The first bases on Espiritu Santo were established by the United States as defensive bases to guard the existing facility at Efate and to support the Solomon Islands Campaign, however its strategic location led to its expansion into one of the largest advance bases in the South Pacific.[1]
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. The 7th Battalion constructed a parking area, two pre-fabricated 85 feet (26 m) by 100 feet (30 m) nose hangars, warehouses, quonset huts and two seaplane ramps at Belchif Point on the Segond Channel between the Renee and Sarakata Rivers.[2] The 57th Naval Construction Battalion later built two seaplane drydocks at the base.[2]: 232
United States Navy units based at the base included:
- VP-11 11 August 1942 – 1 February 1943[3]
- VP-12 14 June-30 July 1944[3]: 115
- VP-14 1 September-10 December 1943[3]: 584
- VP-23 15 July-1 October 1942 and 24 June-20 August 1943[3]: 430
- VP-24 1 February-29 September 1943[3]: 436
- VP-54 1 August-10 November 1944[3]: 477–8
- VP-72 4 September 1942 - 6 July 1943[3]: 195
- VP-91 4 September 1942 - March 1943[3]: 494
all operating PBYs.
US Navy ships supporting seaplane operations included:
Royal New Zealand Air Force units operating from the base included:
NOB Espiritu Santo disestablished on 12 June 1946.[3]: 757 The base's onshore facilities are now overgrown and are under private ownership. Erosion caused by Cyclone Harold in April 2020 revealed details of the layout of the base, including exposing one of the seaplane ramps.[4]
