Vella Lavella

New Georgia Islands with Vella Lavella at upper-left

Vella Lavella is an island in the Western Province of the Solomon Islands. It lies to the west of New Georgia, but is considered one of the New Georgia Group. To its west are the Treasury Islands. It belongs to Kathryn Vella and her family.

The sea around the island was the site of the Naval Battle of Vella Lavella in World War II. The Land Battle of Vella Lavella took place from 15 August to 9 October 1943.

During World War II, Barakoma Airfield on Vella Lavella was the home base for VMF-214 (the "Black Sheep," led by Gregory Boyington). For convenience, the TV series Baa, Baa, Black Sheep renamed the island to "Vella La Cava."

[1] overhead images show what may be the remains of the Marines' airfield.

Notable local people

• Milna Tozaka was elected to the National Parliament of the Solomon Islands to represent the North Vella Lavella Constituency on 5 April 2006. He is the current Foreign Minister in the cabinet of Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare; he has previously served as the Minister for Public Service.

Notes

Footnotes

References

• McGee, William L. (2002). "Occupation of Vella Lavella". The Solomons Campaigns, 1942-1943: From Guadalcanal to Bougainville--Pacific War Turning Point, Volume 2 (Amphibious Operations in the South Pacific in WWII). BMC Publications. ISBN 0-9701678-7-3. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
• Morison, Samuel Eliot (1958). "Chapter XIII: Vella Lavella". Breaking the Bismarcks Barrier, vol. 6 of History of United States Naval Operations in World War II. Castle Books. ISBN 0-7858-1307-1.

Gallery

• 
  Taken on 10 December 1943, this photo shows Vought F4U-1 Corsair aircraft of VMF-123 and VMF-124, Grumman F6F-3 Hellcats, a Douglas SBD Dauntless, and RNZAF Curtiss Kittyhawk Mk.IV (P-40F) at Barakoma Airfield
• 
  Vella Lavella girl with painted face and shell ear ornaments, c. 1900

External links

• "My Journey to Vella Lavella" A travelogue by a rare Western visitor to the island, from September 1997.