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 USN Sept 15, 1942  5th BG August 1943  RNZAF August 5, 1945  RNZAF Aug 28, 1945  Justin Taylan 2006 |
Location Lat 7° 34' 0S Long 158° 43' 60E Rekata Bay is located on the northwestern coast of Santa Isabel Island (Isabel). Also spelled Rakata. The Japanese referred to the location as "Re-ka-ta" using those three katakana characters. Rekata Bay encompasses Suavanao Point (Suavanau). Directly to the east across Rekata Bay is Papatura Island (Papatura Fa). This location is exactly 135 miles northeast of Lunga Point (Henderson Field) on Guadalcanal. Also incorrectly spelled "Rakata Bay" on some maps. Prewar and during the Pacific War part of the British Solomon Islands Protectorate (BSIP). Today, located in Santa Isabel Province (Isabel Province) in the Solomon Islands. Wartime History On May 2, 1942 Japanese occupied Rekata Bay and developed the area into a base area to support seaplane operations. Attacked by Allied aircraft between August 7, 1942 until August 16, 1943. Wartime History During early May 1942, two Japanese seaplane tenders: Kamikawa Maru and Kiyokawa Maru arrived at Rekata Bay to support the landing at Tulagi. Afterwards, Rekata Bay area was developed by the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) into a forward operating base for seaplanes and flying boats with limited shore facilities and moorings to support operations. The area was defended by light anti-aircraft guns emplaced on Suavanao Point. During the Guadalcanal campaign, the "R Area Air Force" operated from this location as a forward seaplane base for missions over Tulagi, Guadalcanal and the southern Solomon Islands. Rekata Bay was also used as a ditching location for damaged Japanese aircraft and their pilots and air crews could be quickly returned to their units. Allied missions against Rekata Bay August 5, 1942–August 16, 1943 By September 12, 1942 the "R Area Air Force" has nine E13A1 plus F1M2 and A6M2-N aircraft. By October 8, 1942, the R Area Air Force included 12 F1M2 Petes from the Kunikawa Maru, Sanuki Maru and Sanyo Maru. Five A6M2-N Rufes from the Chitose Maru Air Group from Kamikawa Maru Air Group. Nine E13A1 Jakes from the Chitose Maru Air Group and Sanyo Maru. Other ships provide seaplanes including two F1M2s, two E13A1s and nine E7K2 Alfs. On October 13, 1942 returning from a mission G4M1 Betty from 751 Kokutai ditched into Rekata Bay. Japanese Evacuation Between August 1943 to September 1943 the area was evacuated by the Japanese using barges following the American landing on Villa Lavella and Japanese defeat on New Georgia Island. Japanese aircraft abandoned at Rekata Bay After the Japanese withdrew from Rekata, American survey teams reviewed aircraft wrecks left in the area in late 1943. It is unclear if any of the wrecks were removed, most likely they were only studied. Crashed Enemy Aircraft Report (CEAR) No. 17 dated February 15, 1944, from the Office of the Assistant Chief of Air Staff, Intelligence, Washington D.C., reports the aircraft found in the Rekata Bay area by Allied crash intelligence survey parties. Found were 7 x F1M2 Pete, 2 x Zeros, 3 x G4M1 Betty, 2 x E7K Alf and a single E13 Jake all in wrecked condition or crash sites. RNZAF Visits On August 5, 1945, RNZAF Catalina from 6 Squadron landed at Rekata Bay and investigated the crash of Hudson NZ2054 that was presumed to have crashed in the area. On August 28, 1945, a RNZAF Catalina from 6 Squadron went to Rekata Bay for a picnic and to inspect the former Rekata Bay Seaplane Base. On this visit, one member of the group LAC Leslie Angus Ellen, NZ441559 went missing. It was believed he drown or was taken by a saltwater crocodile. He is memorialized on the tablet of the missing, panel 7 at Borail Memorial. Jenny Anthea adds: "My father was on that trip and I have confirmed from several sources including my father that LAC Leslie Angus Ellen, NZ441559 age 21 was taken by a croc on the return swim to the PBY. He was reported missing at 15:00. According to my father’s account aircraft returned to Rekata Bay for several days afterwards and dropped depth charges in the belief a croc would have stored his body under a log or ledge they dropped depth charges but Ellen’s body was never recovered." Today During the 1990's a logging operation began operations nearby, and developed a Suavanao Airstrip and camp area. Logging ceased during the 1990s and resumed more recently by the company Earthmovers in 2003 and continues to this day. Suavanao (Suavanau) Point bordering Rekata Bay. Defenses and facilities were located at this location. Rekata Bay Seaplane Base Japanese forward seaplane base, located along to the west of Suavanau Point. Suavanao Airport Airfield built in the early 1990s by the logging company for operations in the area. Papatura Island (Papatura Fa) Large, flat island to the north of Rekata Bay and Suavanao with a mangrove cover shore. Prewar, there was a Burns Phillips copra plantation at this location, known as Papatura Plantation. Japanese maintained some limited facilities on the south-western shore, nearest to Rekata Bay. Ekiti Island Small island to the west of Papatura, due north of Rekata Bay. Japanese maintained some limited wartime facilities on the island. Lockheed Hudson NZ2054 Pilot Newall crashed December 18, 1942 three died in crash, two survived, one prisoner Contribute
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