Bauerfield International Airport
Template:Short description Template:About Template:Infobox airport Port Vila International Airport Template:Airport codes (Template:Langx), widely known as Bauerfield International Airport (Template:Langx), 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 served as the international hub for Vanuatu's flag carrier airline, Air Vanuatu, until its bankruptcy in 2024.
History
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During 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 (the island containing Port Vila) 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.<ref name=Bases>Template:Cite bookTemplate:PD-notice</ref>
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 Seabees 1st Naval Construction Battalion arrived on Efate on 4 May 1942. The Marines had already cleared a coral Template:Convert by Template:Convert runway near Port Vila on part of a plantation owned by Henri Russet. The Seabees expanded this to Template:Convert by Template:Convert.<ref name=Bases/>Template:Rp
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:
- 12th Fighter Squadron 1942-3
- 44th Fighter Squadron 7 November 1942 – 25 October 1943
- 26th Bombardment Squadron 25 July-22 December 1942
The base was disestablished and abandoned in February 1946.<ref name=Bases/>Template:Rp
Development since the 2000s
The airport runway was rebuilt in 2019 after a 3-year construction project funded by the World Bank.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It was damaged in the 2024 Port Vila earthquake on 17 December,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> causing its closure to non-humanitarian flights for 72 hours.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Commercial operations resumed on 22 December following repairs.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Airlines and destinations
Passenger
Template:Airport destination list
Cargo
None
Former Cargo Template:Airport-dest-listRoute terminated in 2021 after company went bankrupt
Accidents and incidents
- On 28 July 2018, an ATR-72 operating Air Vanuatu Flight 241 suffered a runway excursion whilst landing with an engine shut down following an in-flight fire. The aircraft collided with two Britten-Norman Islanders, writing one off and severely damaging the other.Template:Citation needed
See also
References
Template:Air Force Historical Research Agency Template:Reflist