A military airfield located within Guadalcanal eight kilometers from Honiara, Solomon Islands. The airfield was originally built by the Empire of Japan but it was captured by the American Marines during the early stage of the Operation Watchtower. The airfield was named after Major Lofton R. Henderson, the first American aviator to be killed in action while leading an attack against the Japanese during the Battle of Midway. The battles for the possession of the airfield were one of the bloodiest and the most brutal engagements within the Southern Pacific, the battles were three major land battles, seven naval battles, and numerous aerial engagement that involved thousands of men, hundreds of aircraft and every ships that were present within Guadalcanal.
After the Japanese occupied the Solomon Islands on April 1942, on May 27, 1942, engineers and staff officers from 25th Air Flotilla and 8th Base Force arrived at Guadalcanal from Rabaul to inspect the island for a prospective airfield building sites. The plan was known under the codename 'RXI'. On June 1, 1942, Rear Admiral Sadayoshi Yamada asked Vice Admiral Nishizo Tsukahara for the authorization to build an airfield on Guadalcanal. There were 1,379 men and another 1,145, that were originally scheduled to work on Midway Atoll once it was captured, were involved for the construction of the airfield which arrived on July 6, 1942, the construction commenced on July 9, 1942, additional 250 civilians of the Hama Construction Unit, specialist from the 14th Encampment Corps and local labor were used to speed up the construction. The airfield was expected to be completed on August 6, 1942. The construction activities were observed by Coastwatchers and reported it the Allies. The Allies decided to capture the airfield as one of their main objectives in Guadalcanal.
On the night of August 6 to August 7, 1942, the US marines makes amphibious landings within Guadalcanal and commenced Operation Watchtower. This involved 3,000 soldiers from the US 1st Marine Division commanded by Brigadier General William H. Rupertus, leaded an assault on Tulagi against 886 Japanese troops, the American forces met little resistance from their initial assault. The US Marines suffered 122 KIA and 200 were wounded while 863 soldiers were killed and 20 were captured from the IJA.
The next day, IJN's 8th Fleet commanded by Vice Admiral Mikawa Gunichi which composed of heavy cruiser Choukai with destroyer Yunagi accompanied by light cruisers Yuubari and CruDiv 18 Tenryuu, departed from Rabaul, they were followed by CruDiv 6 commanded by Admiral Goto Aritomo which composed of heavy cruisers Aoba, Furataka, Kako and Kinugasa. They arrived on east of Kieta, Bouganville, 8 hours later they proceed through 'The Slot' and penetrated through the south of Savo Island. From the night of August 8 to August 9, 1942, they engaged Task Force 62 commanded by Rear Admiral Richmond K. Turner, which composed of 5 heavy cruisers, 2 light cruisers, and 15 destroyers. The battle was known as the Battle of Savo Island. The engagement sunk 4 heavy cruisers and damaged 2 destroyers from the USN and 3 cruisers were lightly damage from the IJN.
On August 11, 1942, the Allies captured the airfield and continued the construction using captured equipments. On August 12, 1942, the airfield was renamed as Henderson Field and on August 18, Henderson Field is now complete and ready for operation.
The airfield's runway was 730 meters long gravel surface and an extension of another 300 meters of Mardsen Matting that was pockmarked from Japanese artillery and naval gunfire. The Allies had trouble launching their planes because of the airfield poor condition. The runway was extended and widened several times during the duration of Guadalcanal Campaign, by September 4, the airfield was 1200 meters long and 150 meters wide.
On August 19, 1942, forward echelon of Marine Aircraft Group 23 with 19 F4F fighters and 12 SBD-3 dive bombers arrived at Henderson Field, the ensemble of Allied air force in the Guadalcanal was called as 'Cactus Air Force' (CAF). On August 23, 1943, USN Task Force 61 under the command of Vice Admiral Fletcher, which composed of two carriers, USS Enterprise CV-6 and USS Saratoga CV-3 escorted by battleship USS North Carolina BB-55 with 3 heavy cruisers, 1 light cruiser, and 11 destroyers intercepted Admiral Chuichi Nagumo's 3rd Fleet which consist of IJN carriers Shoukaku and Zuikaku, light carrier Ryuujou and seaplane tender Chiyoda, supported by battleships Hiei and Kirishima, 16 cruisers, and 25 destroyers, with 4 patrol boats and 3 transports. The IJN objectives were to reinforce Guadalcanal and to neutralized Henderson Field, this was the Battle Eastern Solomons that last till August 25. Enterprise was badly damage and the 20 USN aircraft were destroyed with 90 killed while the IJN lost Ryuujou and destroyer Mutsuki, light cruiser Jintsuu and seaplane tender Chiyoda were damaged and 75 IJN aircraft were destroyed with more than 290 killed.
