Location
Ondonga Airfield was located near on Ondonga village on the Ondongo peninsula on New Georgia. In the local language, Ondongo means "the place of death." To the south and southwest is the Diamond Narrows connecting to the Hathorn Sound to the north and west. Further to the west is Arundel Island.

Prewar
To the north was Piru Plantation planted with coconut palms harvesting copra.

Construction
Ondonga Airfield was built by U. S. Navy (USN) Seabees from the 82nd Battalion and 37th Battalion. Completed in record time from dense jungle and muddy ground to completion in only 25 days. During the construction, the area was subjected to Japanese air raids and shelling from artillery on Kolombangara.

The runway was completed on October 23, 1943 and measured 4,500' x 200'. It was immediately put into use supporting the landings at Torokina. On October 24, RNZAF P-40s of 15 Squadron and 18 Squadron arrived at the airfield, making up the 'New Zealand Fighter Wing'.

During October and November 1943, docking facilities and the base area were improved by the 20th Battalion and 47th Battalion. In November, a second runway was completed parallel to the first, 4,000' x 300' and several miles of taxiways and hardstands, revetments, a control tower and quonset-hut camp areas.

By February 1944 the 24th Battalion joined them, and 20 miles of roads were built in the area. Also, a 12,000 barrel tank farm with submarine filling line was built

Allied units based at Ondonga Airfield
United States Navy (USN)
VF-33 (F6F) - Nov 29, 1943 - ?
VF-17 (36 x F4U C. O. Tom Blackburn) Espiritu Santo/Henderson Oct. 27, 1943–December 2, 1943 Espiritu Santo
VP-12 (PBY-5A) Guadalcanal February 17 to May 17, 1944 Emirau
United States Marine Corps (USMC)
VMF-216
MABS-1 Henderson November 1943 - May 26, 1944 Munda
Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF)
15 Squadron (P-40) C. O. SL S. G. Quill October 24, 1943 - ?
18 Squadron (P-40) October 24, 1943 - ?
14 Squadron (P-40) C. O. SL J. H. Arkwright - ?
16 Squadron (P-40)
17 Squadron (P-40)

Tom Blackburn (C.O. VF-17) recalled about Ondonga:
"Clean, virtually bugless, free of snipers, and above all, near the enemy."

Today
Disused since the war.

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Last Updated
April 7, 2020