Location
Lat 15° 31' 60S Long 167° 10' 0E  Luganville is located at the southeast corner of Espiritu Santo between Belchif Point to the south and St. Michel Point to the north. Also known as Louganville or Luganvilis. Also known a "Santo" or "Kanal". To the south is Segond Channel and Aore Island. To the south is Million Dollar Point and Scorff Passage.

Prewar
The Luganville area was a coconut plantation planted with coconut palms harvesting copra.

Wartime History
Luganville was built by American forces as a port, dry dock and logistical base area to support the Guadalcanal and Solomons campaign and as a rest and recuperation (R&R) area. During the Pacific War, thousands of Americans were stationed at Luganville and hundreds of thousands of Americans had rest R&R in the area.

Today
Luganville is the second largest city in Espiritu Santo with the country's most active port. May wartime era Quonset Huts remain and are still in use. The main street was made four lanes wide to allow trucking traffic from the port into the town.

Million Dollar Point
At the end of the Pacific War, American forces dumped millions of dollars worth of equipment into the sea.

Segond Channel
Located to the south of Luganville includes Luganville Seaplane Base

Luganville Seaplane Base
Located in Segond Channel with ramp facilities at Belchif Point

Bomber 1 Airfield (Pallikulo Field, Fighter 1)
Located on the southeastern corner of Espiritu Santo, disused today

Bomber 2 Airfield (Pekoa Field)
Located on the south-eastern corner of Espiritu Santo, disused today

Bomber 3 Airfield (Lungaville Airfield)
Located to the wset of Lunganville

Contribute Information
Do you have photos or additional information to add?

Last Updated
October 23, 2019