Pacific Wrecks
Pacific Wrecks    
  Missing In Action (MIA) Prisoners Of War (POW) Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)  
Chronology Locations Aircraft Ships Submit Info How You Can Help Donate
 
    Turtle Bay Airfield (Fighter 1) Sanma Province Vanuatu (New Hebrides)
Click For Enlargement
Click For Enlargement
USN Nov 20, 1942

Click For Enlargement
USN Nov 20, 1942

Click For Enlargement

USMC c1943

Click For Enlargement
USMC September 1943
Location
Turtle Bay Airfield was located on the eastern coast of Espiritu Santo (Santo). Also known as Turtle Bay Field or Fighter 1. To the north is the Nalaiafu River and to the northeast is Turtle Bay. To the east is the Vaucluse Passage, Matte Vulu Island and Mavia Island (Mafia). To the southeast is Peterson Point, Aesi Island (Aessi Island) and further to the south is Lungaville (Santo). Prewar and during the Pacific War located in New Hebrides. Today located in Sanma Province in Vanuatu.

Prewar
This area was plantation with coconut palms harvesting copra.

Construction
By late 1942, a single runway was built at this location with a taxiways and revetments off both sides of the runway. Turtle Bay Airfield was built by a detachment from 3rd Naval Construction Battalion (3rd NCB) "Seabees" augmented by labor from A Company, 24th Infantry Regiment (Colored).

Wartime History
During the Pacific War, used by American fighter aircraft including U. S, Marine Corps (USMC) squadrons.

American units based at Turtle Bay Airfield (Fighter 1)
VMF-213 (F4U) March 1943 - April 1943 Guadalcanal
VMF-214 (F4U) March 1 - 14, 1943 Guadalcanal
VF-33 (F6F) ? - ? Guadalcanal

Today
Disused since the Pacific War and overgrown.

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

Last Updated
February 18, 2023

 

Map
Map 1942

Map
Map 1997

Google Earth
View in Google Earth

Photos
Photo Archive
  Discussion Forum Daily Updates Reviews Museums Interviews & Oral Histories  
 
Pacific Wrecks Inc. All rights reserved.
Donate Now Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram