Palikulo Bay Airfield
{{Infobox military installation
|name=Palikulo Bay Airfield
|partof =
|location=Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides Islands
|coordinates={{Coord|15|30|06|S|167|14|45|E}}
|image=Aerial views of Palikulo Bay Airfield, Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, on 29 December 1943 (80-G-322035).jpg
|caption=
|type=Military Airfield
|code=
|built=1942
|builder=Seebees
|materials=Coral
|height=
|used= 1942-5
|demolished=
|condition=abandoned
|ownership=
|controlledby=United States Navy
Royal New Zealand Air Force
|garrison=
|commanders=
|occupants=
|battles=
|events=
}}
Palikulo Bay Airfield or Bomber Field #1 is a former World War II airfield on the island of Espiritu Santo in the New Hebrides Islands at the Espiritu Santo Naval Base.
History
=World War II=
The 7th Naval Construction Battalion arrived on Santo on 11 August 1942 and began construction of more extensive air facilities to support the Guadalcanal Campaign. After completing a second fighter airfield at Turtle Bay they began constructing a bomber field at Palikulo Bay. The runway was {{convert|5000|ft}} by {{convert|150|ft}} built of PSP over a coral base. The 15th Naval Construction Battalion arrived on Santo on 13 October 1942 and added taxiways, revetments, and a {{convert|1000|ft}} extension to the runway for air transport operation.{{Cite book|title=Building the Navy's Bases in World War II History of the Bureau of Yards and Docks and the Civil Engineer Corps 1940-1946| publisher=US Government Printing Office|year=1947|url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/library/online-reading-room/title-list-alphabetically/b/building-the-navys-bases.html|page=228}}{{PD-notice}}
Units of the 5th Bombardment Group based at Palikulo included the 23d Bombardment Squadron operating B-17Es and later B-24s from 1 December 1942 until 3 January 1944, and the 72d Bombardment Squadron and 394th Bombardment Squadron both operating B-17s. On 13 August B-17E #41-2463 of the 394th Bombardment Squadron piloted by Gene Roddenberry crashed on takeoff due to mechanical failure.
Navy and USMC units based at Palikulo included:
Following the sinking of the USS Wasp (CV-7) on 15 September 1942, VF-71 operating F4Fs was temporarily based at Palikulo.
On the nights of 15 and 23 October 1942 Palikulo was shelled by a Japanese submarine however no serious damage resulted.{{Cite book|last=Stone|first=Peter|title=The Lady and the President: The life and loss of the S.S. President Coolidge| publisher=Oceans Enterprises|year=1997|isbn=9780958665728|page=67}}
Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) units based at Palikulo included:
- No. 1 (Islands) Group Headquarters from 1 March 1943-January 1944{{Cite book|last=Ross|first=John |title=Royal New Zealand Air Force| publisher=Historical Publications Branch| year=1955| isbn=0898391873|page=160}}
- No. 3 Squadron operating Lockheed Hudsons from 9 October-6 December 1942{{rp|138}} and later operating Lockheed Venturas in July 1944{{rp|277}}
- No. 9 Squadron operating Lockheed Hudsons from March 1943{{rp|163}}
- No. 14 Squadron operating P-40s from April–June 1943{{rp|163}}
- No.25 Squadron operating SBDs from 30 January to 22 March 1944
The RNZAF operated a base depot at Palikulo that assembled aircraft that arrived aboard US ships and were then assigned to RNZAF Squadrons.{{rp|277}}
File:SBD-4 RNZAF Espiritu Santo 1943.jpg being serviced by ground personnel on Santo in 1943]]
=Postwar=
NOB Espiritu Santo disestablished on 12 June 1946.{{Cite book|title=Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons - Volume 2| publisher=Naval Historical Center|page=757}}{{PD-notice}} Part of the airfield forms part of the main road along Palikulo Bay, while the remainder together with all taxiways and base facilities is largely overgrown with vegetation.