On August 27 1942, 9 USAAF P-40 fighters arrived at Henderson Field. The next day, General Hyakutake Harukichi attempted to reinforce troops in Guadalcanal, the convoy was attacked by land-base aircraft from Henderson Field, IJN destroyer Asagiri was sunk while Shirakumo and Yuugiri were slightly damaged from the engagement, then another Japanese Fleet successfully landed troops at Taivu Point at night, further convoys from the Japanese to reinforce Guadalcanal was nicknamed as the 'Tokyo Express'. On September 1, 1942, the 6th Naval Construction Battalion (SeaBees) arrived at Guadalcanal to improve and expand Henderson Field. On September 5, 1942, IJN destroyers Hatsuyuki, Murakumo, and Yuudachi, disembarked troops on Guadalcanal, Yuudachi was accredited for sinking USN high-speed transport ex-destroyers USS Gregory APD-3 and USS Little APD-4, on the next day Yuudachi, Uranami, Shikinami and Ariake shelled the airfield.
On September 9, 1942, SeaBees opened the second runway which is one mile apart east from the original runway, the new runways was 1400 meters long and 91 meters wide, the runway was called 'Fighter 1' while the original runway was referred as 'Bomber Field No. 1'.
On September 12, 1942, was the first major counteroffensive operation conducted by the IJA to retake the airfield, the battle was called as The Battle of Edson's Ridge, noted after Lt. Col. Merrit A. Edson, who commanded the 1st Raider Battalion during The battle of Tulagi and now established a defensive perimeters 1,500 yards away from Henderson Airfield. The IJA force were commanded by General Kiyotake Kawaguchi. It involved 12,500 US Marines while 6,217 from the IJA. The fight was very intense, both sides relentlessly keep on exchanging bullets, grenades, fists, and profanities. The Japanese came wave after wave while the American keep on holding their position. By September 15, the attacks stopped and were reduced to minor skirmishes, there were 59 US marines which is either KIA or MIA and 204 were wounded while 700-850 IJA troops were killed about 500 were wounded.
On September 23, 1942, several skirmishes happened between the US Marines and IJA along Matanikau River that involved 3,000 soldiers from the US and 2,000 soldiers from Japan. the marines launched their counter assault the IJA after the previous major battle to neutralized further threat around the airfield. Because of the IJA strong defensive position, USMC counteroffensive somehow failed on their attempt, they halted on September 27. On October 6, the USMC resumed their operation while the IJA launched another counterattack, the opposing troops clashes and the marines pushes the Japanese back, eventually the US managed to secure the bridge as they continue to push back the Japanese. The battle ended on October 9 after they cornered the IJA. The US lost 156 men while IJA lost 750 men.
On the night of October 11 to October 12, 1942 was the Battle of Cape Esperance, the IJN objective was to bombard Henderson Field while the USN intercepted the incoming IJN fleet. the battle involved 3 heavy cruisers and 2 destroyers from the IJN against 2 heavy cruisers, 2 light cruisers and 4 destroyers from the USN. The IJN lost Furataka and Fubuki while Aoba was badly damage from the engagement while USN lost USS Duncan DD-485 while USS Boise CL-47 and USS Farenholt DD-491 were damaged.
On the night of October 13 to October 14, 1942, battleship Kongou and Haruna from the BatDiv 3 bombarded Henderson Field, Kongou fired a total of 435 16-inch rounds, 104 were Type 3 shells while 331 were Type 1 shells, and 27 6-inch shells. Haruna fired a total of 433 16-inch rounds, 189 were Type 0 shells while 294 were Type 1s, and 21 6-inch shells. The bombardment lasted for 80 minutes, the bombardment heavily damaged the runway, burned almost all the available aviation fuel, destroyed 48 of the CAF's aircraft and killed 41 men. The Henderson personnel immediately restored the airfield for operational condition, another 17 SBDs and 20 Wildcats arrived on the airfield, and the begun to deliver aviation gasoline to Guadalcanal from Espirtu Santo. On October 16, 1942, the IJN cruisers Myoukou and Maya accompanied by Isuzu and DesRon 2, bombarded the Henderson Field, Maya fires a total of 450 200 mm Type 3 Shells and Type 91 while Myoukou fires 462 shells. On October 18, the IJN bombarded the airfield again.
On October 23, 1942, IJA executed another major offensive operation to recaptured Henderson Field, they will launched two prong attacks from both north, which will be coming from the Matanikau river, and south, which will penetrate through the ridge. The battle is known for The Battle for Henderson Field, the battle involved 23,088 soldiers from the US and 20,000 from the IJA with numerous of aircraft and ships were also involved. During the duration of the battle, IJN light cruiser Yura and 4 other destroyers were ordered to assault the airfield and support the ground troops, the fleet was attacked by a tugboat, a PT-boat, and shore defenses. The fleet decided to withdraw but attacked by 5 SBD Dauntless dive-bombers from the airfield, Yura was bombed and scuttled afterwards. 82 aircraft from carriers Jun'you and Hiyou also attacked the aircraft, they were intercepted by anti-aircraft guns within the airfield and land-base aircraft. The attacks stopped on October 26, 1942, the US soldiers managed to hold their position against incoming Japanese troops. The US suffered with from 61 to 86 casualties and lost a tugboat, a PT-boat, and 3 aircraft while the Japanese suffered from 2,200 to 3,000 casualties and lost a light cruiser and 14 aircraft.
