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    USN c1943  USAAF October 7, 1943  USAAF October 19, 1943  USMC December 1943  USN December 27, 1943  1990 via Fellows |
Location 7° 54' 46S 156° 42' 22E Barakoma Airfield is located at sea level on the southeast corner of Vella Lavella Island, bordering Barakoma Bay to the east and to the south was Sanaparo and further to the southeast is Barakoma. Also known as simply "Fighter Strip". When built,, this was the most forward Allied airfield to Rabaul which was 349 miles away. Today located in Western Province in the Solomon Islands. Still in use today as Barakoma Airport. Construction On August 15, 1943 American forces landed at Barakoma and immediately U.S. Navy (USN) 58th Naval Construction Battalion (NCB) "Seabees" began clearing a swampy area of jungle for development into a fighter strip parallel to the southeast coast of Vella Lavella Island. Between August 19-28, 1943 Japanese aircraft attacked Allied forces in the Barakoma area losing a considerable number of aircraft and Allied fighters and anti-aircraft claimed about 50 attackers. None of the raids did considerable damage. The last recorded Japanese raid was January 16, 1944 when four bombs were dropped three miles wide of the airfield. At night, harassment raids by Japanese interfered with, but did not stop the construction. By October 25, 1943 the single runway measured 3,600 x 150' and was oriented 322° x 142° with taxiways and revetments along the inland southwest edge of the runway. Also a road was constructed from the airfield northward passing Gill's Plantation up to Lambu Lambu Cove and Horoniu. Wartime History On September 24, 1943 the first offical landing on the newly built runway was by VMF-214 "Black Sheep" F4U Corsairs piloted by Major Gregory "Pappy" Boyington and Mo Fisher. Many Marine F4U aces flew from Barakoma during its height. During late 1943 until early 1944, Barakoma Airfield was used by U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) fighter aircraft and bombers. Afterwards, squadrons moved northward to Bougainville and Nissan Airfield (Green Island). American units based
at Barakoma Airfield F4U-1A Corsair Bureau Number 55828 P-38H "Jan II" Serial Number 42-66893 Japanese missions against Barakoma Today References Contribute
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