Harbor was also built to support the US Navy in building 6,000-foot Finschafen Airfield, also called Dreger Field, now Finschhafen Airport on the island.

On November 2, 1943, members of the US Navy's Seabee 60th Construction Battalion arrived to start work on the Naval Base.

The members of the 60th Construction Battalion arrived from Naval Base Woodlark Island, where most work had just been completed.

On November 16 Seabees began working with 808th Army Aviation Engineer Battalion on the runway.

The 91st Battalion built four 330-foot timber cargo unloading piers for Merchant Navy ships and recreation buildings.

To refuel the many ships now stopping at the new Naval Base, Seabee built a 10,000-barrel tank farm of Fuel oil.

Construction Battalion Maintenance Units 545 and 543 arrived in February and April 1944 to work at the base.