and supply ships, were to provide for the needs of the fleet.

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.

Today
Disused since the Pacific War. Built postwar, Majuro Airport (Marshall Islands International Airport, New Airport) is located further to the west on Majuro Island.

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

Last Updated
July 19, 2024

 

Map
Map 1944

Photos

Photo Archive
  Discussion Forum Daily Updates Reviews Museums Interviews & Oral Histories  
 
Pacific Wrecks Inc. All rights reserved.
Donate Now Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram