Bauerfield International Airport

Bauerfield International Airport
Port Vila International Airport
IATA: VLI – ICAO: NVVV
Summary
Airport type Public
Operator Airports Vanuatu Limited
Serves Port Vila, Vanuatu
Hub for Air Vanuatu
Elevation AMSL 68 ft / 21 m
Coordinates 17°41′57″S 168°19′11″E / 17.69917°S 168.31972°E / -17.69917; 168.31972Coordinates: 17°41′57″S 168°19′11″E / 17.69917°S 168.31972°E / -17.69917; 168.31972
Map
VLI

Location of airport in Vanuatu

Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
11/29 2,600 8,530 Asphalt

Bauerfield International Airport (IATA: VLI, ICAO: NVVV) is an airport located in Port Vila, Vanuatu. The airport is relatively small in size, but its runway has the capability and length to accept jets up to the Airbus A330. It serves as the hub for Vanuatu's flag carrier airline, Air Vanuatu.

History

World War II

With Japanese forces establishing bases on Guadalcanal which threatened the sea route between the U.S. and Australia, Admiral King distributed the joint basic plan for the occupation and defense of Efate on 20 March 1942. Under its terms the US Army was to defend Efate and support the defense of ships and positions. The US Navy's task was: (1) to construct, administer and operate a naval advance base, seaplane base, and harbor facilities; (2) to support Army forces in the defense of the island; (3) to construct an airfield and at least two outlying dispersal fields; (4) to provide facilities for the operation of seaplane-bombers.[1]

Map of Efate Island showing military installations 27 July 1943

On 25 March 1942, the Army sent about 500 men to Efate from Nouméa, and the 4th Defense Battalion, 45th Marines, arrived on 8 April. Elements of the 1st Naval Construction Battalion arrived on Efate on 4 May 1942. The Marines had already cleared a coral 2,000 feet (610 m) by 200 feet (61 m) runway near Port Vila on part of a plantation owned by Henri Russet and the Seabees expanded this to 6,000 feet (1,800 m) by 350 feet (110 m).[2]

The airfield was originally named Efate Field, Vila Field or McDonald Field but was later officially named Bauer Field after Lt-Col. Harold W. Bauer, a fighter pilot in the US Marine Corps who was lost at sea on 14 November 1942 after being shot down during the Battle of Guadalcanal.

USAAF units stationed at Efate Field included:

Postwar

The base was disestablished and abandoned in February 1946.[3]

Airlines and destinations

AirlinesDestinationsTerminal
Aircalin Nouméa International
Air Niugini Port Moresby International
Air Vanuatu Dillon's Bay, Emae, Ipota, Lamap, Lamen Bay, Lonorore, Luganville, Norsup, Paama, South West Bay, Tanna, Tongoa, Ulei, Valesdir Domestic
Air Vanuatu Auckland, Brisbane, Honiara, Nadi, Nouméa, Suva, Sydney International
Fiji Airways Honiara, Nadi, Suva International
Solomon Airlines Honiara, Nadi International
Virgin Australia Brisbane International
Bauerfield International Airport

See also

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

  1. ↑ 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. 202.
  2. ↑ Bases, p.204-5
  3. ↑ Bases, p.206

External links

Media related to Bauerfield International Airport at Wikimedia Commons

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