a group of seebees from the 3rd construction battalion detachment with a marine anti-aircraft battery and a company of colored infantrymen arrived on santo on 8 july 1942 to begin work on turtle bay airfield. the seebees were given twenty days in which to construct the airfield, assisted by 295 infantrymen, 90 marines, and 50 natives. a runway was cleared and surfaced with coral in time to meet the deadline. on 28 july the first fighter squadron came in and was followed the next day by b-17s of the 26th bombardment squadron. the planes were fueled from drums and carried out their first attack on japanese forces on guadalcanal on 30 july.