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 USN c1943  STAG-1 July 30, 1944   Justin Taylan, 2006   Justin Taylan, 2007 |
Location Banika Airfield was located on Banika Island in the Russell Islands Group (Russell Islands) in Central Province in the Solomon Islands. Also known as Banika Field, North Field or Sunlight Field or simply Fighter Strip. To the northwest is the Sunlight Channel. To the southeast across Renard Sound is Renard Field (South Field, Yandina). Prewar and during the Pacific War part of the British Solomon Islands Protectorate (BSIP). Today located in Central Province in the Solomon Islands. Prewar This location was a Lever Brothers plantation planted with coconut palm trees harvesting copra. Construction After the U.S. landing in the Russell Islands on February 21, 1943, the U.S. Navy (USN) Naval Construction Battalion (NCB) "Seabees" began building a single runway 4,200' long surfaced with crushed coral at this location. On June 30, 1943 became operational. Later, the runway was expanded to 4,700' 150' with taxiways and revetments on each side of the runway. Wartime History Banika Airfield was used by the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) fighters, U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) medium bombers and later by U.S. Navy (USN) as a forward airfield to stage for missions in the central and northern Solomon Islands. Designated as U.S. Army Post Office 709-2 (APO 709-2). America units based at Banika (North Field, Sunlight) U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) MAG-21 HQ March 1943 - ? VMF-124 (F4U) Guadalcanal arrives arrives ?–June 17, 1943 VMF-213 (F4U) Guadalcanal arrives June 17, 1943–December 9, 1943 VMF-214 (F4U) arrives July 21, 1943–September 17, 1943 departs Munda VMF(N)-531 (PV-1) arrives September 11, 1943 VMSB-144 (SBD) Henderson Field arrives June 25, 1943–July 30, 1943 departs Henderson Field U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) 42nd BG, HQ (B-25) Carney arrives October 22, 1943–Aug 7, 44 Hollandia 42nd BG, 390th BS (B-25C) Carney arrives October 21, 1943–August 22, 1944 to Stirling 42nd BG, 75th BS (B-25) Carney arrives October 21, 1943–Jan 20, 1944 Stirling 42nd BG, 390th BS (B-25) Carney arrives October 22, 1943–Aug 7, 1944 Hollandia 42nd BG, 69th BS (B-25) Plaine Des Gaiacs arrives November 10, 1943–February 19, 1944 Stirling U.S. Navy (USN) Special Task Air Group One (STAG-1) (TDR-1 Attack Drone) USA June 12, 1944–September 19, 1944 Stirling Base LVT Repair Component E20 #1 Dec 7, 1944 STAG-1 Drone Project On June 12, 1944 elements of U.S. Navy (USN), Special Task Air Group One (STAG-1) arrived at Banika, the first deployment of a guided missile unit into a combat theater to conduct combat test in the South Pacific (SOPAC). The unit conducted top secret tests of the radio controlled drones with a live television broadcast to "mother" control aircraft between June 1944 until the end of September 1944 using the Interstate TDR Assault Drone. On July 30, 1944 demonstration for USN Admiral Gunther: four TDR-1 Assault Drones are tested against the shipwreck of Yamazuki Maru beached near Cape Esperance on Guadalcanal. The point of aim was the deck with the attack commencing at 1:58pm with the first drone impacting at 2:00pm. On September 27, 1944 four drones attack shipwrecks on southern Bougainville. On October 1, 1944 eight drones to southern Bougainville area with two drones against Poporang. By January 1945, Banika Field was closed, and available for emergency landings only. Today Disused since the Pacific War, the runway and taxiways are still visible from the air. Contribute
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