construction battalion
TRANSCRIPT
40th Naval Construction Battalion
DA!!!J QWIODS $TJiQRI 30 Jun'44 33 · 68 Beaap.
1 Aug'44 23 ·1006 Moll 1 Sapl44 . 24 738 BNP625 &Ii 1 Dec l44 826 BNPS25 1 Jul4i) 1036 DP6a5 lleb'45 1068 lliP635 1 Nar'45 1067 m625 1 .,1'146 26 lOU 6a& &s Moll
010158 #1 ,""45 DP625 1 Jun'45 26 10M lloater 'JIP625 1 Jul'4S as 1045 llostar &. JHP625 1 Augl45 25 1024 mJP625 eli: R 1 Septl45 676 :BNP625 1 Octl~5 13 694 R &I BNP625 1 Nov l 4S 11 597 lmP625 &; Ii
I 40th Construction Batt 110A (INAC~IVA!l!'im). . L __ __...._ 0 _ _ _ 0 ' _ . _ . · _. _ _ 0 _ 0 _0 '. 0 • • 0 • _
__~_______________o _____________________________
~b OO.DUC!IOJU.~iol
8 Deo. 1M2 hoao .etC " .AID DaTi.Till•• . a& ])eo. 1M2 labam.. ·f1'0. DaTi.Yill•• : I J.b. lMZ ,",1.e4 lIepU1.tu 8ulo.
2? £pr. INa Op.raU-.g at 3apil'lh. ""0. 12 J.uc. 1961 Operat111C at .~1J'i. S..... 20 Oct. 1941 0pe1'at1ac at ~11"iR SeaM. al Boy. lH3 Greater part of battaU.Oil UTiYH a' 10__• 15 ])ec. 1::3 Ani", at ftuollhatell B. O. 22 Dees. 1
.2 Mar. 19" 138 _a. 13 otticer. uri••'.~ 1.t echo ot 17\h Beet. at 1.0. )faero. (Kamot. j!l'.trip)
9 Mar. lEll13 liar. 1~ lalanc. of Bect. U"1'1••4 (1'1~ Beet. I'.,t. Mar.) 30 Mar. 1
1 J.pl'. lK4 lIon\hl7 Dept. - at IIamw 8 Ka7 1"" lalapc. ot B.ct. at Maau .
31 Nq 1"' Locate4 t Lo. B'egro., -'4IIiralt7 I •• (comaarlor '1 n,.••c. ltl' "'9, aer. lIP-oQI40'1 to ])lrpacdocka 8 Ju. 1944)
22 lull' 1944 OperatiDl at llanv.., Ad.Itlraltr I ••
. 40th 0 .. :8. 2nd Embarkat 101st Embarka.tion . oro --BqTO . - DaVisville
ABD - Parka ' ADD - Davisv11l~ Read.Y DEtte- 30 Jan'45ReCiod¥ Dat'a.,.. - ..P'1 ~ 42 Aq . . . . . Left UD - 1 Feb t 45Left A.JJD ,.,,- ~ec142 m c~.e~~i+"S4~'f-'( .
UNttllat10Jl - _ J,;G-S8~'\.oPA o. Jiaaaalaa tca:aa.. Location - "&i:p8.... " OldDawa
II- (,-'(-?. $q,r. ~/:.s.,- I#J#/~"I •
I a-I ·V'l- 7J. 1M J, r~1'J-~f!/ I\I.~ rc.. f ~ t9E,l) ~~ tl'1j,,,., 1/e- J"!T.... 12- 1..42 - 4~ OB, oonsisting of approximntell 2? officers and~ .men. to be t~nsferred
from NOTO Davisville to ABD Davisville on 8 Dec. (~dook& ltr to ONO dtd 1 Dec'42) 12-24-42 - Dep~.rtEld Da.visville m. Z 7 ~ rFtee;.~ ID l.- Z. I'J'1e;t.
1..20-43 - Propoaed Espiritu Santo - Enroute Lion 1. 4- 1-12 _ Arrived ~8piritu Santo 3 ?eb I 43. 5-11-43 - The 40th CB i8 located at Eiplrltu Santo. (ComNavBaseaSoPae area to OomSoPac Sec.
Itr. dtd 5-11-43) 2-14-44 - Oot &Nov report ~f 40th CB _ orders were received 13 Nov'13 to move to a n~w bale.
Greater part of batt. IU'rived NOWD8a 3CI) llov l 43. . 2-18-44 - 1 Jan'44 report of 40th CB - located at F1n8~en. New Gulnea. The 40th eB
arrived Flnschafen in two group. - 15 and 33 Dec'43. 3-t5-44 - 1 Feb l 44 report of 40th OB - operating at rinacha!en. 5-17-44 - 40th CB is at i'=nn1' (J..ES 5/16/44) Li?~ P~9;1P So; t94"1#( I;'" Q I..,I/~ s: • 6- 2-44 - 1 Apr' 44 rapo rt of 40th tJB - o!,erat tng at ...... I' t , Lee. J\tot.;
6- 7-44 - 338 men and 12 officer! of 4OthOB e.rrived with lit. Echelon of 17th Reg. at hi '?.Y~.s 3 Mar'44. The balance of Re~. arrived 9 Mar. L~ Mar, and 30 Mar l 44. (17th .Reg. . Mar'44 report)
. ; ..... ' .. "" " .. 40th O.'B.
0-22-44 - 1 MFy'44 report of 40th ClI - LAnded at HyaneRarbor a Mar'44 with 12 officers and 338 men. Rehabilitated the Momote Airstrip with 46th ~Dd 78th CBB • .
6-26-44 - 40th CB is 1oe~ted at LOB NegroB as of 31 Mayl44. (Comeervfor7flt Sec. ltr A-O over Ser. BP-OOl407 to D1rpRcdoeks dtd 8 Jun'44) .
