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Location Lat 21° 27' 2N 157° 46' 5W Kaneohe Field is located at an elevation of 24' above sea level on the Mokapu peninsula north of Kaneohe (Kāneʻohe) bordering Kaneohe Bay (Kāneʻohe Bay) on the northeastern coast of Oahu in Hawaii in the United States of America (USA). Also known as NAS Kaneohe Bay. Today known as MCAF Kaneohe Bay. Construction During 1939, the U.S. Navy constructed a small seaplane base at this location. Naval Air Station Kaneohe Bay was used as a seaplane base including the administration of the Kaneohe Bay Naval Defense Sea Area. Wartime History On December 7, 1941 Kaneohe was attacked by Japanese aircraft from the first wavy including B5N Kate torpedo bombers that targeted the airfield and facilities, approximately nine minutes prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor. During the attack, 27 of the 36 PBY-5 Catalinas at Kaneohe were destroyed and an additional six were damaged including PBY-5 Catalina 2357, PBY-5 Catalina 2359, PBY-5 Catalina 2361, PBY-5 Catalina 2362, PBY-5 Catalina 2363 (sunk but later salvaged and rebuilt), PBY-5 Catalina 2364, PBY-5 Catalina 2365 and PBY-5 Catalina 2369. On the ground, eighteen sailors were killed during the attack. Starting on December 25, 1941 two plane detachments from Kaneohe began flying patrols to Palmyra to patrol the shipping and aerial ferry route. During the duration of the war, Kaneohe was an important base for training operations for Navy and Army aircraft. On January 26, 1943 P-40E Warhawks from the 73rd Fighter Squadron, 318th Fighter Group, escorted by three LB-30s fly from Midway to Kaneohe, a distance of roughly 1,100 nautical miles. On February 6, 1945, Chief of Naval Operations directed that, following a period of training at NAS Kaneohe Bay, VPB 109, VPB 123, and VPB 124 of Fleet Air Wing 2 be equipped to employ the SWOD Mark 9, Bat, glide bomb in combat. U.S. Navy (USN) units based at Kaneohe VB-3 (SBD) USS Saratoga (CV-3) arrives February 15, 1942–April 10, 1942 departs USS Saratoga (CV-3) returns April 30, 1942–May 29, 1942 departs USS Yorktown (CV-5) Patrol Wing 1 ? September 19, 1942 South Pacific VP-14 (PBY) 318th FG, 73rd FS (P-40E) Midway arrives January 26, 1943–May 5, 1943 departs Mokuleia VP-137 (PV-1) Ford Island August 9, 1944 - October 15, 1944 Mokerang VPB-149 (PV-1) January 1945 with six plane detachment at Sand Island Postwar During 1951, the Marine Corps assumed command of the installation when they moved from NAS Barbers Point to this location and the base was commissioned as Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay. Today During 1994, renamed Marine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH). Still in use today as a military airfield MCAF Kaneohe Bay. The single runway is oriented 22/04 measures 7,771' x 200' surfaced with asphalt. Airport codes FAA: NGF ICAO: PHNG IATA: NGF. The base is generally considered off limits to civilians or tourists. The wrecks of two PBY Catalinas remain in Kaneohe Bay including an unidentified PBY-5 Catalina wreck one of two sunk on December 7, 1941. References USMC - Marine Corps Base Hawaii official website Contribute
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