Segi Point Airfield
Segi Point, New Georgia
Aerial view of Segi Point Airfield
Coordinates08°34′42.6″S 157°52′33.6″E / 8.578500°S 157.876000°E / -8.578500; 157.876000
TypeMilitary Airfield
Site information
Controlled byUnited States Navy
Conditionabandoned
Site history
Built1943
Built bySeabees
In use1943-4
MaterialsCoral
Battles/warsNew Georgia Campaign
Bougainville Campaign
Operation Cartwheel

Segi Point Airfield is a former World War II airfield on New Georgia in the Solomon Islands archipelago.

History

World War II

The Segi (Seghe) Point area was the base of the British Commonwealth coastwatcher, Donald Gilbert Kennedy, who had monitored Japanese shipping and aircraft (reporting by radio) and also rescued American airman who were shot down in the territory held by the Japanese. In May and June 1943 Japanese patrols moved into the Segi Point area. The Segi Point area was secured by the 4th Marine Raider Battalion on 30 June 1943 in the opening phase of the New Georgia Campaign. The 20th, 24th and 47th Naval Construction Battalions landed with the Marines and immediately began construction of a fighter airstrip. Bad weather and poor soil conditions delayed construction, but by 18 July a coral-surfaced 3,300 feet (1,000 m) by 150 feet (46 m) runway was ready for use.[1] By the end of July taxiways and revetments had been completed. In August the runway was widened to 200 feet (61 m) and two 42,000 US gallons (160,000 L; 35,000 imp gal) gas tanks had been constructed and by September 52 hardstands had been completed.[1]: 264 

Seebees constructing Segi Point Airfield

USAAF units based at Segi Point included:

US Navy units based at Segi Point included:

Postwar

The airfield remains in use today as Seghe Airport.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Building the Navy's Bases in World War II History of the Bureau of Yards and Docks and the Civil Engineer Corps 1940-1946. US Government Printing Office. 1947. p. 262.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
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