Funafuti, an atoll formerly part of the British-owned Ellice group of islands, was developed initially in the fall of 1942 to provide an air base, and scouting and ferry point for planes en route to the South Pacific area. However, its facilities came into their most important use later in connection with our push northwestward into the Gilbert and Marshall islands. On October 2, 1942, a detachment of the 2nd Naval Construction Battalion, comprising two officers and 120 men from the main battalion on Samoa, went ashore at Funafuti with the 5th Marine Defense Battalion. Thirty days later the 2nd NCB completed the airstrip, PBY station and Aviation gasoline tank farm that were key for the seaplane base.
In the early morning hours of 17 November 1943, two Seabees were killed in action during an enemy bombing attack.
Fair Winds and Following Seas, Seabees…
CM1c Lawrence Hoberg
PTR3c Ovila Potvin
U.S. Navy Seabee Museum 
What rate was a PTR?
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Painter during WWII
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