While the Battle for Henderson Field was still ongoing, another carrier vs carrier engagement happened which again centered at the airfield, the Battle of Santa Cruz Island. October 26, 1942 morning, the IJN Combined Fleet commanded by Admiral Yamamoto, which composed of IJN carriers Shoukaku, Zuikaku, and Zuihou escorted by battleships Kongou, Haruna, Hiei and Kirishima with 8 heavy cruisers, 2 light cruisers, and 22 destroyers, engaged Admiral Kinkaid's Task Force 61, which composed of Enterprise and USS Hornet CV-8 escorted by battleship USS South Dakota BB-57 with 3 heavy cruisers, 3 light cruisers, and 14 destroyers. The IJN objective was to provide cover for the ground force during the Battle for Henderson Field, while the USN will intercept them again. The USN lost Hornet and USS Porter DD-356 during the engagement, Enterprise was badly damage again while South Dakota and light cruiser USS San Juan CL-54 were damage with 81 aircraft lost. Carrier Shoukaku, light carrier Zuihou, and heavy cruiser Chikuma were badly damaged from the engagement, and destroyer Teruzuki was damaged.
On November 12, 1942, the CAF reaches the peak of it combat power with 47 fighters, 23 tactical bombers, and 12 medium bombers.
On the night of November 13, 1942, the IJN fleet which composed of battleship Hiei and Kirishima with light cruiser Nagara and 11 destroyers engaged USN fleet with 2 heavy cruisers, 2 light cruisers, and 8 destroyers, in the most brutal close-quarter naval engagement in the campaign, the First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. The IJN objective is to neutralize Henderson Field while the USN will again intercept the incoming fleet. The engagement sink the battleship Hiei with destroyers Akatsuki and Yuudachi while damaged destroyers Amatsukaze, Ikazuchi, Inazuma, Murasame, and Samidare, while the USN lost Atlanta, destroyers Barton, Cushing, Laffey, and Monssen, while heavy cruisers Portland and San Francisco, light cruisers Helena and Juneau, and destroyer Aaron Ward were heavily damaged in the engagement.
On November 14, 1942, the airfield was once again bombarded with 989 8-inch shells from IJN heavy cruisers, then on November 15, the IJN fleet, which composed of Kirishima with 2 heavy cruisers, 2 light cruisers, and 8 destroyers, engaged South Dakota and USS Washington BB-56 with 4 destroyers for a second Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, the engagement sunk Kirishima and destroyer Ayanami, the USN lost 3 of their destroyers, while South Dakota and USS Gwin DD-443 were damaged from the engagement.
The last naval battle which involved the airfield was the Battle of Tassafaronga, which happened on November 30, 1942. The USN were to launched an ambush against the IJN which involved 3 heavy cruisers, 1 light cruiser, and 4 destroyers, the IJN has only 8 destroyers that are escorting another convoy from the Tokyo Express. The IJN lost Takanami from the engagement but manage to sunk USS Northampton CA-26 and damaged 3 heavy cruisers then escaped. The IJN won a decisive tactical victory on this engagement but the battle had little strategic impact for the Japanese in Guadalcanal.
On December 31, 1942, the Emperor allowed the evacuation of troops in Guadalcanal, it was named as Operation Ke. The evacuation of Japanese troops began on January 14, 1943 using destroyers and transport ships, despite that it was an evacuation operation, the IJN still met resistance from the USN, they were attacked by PT-boats and aircraft from the Henderson Field, the IJN lost destroyer Makigumo, she was outmaneuvering PT-boats when she was struck by a naval mine, she was scuttled by Yuugumo afterwards, and Japanese submarine I-1 after being attacked by New Zealand Minesweepers Kiwi and Moa with 3 more destroyers were heavily damaged and 56 aircraft were lost. The USN suffered 1 cruiser, 1 destroyer, and 3 PT-boats sunk, 1 destroyer was heavily damaged, with 53 aircraft lost. The evacuation was finished on February 7, 1943, the Japanese managed to evacuate 10,652 men from Guadalcanal.
On February 9, 1943, the Allies declared that the Guadalcanal was now secured. Henderson Field was still operational and used by reconnaissance operation B-24 Liberators on Einwetok Atoll and other islands in 1944, squadrons from New Zealand used the airfield for search and patrols during October to November of 1944.
After the war, the military airfield was abandoned and ceased to operate. The airfield was modernized and reopened on 1969 and currently known as Honiara International Airport, the main Airport of Solomon Islands. Further expansions and lengthening was conducted on 1970, the runway is now 2200 meters long and 45 meters wide.
A military airfield located within Guadalcanal eight kilometers from Honiara, Solomon Islands. The airfield was originally built by the Empire of Japan but it was captured by the American Marines during the early stage of the Operation Watchtower. The airfield was named after Major Lofton R. Henderson, the first American aviator to be killed in action while leading[...]