7-~2-44 - 1 Jun'¥- rellort of 40th 011 - operating at 11....1*. I .. J..~~ 1-1'.1,$:' ,;t1d'r$';'I1IW~,:. 8-10-44 - 1 Jul l 44 report of 40th ClI - operating !n Admiralties. 8-17-44 - 1 Jun'44 report of 17th Reg. - 350 personnel received by 40th CE from CD 2178
and Gl99 were ordered transferred to ABOD Manus effeotive when the 40th ell leaves thia area.cr~J.e ~,...,,,, _IJ~I re r~" ;"" 14'11'11 7Ae 84"t7· ~ /V''/'E'?1t ~'I'
8-21-44 _ 40th CB to be returned to U.S. when transportation 18 Available. Personnp.l rec1d Rfter 1 Sepl43 to be assigned to 18th Reg. for dt~o8ition. (Com8eronsopac Sec. Di8~. 180848 NCR 89~~~ 18 Aug'44 to eN! Woumea)
8-25-44 - 40th CB locRted at • Following data of SoPac PS of 1 Jul'44:0
Arr1v d Ispiritu Santo Dee' 42 .. ?lnsahaten ~43 • tfr7m:,L()s.Nt:9'~ " . Mar' 44
8-31-44 - 40th OB, locRted ~t Noumea. ready to 8~11 '0 U.S. with 22 off1cArs and 715 men. (Comseronsopac Sec. Dlsp. 272110 NCR 28 Aug'44 to CNO~
9- 9-44 - 40th CB dsps.rted from Uoumea 5 Se~ to San .Frtul. {Coms('ronsopae disp. 060550 NCa 2702 to D1rpaedoek9 S.F.) 21 Of~~~.,pl""" 7~o pll!'~, 1..1J.s.N&
9-15-,* - 1 r·ug l 44 report of 40th CB - then located at Noumea. Oompleted E'.ll work e.t i' iff ",~ 18 Jul'44 'U1d depart Ad fo r Nownsf!'. 21 3'111' 44) . .
9-25-44 _ 40th CB arrived Parke 16 Sepl" with iJ Of, ~t6 men. (19TWX2.G04 sep'l~ ) Above are on overseas leave until 23 'OCt. MT 3 Sep144 from Parka -';0 docks9-dO-44
. 40th ·O.!.
9-25-44 - 1 Sept44 report ot 40th O! - bpected" to • our frOID project on 2 Ssp'44. 9-30-44 - 1 Sep'44 report of 17 h liege _ 1'he 40tb em aecN.re4 all work in this area on
14 Jul'44 and were detached trom this baie on 20 Jul t 44. 11- 4-44 - 1 Sepl44 report of 18th Reg. - 40th CB reported to the 18th Reg. on 1 AugI44.
253 men vere transferred to tho 18th Beg. tor further assignment. 11-21-44 - 1 Oot'44 report ot 18th Reg. - e 40th CBVaa detached fro th Begi_nt on
a Sepl44. ~
--.~------- 1-12-45 -- The 40th as as~igned to Cincpoa - given Jan l 45 priority tor Sa1pan shipmAnt.
req,uest thl2 t Parks make the 40th CB rea~ by 20 Jan 145 - mu.st depart from Parks before 2 Feb'45.(auO Sec. d1Bp to Parks and ComwesSeafron 081945 dtd 9 Jan l 45).
1-1.7~5 -- The 40th CB is assigned to Cincpoa to go to Sa.1pan tor duty pending further trans-·· fer to final dest1n:l.tion. (eNO Sec. ltr Op30-2ClO.4-UOT/rc OVer (SO)1'16-5 over Sere 0013930 to Budocks, Busanda and Parke dtd 11 Jan '45).
1-17-45 -- The 40th as scheduled to ship ETD 30 Jan'45.(Com 12 Sec. disp to Cincpoa 130056 dtd 13 Jan l 45). .
1-30-45 -- Th. 40th CB is aa81~led to BIVB(ONO Sec. 1tr Op3Q-2CK12-UOT over (SO)Pl6-5 ovor Ser. 0019030 to distribution list dtd 15 Jan l 45).
1-30-45 - Th. 40th CB 18 to leave the West Coast for Saipan. (Comeervpac Sec. diap to CllO 212311 dtd 22 Jan l 45).
2- 8-45 - ~ 40th CB left the U.S. 1 leb'45 with 26 officers and 1068 men. (Parks Sec Dlsp to Bupers 020015 dtd 2 lI'eb l 45) "
3-8-46 - According to Dlrpacdock8 Ian Iran 1.5 J'ab '45 report th.e 40th OB 1s located at Salpan.
----, ~ .. ' Location - ~ t Okinawa . "
"
!be 40th CB va.· ill 'ran.1" fro 3l. lu', to 18 Mazl 45. (Muster Boll ot 40th CB 4&t.4 31 Ka.r1 4C5.) .
5- 8-45 - !i!he 40th 0» is located at Saipan.. .A.adgned Okinawa. (Dirpacdoc1ta S.!'. Sec Rep of 15 Apr145)
6-18-45 - 1 Apr'45 report of 40th CB - locate4 at Siapan. -Departed San Francisco 2 Feb' 45. arrived at Pearl IJarbo..-lO Jeb'4C5. arrl....d at hiwetok 5 Mar'45 &. &rri.ed at 51apan 18 Mar'45. Report routed via 42nd Beg ,. lDth Brig. .
6-28-45 - 1 Jun l 45 report ot the 40th Ol! - lOQated at Okinawa and Saipan.2 off. and 49 meB left Saipan for Okinawa 11 Apr'45. 1at echelon, consisting of 707 men and 19 off. left Salpan 20 Apr' 45 and arriYed.. at Okinawa 30 Apr l 45. and echelon, consist1.a& ot 298 men and 5 off. remaining at Saipan. Report via 42nd Reg and 10th Brg.
