FEAF airfields Far East Air Force (United States)

bombs being loaded b-17 of 19th bomb group @ del monte field

del monte field operated feaf on island of mindanao. in november 1941, b-17s of 7th bomb group expected arrive in december, clark field still base support heavy bombers all-grass parking areas , taxi strips not withstand heavy operations when wet, making dispersal impossible. informed 3 more groups projected arrive in january , february, macarthur , chief of staff, brig. gen. richard k. sutherland, favored new bomber bases in visayas recognized selected sites @ cebu , tacloban not support bomber operations without significant , expensive construction of runways. compromise, on 24 november 1941 newly arrived 5th air base group hurried 800 mi (1,300 km) south northern mindanao inter-island steamer build second bomber base 7th bg. begun 27 november on site of emergency landing strip surveyed in september 1941, new base situated next sayre national highway 1.5 mi (2.4 km) northwest of tankulan in bukidnon province.

established in natural meadow on high plateau 21 mi (34 km) southeast of cagayan city, , flanked on both sides low hills, site in pineapple plantation owned del monte corporation. needed cutting of grass create hard, all-weather sod runway. del monte no. 1, bomber runway, ready limited operations 5 december. smaller pre-war liaison strip, situated across highway southwest on small golf course, designated del monte no. 3, , parallel runway fighter operations later cut northeast of bomber runway called del monte no. 2.

after japanese intruder , weather reconnaissance flights detected on several successive nights, sixteen b-17s of 14th , 93d bombardment squadrons dispersed clark del monte no. 1 on night of 5–6 december, circling until dawn (5 december in united states) before landing. intended remain 72 hours because neither maintenance facilities nor barracks had yet been built, , single radio operating. 2 understrength ordnance companies clark had preceded them del monte on 3 december , constructed own camp in tankulan, remainder of personnel , materiel required, particularly aviation gas, did not depart luzon until 10 december. several months after hostilities began, work continued on del monte strip in barrio of dalirig, 4 mi (6.4 km) east of bomber strip, , @ crude well-camouflaged dispersal fields located 25 mi (40 km) 40 mi (64 km) further inland @ malaybalay, valencia , maramag in bukidnon province.

lubao field on luzon, in barrio of prado in pampanga province, became location new airfield after clark , nichols neutralized japanese. begun in sugarcane fields along highway 7 near entrance bataan 400 filipino laborers under supervision of philippine army engineers, 3,600 ft (1,100 m) fighter strip still not completed when of 21st pursuit squadron commanded 1st lt. william e. dyess arrived manila on 15 december. working around clock, combined force completed construction of runway, constructed revetments , graded taxiways in preparation basing dozen p-40s , 5 p-35s there, flown mixed assortment of experienced pilots 5 pursuit squadrons. lubao airfield began operations on 26 december , superbly camouflaged. 21st ps flew reconnaissance , other missions lubao until 2 january 1942, when field evacuated. on 29 december, 3 pursuits (two p-40s , p-35) salvaged @ last minute @ clark field in face of advancing japanese units volunteer group of mechanics , flown lubao, evacuated others.

five fighter strips opened on bataan support defensive operations during withdrawal , subsequent siege:

orani field. camouflaged dirt strip on upper end of bataan opened operations on 26 december. 34th ps received transfer orders on christmas day , conducted twice daily reconnaissance flights using 5 p-40s. 2,800 ft (850 m) field camouflaged using rice straw , movable haystacks, , not attacked before abandoned, on 4 january.
pilar field. aircraft withdrawing both lubao , orani flown airfield near pilar had been graded in rice fields filipino hand labor. revetments had been built , camouflaged in 1 day on 26 december 17th ps. operations @ pilar began on 1 january using final 3 new p-40es of 25 november shipment, assembled in last week of december @ philippine air depot, relocated quezon city. last mission pilar flown 8 january, after 9 p-40 aircraft displaced del monte field, mindanao (only 6 arrived).
bataan field. primary fighter base after withdrawal bataan graded in 1941 2,000 ft (610 m) dirt strip running uphill coastal road. dubbed richards folly after department air officer had ordered construction, located on manila bay side of bataan 3 miles north of cabcaben, village on southern tip of peninsula. runway widened , lengthened 5,100 ft (1,600 m) after 24 december 803rd aviation engineers in anticipation of future operations. first aircraft, 2 p-35s , a-27 displaced lubao, arrived on 2 january, , on 4 january 9 p-40s @ orani sent down. combat operations began on 8 january, aircraft concealed in hidden revetments until launched between raids made japanese dive bombers. p-35s flown mindanao on 11 january after a-27 lost in landing accident. maintenance , operation of field assigned 16th bombardment squadron (27th bomb group), had no aircraft, , damage runways raids repaired company c, 803rd aviation engineers.
cabcaben field. @ end of january 1942 strip 3,900 ft (1,200 m) in length hastily graded civilian contractors 2.5 mi (4.0 km) south of bataan field , made operational dispersal field on 6 february. 21st ps recalled infantry duties on 12 february operate , maintain both , bataan airfields.
mariveles field. existing dirt liaison field @ southernmost point on bataan abandoned on 7 january, @ end of month road adjacent field extended , widened provide new fighter strip 65 ft (20 m) in width , 3,800 ft (1,200 m) long. orientation overlooking heights such once pilot committed landing, had no choice continue, , subject severe tail-winds. 20th pursuit squadron recalled on 12 february complete defensive position preparations, camouflage revetments, , maintain field, became operational on 23 february.




^ edmunds 1992, pp. 30, 38
^ craven , cate 1947, p. 186
^ edmunds 1992, p. 27
^ morton 1953, p. 43
^ edmunds 1992, pp. 113–116
^ edmunds 1992, p. 239
^ bartsch & doomed, pp. 49, 212
^ edmunds 1992, p. 26
^ edmunds, 1992 & p. 54
^ edmunds 1992, pp. 52–55
^ bartsch & doomed, pp. 179–180, 195
^ bartsch & doomed, pp. 215–216, 222
^ bartsch & doomed, pp. 210–211, 225
^ bartsch & doomed, pp. 212–213, 236
^ cite error: named reference ed38 invoked never defined (see page).
^ bartsch & doomed, pp. 213, 222–225, 257
^ bartsch & doomed, pp. 236–238
^ bartsch & doomed, pp. 215, 257
^ bartsch & doomed, pp. 262, 314, 321

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