Nukufetau Airfield

The airfield was closed due to military obsolescence. It was a forward operating base built by the United States during World War II. As the Allied forces advanced across the Pacific towards Japan, the front lines moved far beyond the operational range of aircraft based at Nukufetau. The base was no longer strategically necessary for the war effort and was subsequently abandoned when US forces were withdrawn at the end of the war. There was no economic or civilian justification to maintain an airfield of its size in such a remote location post-war.

The site of Nukufetau Airfield is currently abandoned and in a state of decay. The large coral runway, taxiways, and hardstands built by the Seabees are still visible from satellite imagery but are heavily overgrown with vegetation. The infrastructure is unusable for any modern aviation purposes. The area is littered with remnants from the war, including abandoned military equipment, collapsed structures, and potentially unexploded ordnance. The former airfield grounds are now part of the natural landscape of Motulalo Island, with some parts possibly used for minor local activities by the inhabitants of the atoll, but it is not maintained in any formal capacity.

Nukufetau Airfield holds significant historical importance as a major United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) and U.S. Navy base during the Pacific Campaign of World War II. Construction began in August 1943 by the U.S. Navy's 2nd Naval Construction Battalion (Seabees) on Motulalo Islet. The airfield became a critical strategic asset for the Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign.

Key Operations and Units:
- It served as a forward base for the USAAF Seventh Air Force.
- It hosted B-24 Liberator heavy bombers, primarily from the 11th Bombardment Group and the 30th Bombardment Group.
- From this airfield, bombing missions were launched against Japanese-held targets, including Nauru, Tarawa, Makin, and various bases in the Marshall Islands.
- The airfield played a crucial role in neutralizing Japanese airpower in the region, paving the way for successful Allied amphibious invasions, particularly during Operation Galvanic in November 1943.
- By mid-1944, as the Allied advance continued north and west, the base's strategic importance waned, and it was gradually phased out of major operations.

There are no known or credible plans or prospects for reopening Nukufetau Airfield. Tuvalu's national and international air transport needs are served by Funafuti International Airport (FUN). The immense cost required to clear the vegetation, excavate the old runway, and reconstruct it to modern standards is prohibitive. Furthermore, there is no economic, logistical, or demographic demand that would justify such a massive investment in a second international-standard runway in Tuvalu, especially on a remote outer island like Nukufetau.