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| Location Lat 5° 40' 0S Long 176° 7' 60E Nanumea Island is located in Tuvalu (Ellice Islands). Also spelled Nanomea or Nanomeo. Borders Nanumea Lagoon at the northwest corner, and borders the smaller islands of Temotufoliki Island and a number of smaller islands inside the coral area. Nanumea is 295 miles from Funafuti and accessible only by sea. Wartime History On August 18, 1943 an advance party arrives on Nanumea Island to reconnoiter and choose a location for Nanumea Airfield. Other U.S. personnel arrive over the next ten days on Nanumea including U.S. Navy (USN) 16th Naval Construction Battalion (16th NCB) "Seabees" and 7th Marine Defense Battalion plus elements of the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF), 7th Air Force (7th AF). As American occupied Nanumea, the local residents were ordered to move to Lakena. After the U.S. occupation, Nanumea was targeted by several Japanese air raids from bases in the Gilbert Islands (Kiribati). During August 1943, SS John Williams was attacked while it was unloading. Nanumea Airfield Completed by US Navy Seabees in October 1943. Used as a fighter and bomber base. Nanumea Lagoon Much surplus wartime equipment was dumped into the lagoon. There is the wreckage of several US landing craft. SS John Williams The shipwreck of American cargo ship bombed by Japanese planes near the main settlement on the island. Contribute
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