"The Pagoda" on Pagoda Hill at Henderson Field
Photos 1942–2006

Location
"The Pagoda" was a Japanese built and American improved structure located atop a small rise dubbed "Pagoda Hill" to the north of the runway at Lunga Point Airfield (Henderson Field) on Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands.

Construction
During July 1942, "The Pagoda" was built by the Japanese on a small rise to the north of the runway at Lunga Point Airfield (Henderson Field). Constructed using the trunks of Lever Brothers coconut palm trees cut down during airfield construction and available materials. The Japanese structure had two tiered roofs with eaves with a smaller upper roof and larger lower roof supported by timber supports (without walls). Likely, this structure was to be used for airfield operations once completed.

Wartime History
On August 7, 1942 this structure was captured intact by U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) and nicknamed by the Americans "The Pagoda" due to the structure's similarity to a pagoda and because it was built by the Japanese. The small rise it was situated atop was dubbed "Pagoda Hill". By late August 1942, the U.S. added wooden plank walls with windows and doors and a flag pole to raise a "condition red" flag. Nearby was a flag pole and air raid siren. This building was used by the Americans for flight operations and for communications equipment and personnel dubbed "Pagoda signals".

Aubrey C. Buser was a member of "Pagoda signals" recalls:
"At that time [during August–December 1942] everyone, regardless of rank or rate, was expected to do everything in one's power to rescue any who needed such, to drain fuel from damaged aircraft for use in flyable craft, to drag damaged equipment out of the way of aircraft seeking to land or take off from Henderson Field, to help Seabees fill in bomb or shell holes on the strip itself, to aid in replacement of mars ton matting or anything else that desperately need to be done."

By early October 1942, due to Japanese air raids and bombardments, all the radio equipment was moved into the newly completed radio tunnel. After the Japanese naval bombardment during the night of October 13-14, 1942 commanding USMC General Geiger concluded that "The Pagoda" roof was reflecting enemy flares and being used as a registration point for bombardments or as an aiming point by enemy bombers and ordered it to be bulldozed and pushed over the side of the hill immediately. On October 14, 1942 as ordered, "The Pagoda" was bulldozed and destroyed. Afterwards, the Pagoda Hill area was developed with buildings to support airfield operations.

Photos by USN/USMC circa August 7, 1942–early October 1942 / 1945