Barakoma Airfield in the Solomon Islands

 

Wreckage burns from two Marine F4U Corsairs that collided at what appears to be Barakoma airfield on Vella Lavella Island in the Solomons, late 1943 or early 1944.

Barakoma Airfield was a former World War II airfield on Vella Lavella in the Solomon Islands archipelago. On August 15, 1943 American forces landed at Barakoma and immediately U. S. Navy (USN) 58th Naval Construction Battalion (NCB) "Seabees" began clearing a swampy area of jungle for development into a fighter strip parallel to the southeast coast of Vella Lavella Island.

Between August 19-28, 1943 Japanese aircraft attacked Allied forces in the Barakoma area losing a considerable number of aircraft of which Allied fighters and anti-aircraft claimed about 50 attackers. None of the raids did considerable damage. The last recorded Japanese raid was January 16, 1944 when four bombs were dropped three miles wide of the airfield. At night, harassment raids by Japanese interfered with, but did not stop the construction.

By October 25, 1943 the single runway measured 3,600 x 150' and was oriented 322° x 142° with taxiways and revetments along the inland southwest edge of the runway. Also a road was constructed from the airfield northward passing Gill's Plantation up to Lambu Lambu Cove and Horoniu.

Wartime History:
On September 24, 1943 the first official landing on the newly built runway was by VMF-214 "Black Sheep" F4U Corsairs piloted by Major Gregory "Pappy" Boyington and Mo Fisher. Many Marine F4U aces flew from Barakoma during its height. During late 1943 until early 1944, Barakoma Airfield was used by U. S. Marine Corps (USMC) fighter aircraft and bombers. Afterwards, squadrons moved northward to Bougainville and Nissan Airfield (Green Island).

US Navy units based at Barakoma included:
VF-40 operating Grumman F6F Hellcats.

USMC units based at Barakoma included:
VMF-212 operating Grumman F4F Wildcats
VMF-214 operating Vought F4U Corsairs
VMF-215 operating Vought F4U Corsairs
VMF-221 operating Vought F4U Corsairs
VMF-321 operating Vought F4U Corsairs
VMF(N)-531 operating Lockheed PV-1 Ventura's

Source :
National Archives and Records Administration 80-G-K-5909
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
https://www.flickr.com/photos/airandspace/albums/72157715574200936
http://www.warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=72167