7-14-45 - 40th c:a detached 1 July from the 42nd Beg. Ordered to proceed immediately- and report to OinO 44th Reg tor duty-. (10th Brg .ec orders aar 00134 dtd l' July to OinC 40th O:a) ~1
7-18--45 - 1 Jul l 45 report . of the 40th CB - located at O.ltl~a.. i8p0n 'f1a 42Dd. ~ &- 10th Bri«.
7-~-45 - The 40th CB is assigned to the 10th 13rg and 44th Reg. e1'feciive 10 July. (COT AFO 331 sec rdport on assignment at CB units ear 897 dtd 10 July)
7-26-45 - 'l!be -40th CD reported to the 44th ieg OD 1 lul'45. (44th Beg Sec alldorlement dtd 1 Jul l 45 to OinO 40th aD)
8-14-45 - 1 Aug' 45 report of the 40th CD - located at Okinawa. Report via .44th lieg & 10th Brig.
Location - Oklnnva
9-~5-45 - 1 Sept 145 report of 40th CB .., located at Okinawa. Report via 44th Reg &: lOth l1rlg.
10-17-45 - OllOB. Okinawa request' authority to inactivate the 40th OB. (CNOB, Okinawa cont Ipdltr ear 0203 dtd 20 Sept'45 to Oomaervpac).
10-24-45 - 1 Oci'45 report f 40th CB - looat c1. at Ok:ill8 a. Beport 1'1a 44th Reg. &: 10th Brg. 10;..30-45 -.CoJllaenpaa approve I the 1Dacti1'atioll. of the 40th OBi (Com8ervpac cont Ipd.ltr aer
05522 did 6 Oct'45 to Cincpoa). 11-14-45 - OomBervpac 4irects Oomdt. Okinawa to inactivate the 40th OB. j,d,1'1se Comservpac when
inactivation i completed. (OOJllssrvpao cont spdltr eer 05659 dtd 23 Oct'45 to Comdt •• NOB, Okinawa). ,
12-5-45 - 1 Nov t 45 report of 40th 0:8 - looation.not stated. 1-31-46 - CNC~. Okinewa to CSP ser 6510 dtd 1 Dec'45 ltr states the 40th CB VA.8 inactive.ted
on 28 Nov'45. (D1rwespacdocka cont rpt dtd 10 Jan'46).
· .", ..... ... -~
40m UNITED STATES NAVAI.. COi~STRUCTION j3ATTALION
The 40~h United Sta~es Naval Construction Battalion was commissioned in
November 1942 ae Camp Endicot~, Davisvil le , Rhode Island. Toward the end
of December of that year, aiter several weeks of military and technical
traini ng, the battalion entrained at Davisvi lle and headed southward. Ch~i.~~
mas Day the ne," Seabees boarded a t r ansporr: in the harbor of Norfolk, Virginia
and two days later sailed for the Pacifi c Ocean.
On February 3, 1943, the 40th ~attalion reacheG Espiritu Santo in the
New Hebrides, where the U. S. Navy and Army were con ~ ~~uct iilg a major oper
ating base for u se in the war agai nst Japan. The battalion buil t a third
bomber base at Luganville, complete wi t h a runway, taxiways, and h~rdstands,
and all of it was cut out of dense jungl e. Also, it buil t a tank farm,
warehouse s , hangars, quons et huts, utili ty systems, and 15 mi l es of two-lane
roads through the jungle.
With it~ projects on Espiri tu Santo sub s tantially comp l ec~iJ ~he 40th
Battal ion sailed on November 25, 1943. fo r Finschhafen in Brit i sh ~~et... Guinea,
by way of Noumea and Milne Bay, and arrived on Decemb er 15, 1943. 3ecaus e
Finschhafen was iu the f orward area, Seabee s of the battalion got cl~air
bapt i sm of fire and became confirmed f oxho le dwe:lers. TI1ey built a~ ~~uy
stag i ilg area f or 17 , 000 men, with camp and s torage f acilities, 1.4 LST loading
ramps, and IS miles of two-lane roads wi t b several timbar bridge~.
On February 29, 1944, advance e l ements of che U. S. Army's ls c Cava l ry
Divis ion landed on Los Negros i n th", Admiral ty group on a reconnaiss ance
mission. ' Fi nding the i s land lightly he l d, t he division I s mi ss ion i mmediate iy
became one of i nvasion and occup ation. Consequent l y , tha t same day , t he
United States high command ordered ~einiorcements, and before nightfall the
first reinforcements, including about one-half of the 40th Construction
Battalion, left Finschhafen.
They l anded on Los Negros during the morning of Harch 2, 1944, amidst
heavy Japanese bombing and mortar and sma ll-arms fire. Soon aiter unloadin:;;
.- ....... . . ...
units defending the beachhead and the adjacen~ Japanese-built Momote airfield.
Later in the day, when the American forces had advanced across the run
way, the Seabces began rebuilding the badly battered airfield while still
under Japan~se sniper fire from nearby coconut groves. Eight days after
their initial landing, the Seabees had the airfield operating for United
States and Australian military aircraft.
During the remainder of March, the other echelons of the battalion
arrived. The entire battalion then completed the airfield and its auxiliary
facilities and built roads and supply facilities. For heroism in combat and
distinguished service on Los Negros, the 40th Naval Construction Battalion
was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation.
The 40th Battalion remained at Los Negros until Jul y 21, 1944. Then
it went to Noumea , New Caledonia, for rest and acclimat i on. After spending
six weeks in building a large camp, it sailed from New Caledonia and headed
for the United States mainland.
On September 18, 1944, the 40th Battal ion arrived at Crunp Parks in
California, and the veteran Seabees immediately were gran~ed 30-day leave.
Afterwards t he battalion was re-formed and brought up to full strength by
replacements from all parts of the United Stat es. Then crune three months
of intensive and advanced mi l itary and technical training, and once again
the Seabees were ready for battl e and for bui l ding.
The battal i on lef t Camp Parks on February 1 , 1945', and the nex~ day
sail ed in convoy from San Francisco on transport Adabel l e Lykes. After a
two-week l ayover in t he Hawai ian Is l ~nds ) it arrived on March 18 at Saipan
in the Mariana Is l ands and began prep aring f or the invas ion of Okinawa Is i and.
