Ammo dump explosion in Pacific

[seabot2]

I guess we all hear stories by WW2 veterans and some are about things that are not found in public records. I had an old friend who was a marine from 1936 and throughout WW2. He once told me a story of being on a Pacific island (Tulagi?) where a massive amount of ammunition was stored near the end of the war. The dump began to explode from unkown causes and he was witness to it. The dump burned and exploded for something like three days.
This friend has since passed away and I cannot verify his story. I was wondering if there may be someone here that may have heard about such an event, maybe hearing it from grandpa or another old vet. I am only curious about this event that's all.

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[browningautorifle]

That's not quite what he asked...

Interesting, where'd the post go that I answered with this?

[bob4wd]

I guess we all hear stories by WW2 veterans and some are about things that are not found in public records. I had an old friend who was a marine from 1936 and throughout WW2. He once told me a story of being on a Pacific island (Tulagi?) where a massive amount of ammunition was stored near the end of the war. The dump began to explode from unkown causes and he was witness to it. The dump burned and exploded for something like three days.
This friend has since passed away and I cannot verify his story. I was wondering if there may be someone here that may have heard about such an event, maybe hearing it from grandpa or another old vet. I am only curious about this event that's all.

Look up tateyama ammo dump- good old google brings it right up!

[seabot2]

Thanks Bob. It could be the ammo dump in question. If not I'll return with some other details of the story that I'm trying to recollect.

[seabot2]

I found this article which may have answered my inquiry.

NOAA History - A Nation at War/WWII/Pathfinder: Recollections of Those Who Served 1942-1971

The ammo dump explosion in the Tulagi area happened midwar. I guess I was wrong in thinking it was near the end of the war. Funny that the account is told in only one sentence. My friend thought it was a dramatic event for those who happened to be there.
I guess it wouldn't hurt to mention my friend's name here. Bob Cunningham who was a Gunnery Sgt. at that time. During the explosions, he jumped into his jeep and drove over to his Lt. who appeared to be shell shocked and took him to a safe spot.