| Kukum Field | |
|---|---|
| Part of the Pacific Theater of World War II | |
| Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands | |
Aerial view of Kukum Field
| |
| Coordinates | 09°25′34″S 160°00′39″E / 9.42611°S 160.01083°E / -9.42611; 160.01083 |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | USAAF Royal New Zealand Air Force |
| Condition | abandoned |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1942–43 |
| Built by | Seebees/Marine Aviation Engineers |
| In use | 1943–69 |
| Materials | Coral |
Kukum Field
Kukum Field also known as Fighter 2 Airfield is a former World War II airfield on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands.
From the beginning of the Guadalcanal Campaign it was planned that the area would be developed into a major air base. In November 1942 the 6th Naval Construction Battalion began work on a fighter strip at Lunga Point. The 6th Battalion was later replaced by the First Marine Aviation Engineers who completed the coral-surfaced runway by 1 January 1943. In June–July 1943 the 46th and 61st Battalions built a second coral-surfaced 4,000 feet (1,200 m) by 150 feet (46 m) runway with 75 feet (23 m) shoulders, coral taxiways 80 feet (24 m) wide, and 121 hardstands.[1] The 26th Battalion built a tank farm providing storage for 2,000,000 US gallons (7,600,000 L; 1,700,000 imp gal) of aviation gasoline, 1,000,000 US gallons (3,800,000 L; 830,000 imp gal) of motor gasoline, and 42,000 US gallons (160,000 L; 35,000 imp gal) of diesel oil.[1]: 249
USAAF units based at Kukum included:
USMC units based at Kukum included:
Royal New Zealand Air Force units based at Kukum included:
Kukum Field remained operational after the war as a civilian airfield until 1969 when Henderson Field was modernized and reopened as Honiara International Airport. The airfield is now part of the Honiara Golf Course.[citation needed]
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