The invasion of Okinawa began on Easter Sunday, April 1, 1945. Some
construction battalions went ashore as combat engineers with the assault
troops , but because of limited beach capacity at the target, other battalions
were schedul ed to land in fo llow-up echelons as rapidly as Shipping priori t i es
permit t ed. .Among the fol l ow-up con:.; truc t :.on t r oops were the 40th Seabees,
who were staged at Sai pan on landing sh i ps returned from the assaul t echelull';;.
Between the 27th and the 30th of April, the f irst battalion echelons landed
on the east coast of Okinawa and developed their own beach. The remaining
echelons landed during May.
Although the 40th Battalion was scheduled to immediately begin work on
rehabilitating and expanding Chimu Airfield, the site was still in the heart
of the battle zone and the work could not begin until May 6. The battalion
built its camp near Chimu and was under Japanese attack from l ight mortar
and small-arms fire through May. The Japanese also attempted to sabotage
equipment and supplies with exp l osive charges. Frequent enemy contacts were
made by Seabee reconnaissance survey partie s and by Seabee outpost guards
intercepting small enemy patrols and armed stragglers.
Upon the cessation of organized J apanese resistance on Okinawa, the
40th Battalion could exert most of its effort on bui l ding the airfield and
working on base development projects . During the morning of Ju l y 1, one
hundred United States planes arrived and Ch i mu airfield was put in operation
on schedule. All the work was compl eted on the last day of the T,lar.
Greatl y diminished in strength be cause many Seabees had already l eft
for t he United States and demobiliza tion i n Operation Magic Carpet, the
40th Nava l Construction Battalion was i nact ivated on Okinawa in November 1945.
Thus the battalion ended t hree glorious years or building and fighting to
defeat the Japanese on many i slands oi t he Pacif ic Ocean.
- 3
RESrPJ:CTED
........... ....... . , ... ........ .. . . ..... . .. . . ... . . u . ..~.:
Battalion transferred from nCTC,! Davisvill'e,' R:I~ ~ 'fo ABO, Davisville, R.I. L.~L' S. RaImU~3'1
Battalion departed fram Devisvi1le.Ffi:overSeag ...... .£ f'"' ; r.l Signatu:",
Battalion embarked for overseas duty.
.Arrived ~piri tu Santo. New lIe brides•
Departed Espiritu Santo, Us\/' Hebrides in two echelons 1st Ec~e1on -25 Officers, 715 r~n 2nd Echelon - 4. Offioers, 148 men
1st Echelon arr!vea Noumsa. New Caledonia.
2nd Scb.e1on arrived :Jou::::.;a. New Caledonia.
1st ::chelon departed l.oumea, New Caledonia.
2nd Echg10n departed r:ou,-nsa, 3m'l Caled;:;nia.
1st ~chalon arrived 11.1ne Bay, New Gtl.inea.
1st Echelon de]arted D.1ne Bay, New Guinea.
1st Echelon ar~ived Finschafen. Ne~Guinea.
2nd 3chalon arrived -"inschefen, New Guinea.
1at Ee' alon consis t i ilg of 12 officers End 338 men left Finscll..afen, 1;~ 'i'T Guinea.
2nd Echelon consis t:nS of 9 officers ~d 304 ~n left Finschafen, 173';1 Juillea.
3rd 3che1on co~si3ting of 4 officers and 53 m:.n left F1nschai''3n t :.-;':'7 Guin~a.
1st J:chelon arri vad Los :::-e.g-.coa, ).d!:ti.ral ty Isl~da.
,30 • :arch. 1cU!.J • • 3rd · ~chelo:J. 8.!'::'i-.-aj IDs :~ gros, ).dnira.!.ty· Isle:l.d.s.
21 July leI, ,,, ....... 3att elion :;'~pa=t3d Los l;egros, lX.:iralty Is' ·:uus.
30 July 1944. Arrived :~o>.El~a , 17si7 Caledonia.
5 Septe-:;ber 1944
RESTRICTED
Arrived Cam, Parka, Ca1iforDia
Bat ·'-alion departed Cemp Parks, Ce.1ifornia for 2nd . tour overseas duty, destination 3IVS via RODE.
Arrived HODE
JiL {, ' . "
.. -- .... . .; ::.-: ....
21 July 1944
18 Sept 1944
01 Feb 1945
18 Mar 1945
Chronology
The 40th Naval Construction Battalion was commissioned at Camp Endicott, Davisville, Rhode Island. After several weeks of military and technical training, the battalion entrained at Davisville and headed southward. The 40th Battalion reached Espiritu Santo in the New Hebrides. The battalion built a third bomber base at Luganville. The battalion left Espiritu Santo and sailed for Finschhafen in British New Guinea and arrived December 15, 1943. One half of the 40th Construction Battalion left Finschhafen. Landed on Los Negros, Seabees of the 40th Battalion were rushed to front-line combat positions to reinforce Army units defending the beachhead and the adjacent Japanese-built Momote airfield. The 40th Battalion left Los Negros and went to Noumea, New Caledonia, for rest and acclimation. After spending six weeks in building a large camp, it sailed from New Caledonia and headed for the United States mainland. The 40th Battalion arrived at Camp Parks in California. Then came three months of intensive and advanced military and technical training, and once again the Seabees were ready for battle and for building. The battalion left Camp parks and sailed in convoy from San Francisco on transport Adabelle Lykes. The battalion arrived at Saipan in the Mariana Islands and began preparing for the invasion of Okinawa Island. The 40th Naval Construction Battalion was inactivated on Okinawa.
40th Naval Construction Battalion
CDR Irvin S. Rasmusson, CEC, USNR Nov 1942 - Oct 1944
LCDR Henry 1. Rrnbarger, CEC, USNR Oct 1944 - Nov 1945
2
ADPD938.tmp
Historical
Information
DA!!!J QWIODS $TJiQRI 30 Jun'44 33 · 68 Beaap.
