Location
Lat 9° 7' 0S Long 160° 10' 60E  Island in the Florida Island Group, connected to Tanambogo by a causeway. Known to the Japanese as 'Gabutsu'. Located to the east of Tulagi.

History
On January 22, 1942, Japanese aircraft bombed the island. The first shots of the war were fired in the Solomons when Solomon Islands Defense force member Fala fires at them.

On May 5, 1942 a Japanese flying boat attacked the island and sank the RAAF crash boat. Occupied on May 5, 1942 by the Japanese 3rd Kure Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF). The island became a main base in the Florida Islands.

American Missions Against Gavutu
July 23 - August 7, 1942

Marines Recapture
The Americans Marines 1st Paratrooper Battalion, attacked the island from boats on August 7, 1942. The battle for Ghavutu Island was short but bloody. The next day, Marine reinforced landed. They landed in the area about a third of the way down the eastern side. The original force missed the small (about 30 yard across) "bay" or slipway area, which is adjacent to the north east slope of the hillock - and landed about 30 yards north of the "bay" in along a straight piece of the coastline which is, from memory, about 30 - 40 yards long, and the water laps a low bank - behind which the Marines were pinned for some time. The Japanese were entrenched on the island in caves and bunkers. The marines were accidentally shelled and bombed by their own forces.

Today
Remains of buildings, water tanks and underground bomb shelters are visible on the island.

Tulagi Seaplane Base (Gavutu, Gabutsu)
Prewar seaplane base used by RAAF. Occupied by the Japanese, liberated by Marines.

Kawanishi H6K5 Mavis
Sunk at its moorings August 7, 1942

A6M2-N Rufe Wreckage
Wreckage of at least two destroyed August 7, 1942, salvaged by US Navy and taken to USA

Observation Post / Hill 148
Morris Hill reports:
"From the top of the hill, I could see very little of the island because of the height of the surrounding trees. I do remember the large water tank - which used to have roof over it to collect rainwater for Levers and what looks like a anti aircraft mounting for, probably, a heavy machine gun. There was also a very narrow Japanese made tunnel - that went from the top very steeply down about 50 feet - to come out on the side facing Savo. I have a Marine pen friend who spent quite a few weeks manning the observation post on hill 148. His accommodation was on Gavutu - close to the base of the causeway. He did tell me that for a few weeks the men thought there may have been Japanese on the island - but no live Japanese were seen 24 hours after the landing."

Lever Brothers Wharf
Lever Brothers used Gavutu as a main base of operations prior to WWII. During the invasion the USMC Marines used this concrete wharf for cover. After the island was secured, the US Navy used this area as a PT Boat base. The breakwater and the jetty appear to be formed from concrete blocks.

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Last Updated
October 6, 2009