|
 |
|
|
| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
| Chronology | Locations | Aircraft | Ships | Submit Info | How You Can Help | Donate |
|
 IJN May 1942  USMC Dec 9, 1942  USAAF March 29, 1943  USN Oct 18, 1943  USN c1943  1975  Peter Flahavin 2004  John Innes 2005 |
Location Fighter 2 (Kukum Field) is located at Kukum along the north coast of Guadalcanal bordering the Sealark Channel and Iron Bottom Sound to the north, Kukum is located roughly 1.5 miles west of Henderson Field and two miles south-west of Lunga Point. Also known as "Fighter 2 Airfield", "Fighter 2 Field" or "Kukum Field". Construction Built by American forces. Initially, a single inland runway was built surfaced with Marston Matting (PSP) running roughly east to west. Later a second parallel runway was built nearer to the the sea. Extensive taxiways and revetments were built along each runway and further to the south. A second runway was built close to the sea of crushed coral. The base was surrounded by coconut palms, with servicing and living areas located to the south of the runways. Wartime History During the Guadalcanal Campaign, Fighter 2 (Kukum) was primarily used as a fighter strip and preferred by pilots, as the landing approach and take off were the sea, exposing them to the least chance of fire from the Japanese. Used by by U.S. Navy and U.S. Army Air Force fighter aircraft during the Solomons campaign. On April 18, 1943 During "Operation Peacock" the "Yamamto Mission", P-38G Lightnings from 339th Fighter Squadron (339th FS) took off and landed at Fighter 2 . Also used by the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) during 1943. American units based at Fighter 2 (partial list) USAAF 13th AF 4th PRG, 17th PRS (F-5) Nouméa arrives February 1943–December 11, 1943 departs Torokina 347th FG, 68th FS 18th FG, 12th FS (P-39, P-38) Efaté arrives Feb 7, 1943–February 19, 1944 departs Stirling, returns Aug 1, 1944 347th FG, 339th FS (P-38) New Caledonia arrives Oct 3, 1942 (det)–Dec 1, 1943 New Caledonia returns Dec 29, 1943–January 15, 1944 departs Stirling Airfield Nov 12, 1942 - [April 12, 1943 to Fiji Feb 4, 1944 to Bougainville] USN VMF-124 (F4F) February 12, 1943 - ? RNZAF No. 15 Squadron (P-40) April 26, 1943–? No. 14 Squadron (P-40) Espiritu Santo arrives June 10, 1943–July 24, 1943 No. 16 Squadron (P-40) arrives July 25, 1943–September 1943 No. 17 Squadron (P-40) No. 23 Squadron (F4U) Palikulo Field arrives Oct 1944–Nov 1944, returns February 1945–March 1945 Emirau Stan Jersey adds: "A sailor who was part of ACORN ( Red) One and was with the 14th NCB reaching Guadalcanal on November 12 1942. In his email to me the VFM-124 (F4Fs) landed at Fighter 2 on February 12, 1943 and was the first squadron to arrive" Postwar Postwar, Kukum Airfield used as Guadalcanal's main airport until 1969 when Henderson Field was reopened as the national airport, and Kukum was closed. Today The airfield now the Honiara Golf Course, and an industrial area of warehouses. "They are constructing a soccer academy about 500 yards inland from Kukum strip. As they are digging, the foundations they are uncovering what would have been part of that Kukum (Fighter Two) complex. Contribute
Information Last Updated
|
 Photo Archive  View on Google Earth |
| Discussion Forum | Daily Updates | Reviews | Museums | Interviews & Oral Histories |
|