1 Aug'44 23 ·1006 Moll 1 Sapl44 . 24 738 BNP625 &Ii 1 Dec l44 826 BNPS25 1 Jul4i) 1036 DP6a5 lleb'45 1068 lliP635 1 Nar'45 1067 m625 1 .,1'146 26 lOU 6a& &s Moll
010158 #1 ,""45 DP625 1 Jun'45 26 10M lloater 'JIP625 1 Jul'4S as 1045 llostar &. JHP625 1 Augl45 25 1024 mJP625 eli: R 1 Septl45 676 :BNP625 1 Octl~5 13 694 R &I BNP625 1 Nov l 4S 11 597 lmP625 &; Ii
I 40th Construction Batt 110A (INAC~IVA!l!'im). . L __ __...._ 0 _ _ _ 0 ' _ . _ . · _. _ _ 0 _ 0 _0 '. 0 • • 0 • _
__~_______________o _____________________________
~b OO.DUC!IOJU.~iol
8 Deo. 1M2 hoao .etC " .AID DaTi.Till•• . a& ])eo. 1M2 labam.. ·f1'0. DaTi.Yill•• : I J.b. lMZ ,",1.e4 lIepU1.tu 8ulo.
2? £pr. INa Op.raU-.g at 3apil'lh. ""0. 12 J.uc. 1961 Operat111C at .~1J'i. S..... 20 Oct. 1941 0pe1'at1ac at ~11"iR SeaM. al Boy. lH3 Greater part of battaU.Oil UTiYH a' 10__• 15 ])ec. 1::3 Ani", at ftuollhatell B. O. 22 Dees. 1
.2 Mar. 19" 138 _a. 13 otticer. uri••'.~ 1.t echo ot 17\h Beet. at 1.0. )faero. (Kamot. j!l'.trip)
9 Mar. lEll13 liar. 1~ lalanc. of Bect. U"1'1••4 (1'1~ Beet. I'.,t. Mar.) 30 Mar. 1
1 J.pl'. lK4 lIon\hl7 Dept. - at IIamw 8 Ka7 1"" lalapc. ot B.ct. at Maau .
31 Nq 1"' Locate4 t Lo. B'egro., -'4IIiralt7 I •• (comaarlor '1 n,.••c. ltl' "'9, aer. lIP-oQI40'1 to ])lrpacdocka 8 Ju. 1944)
22 lull' 1944 OperatiDl at llanv.., Ad.Itlraltr I ••
. 40th 0 .. :8. 2nd Embarkat 101st Embarka.tion . oro --BqTO . - DaVisville
ABD - Parka ' ADD - Davisv11l~ Read.Y DEtte- 30 Jan'45ReCiod¥ Dat'a.,.. - ..P'1 ~ 42 Aq . . . . . Left UD - 1 Feb t 45Left A.JJD ,.,,- ~ec142 m c~.e~~i+"S4~'f-'( .
UNttllat10Jl - _ J,;G-S8~'\.oPA o. Jiaaaalaa tca:aa.. Location - "&i:p8.... " OldDawa
II- (,-'(-?. $q,r. ~/:.s.,- I#J#/~"I •
I a-I ·V'l- 7J. 1M J, r~1'J-~f!/ I\I.~ rc.. f ~ t9E,l) ~~ tl'1j,,,., 1/e- J"!T.... 12- 1..42 - 4~ OB, oonsisting of approximntell 2? officers and~ .men. to be t~nsferred
from NOTO Davisville to ABD Davisville on 8 Dec. (~dook& ltr to ONO dtd 1 Dec'42) 12-24-42 - Dep~.rtEld Da.visville m. Z 7 ~ rFtee;.~ ID l.- Z. I'J'1e;t.
1..20-43 - Propoaed Espiritu Santo - Enroute Lion 1. 4- 1-12 _ Arrived ~8piritu Santo 3 ?eb I 43. 5-11-43 - The 40th CB i8 located at Eiplrltu Santo. (ComNavBaseaSoPae area to OomSoPac Sec.
Itr. dtd 5-11-43) 2-14-44 - Oot &Nov report ~f 40th CB _ orders were received 13 Nov'13 to move to a n~w bale.
Greater part of batt. IU'rived NOWD8a 3CI) llov l 43. . 2-18-44 - 1 Jan'44 report of 40th CB - located at F1n8~en. New Gulnea. The 40th eB
arrived Flnschafen in two group. - 15 and 33 Dec'43. 3-t5-44 - 1 Feb l 44 report of 40th OB - operating at rinacha!en. 5-17-44 - 40th CB is at i'=nn1' (J..ES 5/16/44) Li?~ P~9;1P So; t94"1#( I;'" Q I..,I/~ s: • 6- 2-44 - 1 Apr' 44 rapo rt of 40th tJB - o!,erat tng at ...... I' t , Lee. J\tot.;
6- 7-44 - 338 men and 12 officer! of 4OthOB e.rrived with lit. Echelon of 17th Reg. at hi '?.Y~.s 3 Mar'44. The balance of Re~. arrived 9 Mar. L~ Mar, and 30 Mar l 44. (17th .Reg. . Mar'44 report)
. ; ..... ' .. "" " .. 40th O.'B.
0-22-44 - 1 MFy'44 report of 40th ClI - LAnded at HyaneRarbor a Mar'44 with 12 officers and 338 men. Rehabilitated the Momote Airstrip with 46th ~Dd 78th CBB • .
6-26-44 - 40th CB is 1oe~ted at LOB NegroB as of 31 Mayl44. (Comeervfor7flt Sec. ltr A-O over Ser. BP-OOl407 to D1rpRcdoeks dtd 8 Jun'44) .
