Battle for Henderson Field
The airfield was commenced by Japanese forces during World War II. In 1942, the airfield, then under construction by the Imperial Japanese Navy, was captured by the American 1st Marine Division. At that time it became the main project of the Seabees of Naval Construction Battalion 6. Control of the airstrip was the focus of months of fighting in the Battle for Henderson Field during the Guadalcanal campaign of World War II and the Seabees ensured that the airstrip remained operational throughout the battle. Henderson Field was named for Marine Major Lofton Henderson, commanding officer of VMSB-241, who was the first Marine aviator killed in action at the Battle of Midway while leading his squadron in an attack against Japanese carrier forces.