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  27th BS December 1943 |
Location Nanumea Airfield is located on Nanumea Island in Tuvalu (Ellice Islands). Also spelled Nanomea or Nanomeo. Construction Built by U.S. Navy (USN) 16th Naval Construction Battalion (16th NCB) "Seabees". By September 7, 1943 a single runway measuring 5,000' was completed that spanned one sixth of the island. Nanumea Airfield was fully completed by October 1943 and spanned one sixth of the island. Wartime History Nanumea Airfield was used by U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) heavy bombers and fighters supported by 2,300 personnel. Nanumea Airfield was used to stage reconnaissance and early bombing missions into the Gilbert Islands and Marshall Islands and supported the Battle for Tarawa. American units based at Nanumea 30th BG, 27th BS (B-24) Mokuleia Nov 10, 1943 - Feb 26, 1944 departs Abemama 30th BG HQ (B-24) Hickam arrives November 11, 1943–Jan 4, 1944 departs Abemama 30th BG, 38th BS (B-24) Kahuku arrives November 12, 1943–March 13, 1944 departs Kwajalein 15th FG, 45th FS (P-40N) Baker arrives November 28, 1943 - ? Japanese missions against Nanumea During November 1943, Japanese planes targeted Nanumea Airfield. On November 11, 1943 a Japanese air raid hit the airfield and destroying or damaging several airplanes, including one B-24 Liberator. A later raid destroyed several landing craft. Today At the end of the Pacific War, Nanumea Airfield was abandoned. Many unexploded bombs and shells were abandoned at this location and were being used by local people until rendered safe by a New Zealand bomb disposal team. Robert Stitt reported in 1975: "Nanumea boasted a variety of interesting aviation artifacts including B-24 and C-47 fuselage sections used as kitchens and as shelters for dried pandanas leaves which are used for roofing thatch. The most conspicuous still had their USAAF star-and-bar markings on the side." B-24D "Raunchy" Serial Number 42-72980 Pilot Orr crashed November 19, 1943 SBD-5 Dauntless Bureau Number 36035 Crashed November 27, 1943 Contribute
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