7-~2-44 - 1 Jun'¥- rellort of 40th 011 - operating at 11....1*. I .. J..~~ 1-1'.1,$:' ,;t1d'r$';'I1IW~,:. 8-10-44 - 1 Jul l 44 report of 40th ClI - operating !n Admiralties. 8-17-44 - 1 Jun'44 report of 17th Reg. - 350 personnel received by 40th CE from CD 2178
and Gl99 were ordered transferred to ABOD Manus effeotive when the 40th ell leaves thia area.cr~J.e ~,...,,,, _IJ~I re r~" ;"" 14'11'11 7Ae 84"t7· ~ /V''/'E'?1t ~'I'
8-21-44 _ 40th CB to be returned to U.S. when transportation 18 Available. Personnp.l rec1d Rfter 1 Sepl43 to be assigned to 18th Reg. for dt~o8ition. (Com8eronsopac Sec. Di8~. 180848 NCR 89~~~ 18 Aug'44 to eN! Woumea)
8-25-44 - 40th CB locRted at • Following data of SoPac PS of 1 Jul'44:0
Arr1v d Ispiritu Santo Dee' 42 .. ?lnsahaten ~43 • tfr7m:,L()s.Nt:9'~ " . Mar' 44
8-31-44 - 40th OB, locRted ~t Noumea. ready to 8~11 '0 U.S. with 22 off1cArs and 715 men. (Comseronsopac Sec. Dlsp. 272110 NCR 28 Aug'44 to CNO~
9- 9-44 - 40th CB dsps.rted from Uoumea 5 Se~ to San .Frtul. {Coms('ronsopae disp. 060550 NCa 2702 to D1rpaedoek9 S.F.) 21 Of~~~.,pl""" 7~o pll!'~, 1..1J.s.N&
9-15-,* - 1 r·ug l 44 report of 40th CB - then located at Noumea. Oompleted E'.ll work e.t i' iff ",~ 18 Jul'44 'U1d depart Ad fo r Nownsf!'. 21 3'111' 44) . .
9-25-44 _ 40th CB arrived Parke 16 Sepl" with iJ Of, ~t6 men. (19TWX2.G04 sep'l~ ) Above are on overseas leave until 23 'OCt. MT 3 Sep144 from Parka -';0 docks9-dO-44
. 40th ·O.!.
9-25-44 - 1 Sept44 report ot 40th O! - bpected" to • our frOID project on 2 Ssp'44. 9-30-44 - 1 Sep'44 report of 17 h liege _ 1'he 40tb em aecN.re4 all work in this area on
14 Jul'44 and were detached trom this baie on 20 Jul t 44. 11- 4-44 - 1 Sepl44 report of 18th Reg. - 40th CB reported to the 18th Reg. on 1 AugI44.
253 men vere transferred to tho 18th Beg. tor further assignment. 11-21-44 - 1 Oot'44 report ot 18th Reg. - e 40th CBVaa detached fro th Begi_nt on
a Sepl44. ~
--.~------- 1-12-45 -- The 40th as as~igned to Cincpoa - given Jan l 45 priority tor Sa1pan shipmAnt.
req,uest thl2 t Parks make the 40th CB rea~ by 20 Jan 145 - mu.st depart from Parks before 2 Feb'45.(auO Sec. d1Bp to Parks and ComwesSeafron 081945 dtd 9 Jan l 45).
1-1.7~5 -- The 40th CB is assigned to Cincpoa to go to Sa.1pan tor duty pending further trans-·· fer to final dest1n:l.tion. (eNO Sec. ltr Op30-2ClO.4-UOT/rc OVer (SO)1'16-5 over Sere 0013930 to Budocks, Busanda and Parke dtd 11 Jan '45).
1-17-45 -- The 40th as scheduled to ship ETD 30 Jan'45.(Com 12 Sec. disp to Cincpoa 130056 dtd 13 Jan l 45). .
1-30-45 -- Th. 40th CB is aa81~led to BIVB(ONO Sec. 1tr Op3Q-2CK12-UOT over (SO)Pl6-5 ovor Ser. 0019030 to distribution list dtd 15 Jan l 45).
1-30-45 - Th. 40th CB 18 to leave the West Coast for Saipan. (Comeervpac Sec. diap to CllO 212311 dtd 22 Jan l 45).
2- 8-45 - ~ 40th CB left the U.S. 1 leb'45 with 26 officers and 1068 men. (Parks Sec Dlsp to Bupers 020015 dtd 2 lI'eb l 45) "
3-8-46 - According to Dlrpacdock8 Ian Iran 1.5 J'ab '45 report th.e 40th OB 1s located at Salpan.
----, ~ .. ' Location - ~ t Okinawa . "
"
!be 40th CB va.· ill 'ran.1" fro 3l. lu', to 18 Mazl 45. (Muster Boll ot 40th CB 4&t.4 31 Ka.r1 4C5.) .
5- 8-45 - !i!he 40th 0» is located at Saipan.. .A.adgned Okinawa. (Dirpacdoc1ta S.!'. Sec Rep of 15 Apr145)
6-18-45 - 1 Apr'45 report of 40th CB - locate4 at Siapan. -Departed San Francisco 2 Feb' 45. arrived at Pearl IJarbo..-lO Jeb'4C5. arrl....d at hiwetok 5 Mar'45 &. &rri.ed at 51apan 18 Mar'45. Report routed via 42nd Beg ,. lDth Brig. .
6-28-45 - 1 Jun l 45 report ot the 40th Ol! - lOQated at Okinawa and Saipan.2 off. and 49 meB left Saipan for Okinawa 11 Apr'45. 1at echelon, consisting of 707 men and 19 off. left Salpan 20 Apr' 45 and arriYed.. at Okinawa 30 Apr l 45. and echelon, consist1.a& ot 298 men and 5 off. remaining at Saipan. Report via 42nd Reg and 10th Brg.
