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   USN c1943  December 6, 1943     D Letourneau 1999 |
Location Vila Airfield is located at Vila on the southeastern of Kolombangara Island. To the east is Disappointment Cove. To the south is Vila Point bordering Blackett Strait. Prewar and during the Pacific War part of the British Solomon Islands Protectorate (BSIP). Today, located in Western Province in the Solomon Islands. Prewar The Vila area was part of Vila Plantation and Stanmore Plantation owned by Lever Brothers. Both plantations were planted with coconut palms and harvesting copra. Construction During the middle of December 1942, the Japanese Navy began construction of Vila Airfield after completing Munda Airfield. The soil proved to be unsuitable for operations, and the airfield was only used as a secondary satellite airfield. Wartime History Vila Airfield was used as an advanced airfield by the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) bombers and fighters. During early July 1943, B5N Kates staged through Vila Airfield on a mission against Guadalcanal. On August 13, 1943 Type 97 Kate carrier attack planes arrived from Kahili then took off on a torpedo mission against Guadalcanal that resulted in the sinking of the USS John Penn (APA-23). As of September 1943, Vila Airfield was abandoned when the Japanese withdrew from the area and were evacuated from Kolombangara. Richard Dunn adds: "The latest use I can confirm is August 13, 1943 when Type 97 carrier attack planes staged into Vila from Kahili and then torpedoed USS John Penn in vicinity of Guadalcanal. Operation SE in early October involved the evacuation of Kolombangara so certainly no use after September 1943." Allied missions against Vila Airfield January 23, 1943–October 2, 1943 During 1943, this airfield was neutralized by Allied aerial attacks, and bombardment from ships for several months prior to the American landings on nearby Arundel Island and New Georgia. By late September 1943 the Japanese abandoned Vila Airfield and by early October 1943 had withdrawn entirely from Kolombangara Island. On October 6, 1943 elements of the U.S. Army 27th Infantry landed on Kolombangara and established perimeter defense around Vila Airfield. During late 1943, the Japanese aircraft abandoned at Vila Airfield were surveyed by U.S. Army Technical Air Intelligence Unit (TAIU) by inspector W. W. Spinney. Surveyed at Vila Airfield was one G4M1 Betty, one D3A2 Val and seven Zero fighters. The survey noted the aircraft manufacture numbers only. On October 11, 1943 they were relieved by the 1st Battalion, Fiji Infantry. During January 1944, the U.S. Army dispatched a team of six soldiers with 16 Solomon Islanders to build a farm for fresh vegetables on the former runway. William Sabel, 350th Engineer Service Regiment recalls: "I accepted the challenge and with five enlisted men whom had previous agricultural experience and a landing craft borrowed from the navy, we set out for Kolombangara Island 5 miles away, in January 1944. The British furnished 16 male natives to help on the farm. Through the Red Cross, a variety of seeds were obtained from Australia and New Zealand including watermelon, muskmelon, okra, tomatoes, lettuce, beets, radishes and a bushel of field corn that made good roasting ears when mature." G4M1 Model 11 Betty Manufacture Number 2721 Abandoned at the airfield D3A2 Model 22 Val Manufacture Number 3066 Abandoned at the airfield. A6M2 Model 21 Zero Manufacture Number 5359 Abandoned at the airfield. A6M2 Model 21 Zero Manufacture Number 5452 Abandoned at the airfield. A6M3 Model 32 Zero Manufacture Number 3021 Abandoned at the airfield. A6M3 Model 32 Zero Manufacture Number 3271 Abandoned at the airfield. A6M3 Model 32 Zero Manufacture Number 3291 Abandoned at the airfield. A6M3 Model 22 Zero Manufacture Number 3478 Abandoned at the airfield. Possibly T2-1163 surveyed by TAIU as "Zero Mark 2'. A6M3 Model 22 Zero Manufacture Number 3793 Abandoned at the airfield. Possibly T2-1163 surveyed by TAIU as "Zero Mark 2'. Today Today the airfield still serves as a runway for a logging company based at Vila. The runway composition of crushed and compacted coral is still evident even today, but overgrown with grass. Plane wreckage still lie in the undergrowth along the runway, as are Japanese anti-aircraft guns. References Thanks to William Sabel and Richard Dunn for additional information Contribute
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