Guadalcanal | Solomons

August 7, 1942

August 12, 1942

October 14, 1942

c1943

April 11, 1943

October 1943

1944

July 24, 1947

Location
Located near the north coast of Guadalcanal, between the Lunga River to the west and Ilu River to the east. Located to the east of Honiara.

Japanese Construction
Known as 'Lunga Point', or 'Runga Point' to the Japanese, and code named RXI. Surveyed by the Japanese when they arrived in the area in early May, after the capture of Tulagi. The strip would allow Japanese aircraft to patrol the southern Solomons, shipping lanes to Australia, and the flank of New Guinea.

There were two major construction units involved: 1,379 men and 1,145 in another, arriving on July 6, 1942. This team was originally scheduled to work on Midway once it was in captured. Work commenced after July 9th. Construction was observed and reported by coastwatcher and this airfield's presence spawned American plans to capture Guadalcanal.

About the middle of July 250 additional civilian contraction men arrived known as the 'Hama Construction Unit' under Inouree Hama. He had 50 men on Gavutu previously. Added to that there were specialists from the 14th Encampment Corps that took care of the radio's on Tulagi, Gavutu and RXI plus the CO was a radar man and installing a radar set on Guadalcanal.

Airfield construction was proceeded rapidly, ahead of schedule. On the night of August 6, 1942 just prior to the American landing, the construction troops were given an extra sakai ration for completing construction ahead of schedule.

American Occupation & Henderson Field
The airfield under construction was the target of the US Marine landing on August 7, 1942 at nearby Red Beach. The Marines seized the strip before it became operational, and before the Japanese could demolish their radio station, food stocks and construction equipment. All would be used by the Americans later. The strip was named in honor of Major Lofton Henderson kiied during the Battle of Miidway.

Guadalcanal Campaign Objective
The Japanese objective of the Guadalcanal campaign was to recapture the airfield, an objective they failed to complete during the six-month campaign. During the campaign, they bombed the airfield from the air and shelled it from ships in Iron Bottom Sound.

Japanese Missions Against Henderson Field
(Air Raids, Bombardments: Partial List)

Aubrey Buser Pagoda signals recalls:
"At the time everyone, regardless of rank or rate was expected to do everything in one's power to rescue any who needed such, to drain fuel from damaged aircraft for use in flyable craft, to drag damaged equipment out of the way of aircraft seeking to land or take off from Henderson Field, to help Seabees fill in bomb or shell holes on the strip itself, to aid in replacement of mars ton matting or anything else that desperately need to be done."

American Expansion
Expanded and completed by US Navy Sea Bee's 6th Naval Construction Battalion, the first aircraft, a PBY landed on the strip on August 20, to evacuate two wounded soldiers. Later, a second strip, Fighter 2 (Kukum Field) was built to the west. Later, other strips including a crash strip and Fighter 1 (Lunga Field) and Fighter 3 were built in the area.

Allied Units Based at Henderson
(partial list - know other units? email me)
USN
VC 40 (Avenger)
VMSB-131 (Avenger) 1943
VF-26 (F4F) Mar 10 - April 25 & June 26 - Aug 5, 1943
VF-27 (F4F) Mar 10 - April 25 & June 26 - Aug 5, 1943
VF-28 (F4F) Mar 10 - April 25 & June 26 - Aug 5, 1943
CASU 11 - (Carrier Aircraft Service Unit) Feb 1943 - July 1944
VS-54 (SBD, OS2U) June 11, 1943 - August 3, 1944
USMC
VMTB-233 (SBD-4 / TBF) August 1943 - October 29, 1943
VMF-122 "Wolf Pack" (F4U-1) May 1943 - July 28, 1943 - 3rd tour
VMF-122 (F4U-1) June 1943 - July 23, 1943 - 1st MAW

VMF-124 (F4U) April 4, 1943 - ?
VMSB-132 (SBD-3) June 23, 1943 - August 2, 1943 - 3rd tour
VMSB-143 (Avenger) 11 12th, 1942 - ?
VMSB-144 (SBD-3) June 13, 1943 - June 26, 1943 then to Russells
VMSB-236 (SBD) Espiritu Santo Nov 43 - Nov 25, 1943 to Munda
MABS-1 (Marine Air Base Squad-1) Feb 1, 1943 - Nov 43 to Ondonga
USAAF
44th FS
347th FG, 67th FS (P-39) New Caledonia Aug 22, 42 - June 43
[This group operates under MAW-1]
RNZAF
3 Squadron (6 x Hudson) from Espiritu Santo Nov 23, 1942

Post War
The original WWII strip was abandoned after the war, and only Kukum (Fighter 2) remained in use. The field was modernized and reopened in 1969 as the Solomon's main airport. In the late 1970's the runway was expanded and lengthened.

Today
Used as the Solomon Island's International Airport for daily regional flights around the Solomons by Solomon Airlines, and international flights every other day.

Renaming To Honiara International Airport
In 2003, there were rumors that the name of the airport would be changed to 'Honiara International Airport', and this resulted in a petition to Keep Guadalcanal's Henderson Field Name. In 2004, there was a change in signage, but the airport is now known as 'Honiara International Airport / Henderson Feild'.

References
Thanks to Peter Flahavin, Ewan Stevenson, John Innes and Stan Jersey for additional info and photographs.

Contribute Information

Peter Flahavin 1999

Henderson Control Tower
The 1943 metal control tower structure is still standing. This tower is not the one from the initial Guadalcanal campaign.

The Pagoda (Pagoda Hill)
Japanese structure nicknamed 'the pagoda' by Americans as flight operations hut. Nearby was a flagpole.  In November 1942 it was bulldozed in November 1942 when the tunnel complex was completed, as the pagoda was an easy identification target for Japanese aircraft attacking the strip. Wartime photo archive

Hotel de Gink
A term applied to transient quarters used by air crews or individuals required to stay over for some reason, not permanently assigned. I think it was a generic term applicable to locations other than Guadalcanal as well.

Robert Porter adds:
" 'Gink' is a somewhat derogatory slang term for a vagabond person so the whole thing was a humorous commentary on the very basic accommodations provided for the hapless travelers concerned. Leaky tents, muddy floors, and bad chow were the norm."