I'm collecting up a batch of photos to post soon. And links below if you do facebook.
https://fb.watch/eZ3UcPjAQT/https://www.facebook.com/SouthPacificWW ... e_internalEfate Island New Hebrides bases. With Japanese forces establishing bases on Guadalcanal which threatened the sea route between the U.S. and Australia, Admiral King distributed the joint basic plan for the occupation and defence of Efate on 20 March 1942. Under its terms the US Army was to defend Efate and support the defence of ships and positions. The US Navy's task was to construct, administer and operate a naval advance base, seaplane base, and harbor facilities; (2) to support Army forces in the defence of the island; (3) to construct an airfield and at least two outlying dispersal fields; (4) to provide facilities for the operation of seaplane-bombers.
On 25 March 1942, the Army sent about 500 men to Efate from Noumea, and the 4th Defense Battalion, 45th Marines, arrived on 8 April. Elements of the 1st Naval Construction Battalion arrived on Efate on 4 May 1942.
Seaplane BaseA detachment of Seebees went north to Havannah Harbour to construct a seaplane base to serve a squadron of PBYs. The Seabees built two seaplane ramps of coral, surfaced with wire mesh, and provided buoys for mooring 14 seaplanes. By 1 June, the PBYs began operating from the new base, bombing the Japanese positions on Guadalcanal. In addition to the ramps and moorings, two small piers, two nose hangars, one 40 feet (12 m) by 100 feet (30 m) seaplane workshop, four 5,000-gallon underground gasoline tanks, and housing facilities for 25 officers and 210 men in quonset huts were constructed.
VP-71 operating PBYs 29 June-20 July 1942.
Havannah Harbour FieldIn late 1942 the Seebees constructed a 3,000 feet (910 m) by 180 feet (55 m) fighter airstrip at Port Havannah.
Bauerfield Field Elements of the 1st Naval Construction Battalion arrived on Efate on 4 May 1942. The Marines had already cleared a coral 2,000 feet (610 m) by 200 feet (61 m) runway near Port Vila on part of a plantation owned by Henri Russet and the Seabees expanded this to 6,000 feet (1,800 m) by 350 feet (110 m)
The airfield was originally named Efate Field, Vila Field or McDonald Field but was later officially named Bauer Field after Lt-Col. Harold W. Bauer, a fighter pilot in the US Marine Corps who was lost at sea on 14 November 1942 after being shot down during the Battle of Guadalcanal.
USAAF units stationed at Efate Field included:
12th Fighter Squadron 1942-3
44th Fighter Squadron 7 November 1942-25 October 1943
26th Bombardment Squadron 25 July-22 December 1942
Quoin Hill AirfieldA site was chosen for a bomber airfield and in October the Seebees started constructing a 6,000 feet (1,800 m) by 200 feet (61 m) runway which was completed by the middle of January 1943.
US Navy and USMC units based at Quoin Hill included:
VMF-141
VMF-212
VMF-236
VMFA-212
The base was defended by the 198th Coast Artillery.
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