7-14-45 - 40th c:a detached 1 July from the 42nd Beg. Ordered to proceed immediately- and report to OinO 44th Reg tor duty-. (10th Brg .ec orders aar 00134 dtd l' July to OinC 40th O:a) ~1
7-18--45 - 1 Jul l 45 report . of the 40th CB - located at O.ltl~a.. i8p0n 'f1a 42Dd. ~ &- 10th Bri«.
7-~-45 - The 40th CB is assigned to the 10th 13rg and 44th Reg. e1'feciive 10 July. (COT AFO 331 sec rdport on assignment at CB units ear 897 dtd 10 July)
7-26-45 - 'l!be -40th CD reported to the 44th ieg OD 1 lul'45. (44th Beg Sec alldorlement dtd 1 Jul l 45 to OinO 40th aD)
8-14-45 - 1 Aug' 45 report of the 40th CD - located at Okinawa. Report via .44th lieg & 10th Brig.
Location - Oklnnva
9-~5-45 - 1 Sept 145 report of 40th CB .., located at Okinawa. Report via 44th Reg &: lOth l1rlg.
10-17-45 - OllOB. Okinawa request' authority to inactivate the 40th OB. (CNOB, Okinawa cont Ipdltr ear 0203 dtd 20 Sept'45 to Oomaervpac).
10-24-45 - 1 Oci'45 report f 40th CB - looat c1. at Ok:ill8 a. Beport 1'1a 44th Reg. &: 10th Brg. 10;..30-45 -.CoJllaenpaa approve I the 1Dacti1'atioll. of the 40th OBi (Com8ervpac cont Ipd.ltr aer
05522 did 6 Oct'45 to Cincpoa). 11-14-45 - OomBervpac 4irects Oomdt. Okinawa to inactivate the 40th OB. j,d,1'1se Comservpac when
inactivation i completed. (OOJllssrvpao cont spdltr eer 05659 dtd 23 Oct'45 to Comdt •• NOB, Okinawa). ,
12-5-45 - 1 Nov t 45 report of 40th 0:8 - looation.not stated. 1-31-46 - CNC~. Okinewa to CSP ser 6510 dtd 1 Dec'45 ltr states the 40th CB VA.8 inactive.ted
on 28 Nov'45. (D1rwespacdocka cont rpt dtd 10 Jan'46).
· .", ..... ... -~
40m UNITED STATES NAVAI.. COi~STRUCTION j3ATTALION
The 40~h United Sta~es Naval Construction Battalion was commissioned in
November 1942 ae Camp Endicot~, Davisvil le , Rhode Island. Toward the end
of December of that year, aiter several weeks of military and technical
traini ng, the battalion entrained at Davisvi lle and headed southward. Ch~i.~~
mas Day the ne," Seabees boarded a t r ansporr: in the harbor of Norfolk, Virginia
and two days later sailed for the Pacifi c Ocean.
On February 3, 1943, the 40th ~attalion reacheG Espiritu Santo in the
New Hebrides, where the U. S. Navy and Army were con ~ ~~uct iilg a major oper
ating base for u se in the war agai nst Japan. The battalion buil t a third
bomber base at Luganville, complete wi t h a runway, taxiways, and h~rdstands,
and all of it was cut out of dense jungl e. Also, it buil t a tank farm,
warehouse s , hangars, quons et huts, utili ty systems, and 15 mi l es of two-lane
roads through the jungle.
With it~ projects on Espiri tu Santo sub s tantially comp l ec~iJ ~he 40th
Battal ion sailed on November 25, 1943. fo r Finschhafen in Brit i sh ~~et... Guinea,
by way of Noumea and Milne Bay, and arrived on Decemb er 15, 1943. 3ecaus e
Finschhafen was iu the f orward area, Seabee s of the battalion got cl~air
bapt i sm of fire and became confirmed f oxho le dwe:lers. TI1ey built a~ ~~uy
stag i ilg area f or 17 , 000 men, with camp and s torage f acilities, 1.4 LST loading
ramps, and IS miles of two-lane roads wi t b several timbar bridge~.
On February 29, 1944, advance e l ements of che U. S. Army's ls c Cava l ry
Divis ion landed on Los Negros i n th", Admiral ty group on a reconnaiss ance
mission. ' Fi nding the i s land lightly he l d, t he division I s mi ss ion i mmediate iy
became one of i nvasion and occup ation. Consequent l y , tha t same day , t he
United States high command ordered ~einiorcements, and before nightfall the
first reinforcements, including about one-half of the 40th Construction
Battalion, left Finschhafen.
They l anded on Los Negros during the morning of Harch 2, 1944, amidst
heavy Japanese bombing and mortar and sma ll-arms fire. Soon aiter unloadin:;;
.- ....... . . ...
units defending the beachhead and the adjacen~ Japanese-built Momote airfield.
Later in the day, when the American forces had advanced across the run
way, the Seabces began rebuilding the badly battered airfield while still
under Japan~se sniper fire from nearby coconut groves. Eight days after
their initial landing, the Seabees had the airfield operating for United
States and Australian military aircraft.
During the remainder of March, the other echelons of the battalion
arrived. The entire battalion then completed the airfield and its auxiliary
facilities and built roads and supply facilities. For heroism in combat and
distinguished service on Los Negros, the 40th Naval Construction Battalion
was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation.
The 40th Battalion remained at Los Negros until Jul y 21, 1944. Then
it went to Noumea , New Caledonia, for rest and acclimat i on. After spending
six weeks in building a large camp, it sailed from New Caledonia and headed
for the United States mainland.
On September 18, 1944, the 40th Battal ion arrived at Crunp Parks in
California, and the veteran Seabees immediately were gran~ed 30-day leave.
Afterwards t he battalion was re-formed and brought up to full strength by
replacements from all parts of the United Stat es. Then crune three months
of intensive and advanced mi l itary and technical training, and once again
the Seabees were ready for battl e and for bui l ding.
The battal i on lef t Camp Parks on February 1 , 1945', and the nex~ day
sail ed in convoy from San Francisco on transport Adabel l e Lykes. After a
two-week l ayover in t he Hawai ian Is l ~nds ) it arrived on March 18 at Saipan
in the Mariana Is l ands and began prep aring f or the invas ion of Okinawa Is i and.
