Wartime map of the Segond Channel, Espiritu Santo

A seaplane base was established in 1943 on the shores of the Segond Channel, south of the Luganville township at Belchif Point alongside the estuary of the Wambu River.
"For a seaplane base, the 7th Battalion constructed a parking area, two pre-fabricated 85-by-100-foot nose hangars, warehouses, quonset huts, and two seaplane ramps in Segond Channel."

Seaplanes were an essential feature of the war in the Pacific. Apart from their ability to patrol vast areas of ocean, they were vital for rescue work. At this time, in an area larger than continental Europe, there were around 15 'friendly' airfields available to Allied aircraft. Consequentially standard practice for any allied aircraft in trouble was to head out to sea, radio position details, and ditch. The nearest Catalina base would then hopefully dispatch an aircraft to effect a rescue.
The RNZAF had acquired 56 PBY-5 and PB2B-1 Catalinas under lend-lease from mid-1943. They were all Seacats - pure flying boats not amphibians.
6 Squadron was declared operational with Catalinas at Fiji in August 1943 and moved to Santo the following October. They then moved on to Halavo Bay in the Solomon Islands in December 1943.
5 Squadron acquired their Catalinas in Fiji July 1944 and moved to Santo in October. Moving back to Lauthala Bay, Fiji, in November 1945 they retained a detachment at Santo until the following year.
RNZAF Catalinas at the Segond Channel Base during this time


Above photos via Nev Mines
NZ4029 Espirito Santo 30Sep1945
Naturally, I was keen to visit this area and investigate what remained on the site after all this time.
However, all land in Vanuatu belongs to someone, even the waterfront. No 'Queens chain' of public property here. I was firmly told that access to this area was not available. You can drive along the public road and cross the Wambu River bridge, but that's as close as you can get. The owners are not willing to allow any visitors
As usual, I wailed and bemoaned my fate. Here I was, so close and yet so far. I had come 1500 miles and could go no further.
My wife, who is well used to my moods, took a more practical approach. She spoke to a waiter. The waiter had a second cousin who just might have a friend of a friend who could possibly arrange something.
So there was a clandestine meeting in a back alley by the light of the moon. Promises were made, gold and virgins changed hands. (OK, I'm exaggerating a bit here, but you get the drift). A covert early morning operation was arranged, a quick silent stealthy in-and-out promised.
Stand by for the next gripping update.