Kukum Field, World War II airfield in Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands
Kukum Field is a former military airfield on the coast of Guadalcanal, in the Solomon Islands. The runway was built from coral and sat on flat, open ground close to the shoreline.
Construction started in 1942 and was completed in early 1943 to serve as a fighter base during the Pacific campaign. Once the war ended, the military infrastructure was gradually removed from the site.
After the war, the site was turned into a golf course, showing how a former military zone became a place for everyday recreation. The flat, open ground still carries traces of the old runway beneath the grass.
The site sits close to Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands, making it easy to reach from the city center. Visiting during the drier months is more comfortable, as the climate can be very hot and humid.
Both American and New Zealand air forces used the airfield at the same time, making it one of the few jointly operated bases in the Pacific. This kind of direct cooperation between two separate national forces was rare during the Pacific campaign.
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