Location
Jenkins Bay borders the northern coast of Sariba Island to the east of Samarai Island and Milne Bay. Today located in Milne Bay Province in Papua New
Guinea (PNG).
Wartime History
During August 1943, U.S. Navy (USN), 84th Naval Construction Battalion "SeaBees" was assigned the task of building a small seaplane operating base in Jenkins Bay, consisting of a camp for 130 men, a small boat pier, communications building, offices, and general storehouses."
Maxine Nadile adds:
"I come from Sariba Island. My village is called Sawasawaga. They set up camp at our site and constructed a mess, bathroom facilities as well as a dam. The concrete floor for the mess still remains and there's a pontoon buried in the sea in front of the village. They also left engraved in the cement for the dam, the following: U.S. Navy 1943, 84 By BA C.B. My grandfather often speaks of the Americans."
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Last Updated
October 23, 2019
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