c1943

1944

1998

Location
Island separated from New Georgia by only a narrow swampy area, with Arundel to the west. In the local language, Ondongo meant "the Place of Death."

Construction
US Navy Seabee 82nd and 37th Battalions built this airfield in record time from jungle to completion in only 25 days, despite dense jungle and muddy ground, and in the face of shelling from Japanese on nearby Kolombangara and bombing by enemy aircraft.

It was immediately put into use supporting the landings at Torokina. The runway was 4,500' x 200'. During October and November 1943, docking facilities were improved by the 20th Battalion and 47th Battalion developed the base area.

In November, a second runway was completed parallel to the first, 4,000' x 300' and several miles of taxiways and hardstands and revetments, a control tower and quonset-hut camp areas.

By February 1944 the 24th Battalion joined them, and 20 miles of roads were built in the area. Also, a 12,000 barrel tank farm with submarine filling line was built

American Units Based at Ondonga
VMF-216
VF-33 (F6F) - Nov 29, 1943 - ?
VF-17 (36 x F4U) Oct 27 - Nov 30, 1943
VP-12 (PBY-5A) Guadalcanal Feb 17 to May 17, 1944 to Emirau
MABS-1 from Henderson Nov 43 - May 26, 44 to Munda
RNZAF
14th Squadron (P-40s) C.O. SL J. H. Arkwright
15th Squadron (P-40s) C.O. SL S.G. Quill
16th Squadorn (P-40s)
17th Squadron (P-40s)

Tom Blackburn (C.O. VF-17) recalled:
"Clean, virtually bugless, free of snipers, and above all, near the enemy."

Today
Disused since the war.

Contribute Information

October 17, 1943

November 15, 1943

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