Henderson Field (Honiara International Airport)

Henderson Field (Honiara International Airport)

Honiara International Airport is the principal Air Point of Departure (APOD) for the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI). The former Henderson Field was renamed Honiara International Airport in September 2003, after the RAMSI deployment in July that year.

Henderson Airfield –  [Google Earth*] Location: S9° 25′ 44.99″, E160° 02′ 47.80″.

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Aerial view of Honiara International Airport, Australian War Memorial (AWM) photograph

“Aerial view of Honiara International Airport, formerly Henderson Field, taken from a UH-1H ‘Huey’ Iroquois helicopter belonging to No. 3 Squadron, RNZAF. The airport was used as the principal Air Point of Departure for the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI), and the camp established by RAMSI can be seen in front of the terminal building. Australian and New Zealand helicopters can be seen. Crews of the four RNZAF helicopters, deployed under Operation Rata, worked closely with the crews of four Australian UH-1H Iroquois helicopters from 171 Squadron of 1 Aviation Regiment, deployed under Operation Anode. They carried out reconnaissance, transport of personnel and equipment to remote areas, and medical evacuation duties. The former Henderson Field was renamed Honiara International Airport in September 2003. It had been established during the Second World War, and played a key role in the battle of Guadalcanal.”

Anode’s first shots, Captain Andrew Bird, Army – the soldiers’ newspaper, 1 July 2004

“The first shots by Australian soldiers deployed on Op Anode have been fired in the Solomon Islands during the opening of the new RAMSI range in Honiara. …The Combined Task Force has commenced weapons firing practices as part of an ongoing training program designed to ensure all members remain proficient in weapon handling. The range has been established on private land north east of Henderson International Airport, in the vicinity of Tenaru Beach and is arguably one of the ADF’s most picturesque firing ranges.”

Signposts at Honiara International Airport (Henderson Field), Australian War Memorial (AWM) photograph

Signposts erected by members of the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) at Honiara International Airport (Henderson Field). They give distances to Townsville, Qld, headquarters of the Australian Army’s Ready Deployment force; to the RNZAF base at Ohakea, New Zealand; to the RAAF base at Amberley, Qld; to 171 Squadron, 1 Aviation Regiment’s base at Oakey, Queensland; and to Suva, capital of Fiji. These reflect the units based at Honiara airport: four Australian UH-1H ‘Huey’ Iroquois helicopters from 171 Squadron of 1 Aviation Regiment, two DHC-4 Caribous from 38 Squadron RAAF, members of the Australian Force Support Battalion, and four New Zealand UH-1H ‘Huey’ Iroquois helicopters from No. 3 Squadron RNZAF. A rifle company from the Republic of Fiji Military Forces provided security for the base. A flagpole flies the Australian and New Zealand flags. Australian forces were deployed under Operation Anode, and New Zealand forces under Operation Rata.”

Aerial view of Honiara International Airport, Australian War Memorial (AWM) photograph

Aerial view of Honiara International Airport, formerly Henderson Field, the principal Air Point of Departure (APOD) for the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI). … The large building on the left of the complex is the international terminal; to the right of the terminal is the camp used by aircrew from the Royal New Zealand Air Force and Australian Army Aviation, and support forces. The APOD was protected by a rifle company from the Republic of Fiji military forces.”

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