OLDNAVYMCPO
US Veteran, Absent Comrade
Uncommon facts from WWII.
New Caledonia is an archipelago lying in the southwest Pacific Ocean, 750 miles east of Australia.
A French possession that in June 1940 decided to side with the Free French and forced the pro-Vichy governor into exile in Indochina.
In March 1942, Noumea became an important Allied base in the south Pacific. Built by Australia and US Navy SEABEES.
The Navy fleet that fought in the Battle of the Coral Sea in May 1942 was based at Noumea. The base also provided repair facilities for the damaged carrier USS Enterprise.
The 3rd Battalion of SEABEES was commissioned at Camp Allen in the states in May 1942 and in June 1942, Company B shipped out for Noumea. After tours on other islands, the rest of the battalion joined with B Co on New Caledonia in May 1944.
The 6th Naval Construction Battalion, after deployments to Guadalcanal and Tulagi, one month after the invasion in Sept 1942 was deployed to Noumea on March 12, 1943 for 18 months.
The 14th NCB deployed to Noumea on Sept 29, 1942 and later, detachments were sent to Guadalcanal and Espiritu Santo.
The 37th NCB arrived on Noumea on Jan 18, 1943 and remained until Sept 1943 when they were deployed to Guadalcanal.
The 75th NCB arrived in Jun 1943 and stayed until Sept and then on to Bougainville.
Noumea, New Caledonia, was a major transit point for SEABEES on their way to deployments elsewhere in the Pacific Theater. A principal American Naval base and a major player in the war in the Pacific.
New Caledonia is an archipelago lying in the southwest Pacific Ocean, 750 miles east of Australia.
A French possession that in June 1940 decided to side with the Free French and forced the pro-Vichy governor into exile in Indochina.
In March 1942, Noumea became an important Allied base in the south Pacific. Built by Australia and US Navy SEABEES.
The Navy fleet that fought in the Battle of the Coral Sea in May 1942 was based at Noumea. The base also provided repair facilities for the damaged carrier USS Enterprise.
The 3rd Battalion of SEABEES was commissioned at Camp Allen in the states in May 1942 and in June 1942, Company B shipped out for Noumea. After tours on other islands, the rest of the battalion joined with B Co on New Caledonia in May 1944.
The 6th Naval Construction Battalion, after deployments to Guadalcanal and Tulagi, one month after the invasion in Sept 1942 was deployed to Noumea on March 12, 1943 for 18 months.
The 14th NCB deployed to Noumea on Sept 29, 1942 and later, detachments were sent to Guadalcanal and Espiritu Santo.
The 37th NCB arrived on Noumea on Jan 18, 1943 and remained until Sept 1943 when they were deployed to Guadalcanal.
The 75th NCB arrived in Jun 1943 and stayed until Sept and then on to Bougainville.
Noumea, New Caledonia, was a major transit point for SEABEES on their way to deployments elsewhere in the Pacific Theater. A principal American Naval base and a major player in the war in the Pacific.
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