The invasion of Okinawa began on Easter Sunday, April 1, 1945. Some
construction battalions went ashore as combat engineers with the assault
troops , but because of limited beach capacity at the target, other battalions
were schedul ed to land in fo llow-up echelons as rapidly as Shipping priori t i es
permit t ed. .Among the fol l ow-up con:.; truc t :.on t r oops were the 40th Seabees,
who were staged at Sai pan on landing sh i ps returned from the assaul t echelull';;.
Between the 27th and the 30th of April, the f irst battalion echelons landed
on the east coast of Okinawa and developed their own beach. The remaining
echelons landed during May.
Although the 40th Battalion was scheduled to immediately begin work on
rehabilitating and expanding Chimu Airfield, the site was still in the heart
of the battle zone and the work could not begin until May 6. The battalion
built its camp near Chimu and was under Japanese attack from l ight mortar
and small-arms fire through May. The Japanese also attempted to sabotage
equipment and supplies with exp l osive charges. Frequent enemy contacts were
made by Seabee reconnaissance survey partie s and by Seabee outpost guards
intercepting small enemy patrols and armed stragglers.
Upon the cessation of organized J apanese resistance on Okinawa, the
40th Battalion could exert most of its effort on bui l ding the airfield and
working on base development projects . During the morning of Ju l y 1, one
hundred United States planes arrived and Ch i mu airfield was put in operation
on schedule. All the work was compl eted on the last day of the T,lar.
Greatl y diminished in strength be cause many Seabees had already l eft
for t he United States and demobiliza tion i n Operation Magic Carpet, the
40th Nava l Construction Battalion was i nact ivated on Okinawa in November 1945.
Thus the battalion ended t hree glorious years or building and fighting to
defeat the Japanese on many i slands oi t he Pacif ic Ocean.
- 3
RESrPJ:CTED
........... ....... . , ... ........ .. . . ..... . .. . . ... . . u . ..~.:
Battalion transferred from nCTC,! Davisvill'e,' R:I~ ~ 'fo ABO, Davisville, R.I. L.~L' S. RaImU~3'1
Battalion departed fram Devisvi1le.Ffi:overSeag ...... .£ f'"' ; r.l Signatu:",
Battalion embarked for overseas duty.
.Arrived ~piri tu Santo. New lIe brides•
Departed Espiritu Santo, Us\/' Hebrides in two echelons 1st Ec~e1on -25 Officers, 715 r~n 2nd Echelon - 4. Offioers, 148 men
1st Echelon arr!vea Noumsa. New Caledonia.
2nd Scb.e1on arrived :Jou::::.;a. New Caledonia.
1st ::chelon departed l.oumea, New Caledonia.
2nd Echg10n departed r:ou,-nsa, 3m'l Caled;:;nia.
1st ~chalon arrived 11.1ne Bay, New Gtl.inea.
1st Echelon de]arted D.1ne Bay, New Guinea.
1st Echelon ar~ived Finschafen. Ne~Guinea.
2nd 3chalon arrived -"inschefen, New Guinea.
1at Ee' alon consis t i ilg of 12 officers End 338 men left Finscll..afen, 1;~ 'i'T Guinea.
2nd Echelon consis t:nS of 9 officers ~d 304 ~n left Finschafen, 173';1 Juillea.
3rd 3che1on co~si3ting of 4 officers and 53 m:.n left F1nschai''3n t :.-;':'7 Guin~a.
1st J:chelon arri vad Los :::-e.g-.coa, ).d!:ti.ral ty Isl~da.
,30 • :arch. 1cU!.J • • 3rd · ~chelo:J. 8.!'::'i-.-aj IDs :~ gros, ).dnira.!.ty· Isle:l.d.s.
21 July leI, ,,, ....... 3att elion :;'~pa=t3d Los l;egros, lX.:iralty Is' ·:uus.
30 July 1944. Arrived :~o>.El~a , 17si7 Caledonia.
5 Septe-:;ber 1944
RESTRICTED
Arrived Cam, Parka, Ca1iforDia
Bat ·'-alion departed Cemp Parks, Ce.1ifornia for 2nd . tour overseas duty, destination 3IVS via RODE.
Arrived HODE
JiL {, ' . "
.. -- .... . .; ::.-: ....
21 July 1944
18 Sept 1944
01 Feb 1945
18 Mar 1945
Chronology
The 40th Naval Construction Battalion was commissioned at Camp Endicott, Davisville, Rhode Island. After several weeks of military and technical training, the battalion entrained at Davisville and headed southward. The 40th Battalion reached Espiritu Santo in the New Hebrides. The battalion built a third bomber base at Luganville. The battalion left Espiritu Santo and sailed for Finschhafen in British New Guinea and arrived December 15, 1943. One half of the 40th Construction Battalion left Finschhafen. Landed on Los Negros, Seabees of the 40th Battalion were rushed to front-line combat positions to reinforce Army units defending the beachhead and the adjacent Japanese-built Momote airfield. The 40th Battalion left Los Negros and went to Noumea, New Caledonia, for rest and acclimation. After spending six weeks in building a large camp, it sailed from New Caledonia and headed for the United States mainland. The 40th Battalion arrived at Camp Parks in California. Then came three months of intensive and advanced military and technical training, and once again the Seabees were ready for battle and for building. The battalion left Camp parks and sailed in convoy from San Francisco on transport Adabelle Lykes. The battalion arrived at Saipan in the Mariana Islands and began preparing for the invasion of Okinawa Island. The 40th Naval Construction Battalion was inactivated on Okinawa.
40th Naval Construction Battalion
CDR Irvin S. Rasmusson, CEC, USNR Nov 1942 - Oct 1944
LCDR Henry 1. Rrnbarger, CEC, USNR Oct 1944 - Nov 1945
2
ADPD938.tmp
Historical
Information