Location
Located at the tip of San Jose and just off the shores of Mindoro Straight and Mangarin Bay (near White Beach where the US Army landed).

Wartime History
Single runway parallel to the coast 7,000' x 100' gravel and asphalt surfaced.

After the US Army landed on Mindoro on December 12, 1944 this airfield was occupied.

Naming Honors
Named in honor of American 5th AF ace, Thomas McGuire who was MIA/KIA piloting P-38L Lightning 44-24845. Also known as 'McGuire Drome' or 'McGuire Field'.

In 1945, NATS (Naval Air Transport Service) operated three R4D shuttle flights daily to this airfield from Guiuan Airfield (Samar) delivering mail, personnel and equipment for the US Navy squadrons based at the airfield. A small detachment of NATS was based at the airfield consisting of 2 officers, 15 enlisted men to handle these flights specifically.

Today
Still in use today and known as "San Jose Airport", airport code SJI.

Units based at San Jose
418th NFS (ground echelon) Dulag Nov 30, 1944 - ?
417th BG, 672th, 673th BS (A-20) Tacloban Dec 2, 1944 - ?
417th BG, 674th, 675th BS (A-20) Tacloban Dec 2, 1944 - ?
49th FG, 7th FS (P-38) Tacloban Dec 30, 44 - Feb 25, 45 Lingayen
49th FG, 9th FS (P-38) Tacloban Dec 30, 44 - Feb 26 45 Lingayen
10th BW (B-25s) Leyte Dec 15, 1944 - ?
8th FG 35th, 36th, 80th FS (P-38) Morotai Dec 20, 1944 - ?
58th FG 311th FS San Roque Dec 21, 1944 - ?
71s TRG 17th RS Biak Dec 23, 1944 - ?
71 TRG, 110 TRS (P-40) ? Nov 3 - Dec 25, 1944 to San Jose
310th BW, 418th NFS (P-61) Morotai Dec 26 - ?, 1944
71s TRG, 82nd TRS (F-6 & P-40) Dec 29, 44 - Jan 17, 45 Lingayen
3rd BG 8th, 89th, 90th BS (A-20) Dec 30 - ?, 1944
49th FG 8th FS (P-38) Tacloban Jan 2, 1945 - Feb 27, 1945 Lingayen
6th PRG 25th PRS (F-5) Jan 3, 1945 - ?
71st TRG 110th TRS (P-40) Tacloban Jan 4 - 22, 1945 - Lingayen
86th FW 547th NFS (P-38 & P-61) Owi Jan 5 - 16 1945 Lingayen
71st TRG 17th RS (B-25) Tacloban Dec 7, 1945 - ? San Jose
312th BG 387th BS (A-20) Tanauan Jan 25, 1945 - ?
90th BG 321st, 400th BS (B-24) Biak Jan 26, 1945 - ?
312th BG 386th BS Jan 26, 1945 - ?
90th BG, 320th BS (B-24) Biak Jan 27, 1945 - ?
312th BG, 388th BS (A-20) Jan 27 - Feb 11 to Mangaldan
312th BG, 389th BS (A-20) Tanauan Jan 27 - Feb 11 Mangaldan
90th BG, 319th BS (B-24) Biak Jan 29, 1945 - ?
380th BG 529th BS (B-24) Darwin Fe b 1, 1945 - ?
375th TCG Biak Feb 17, 1945 - ?
380th BG HQ Darwin Feb 20, 1945 - ?
380th BG 528th BS (B-24) Darwin Feb 21, 1945 - ?
347th FG 67th, 339th FS Middleburg Feb 22, 1945 - ?
347th FG 67th, 68th FS Middleburg Feb 22, 1945 - ?
20th CMS 6th PRG (F-7) Sansapor Feb 24, 1945 - ?
18th FG 70th FS (P-38) Lingayen Feb 26, 1945 - ?
18th FG 12th FS (P-38) Lingayen Feb 27, 1945 - ?
475th FG 432nd FS (detachment) Feb 27, 1945 - ?
(partial unit listing)

References
Airdromes Guide Southwest Pacific Area
Thanks to Tony Feredo for additional information

Contribute Information
Do you have photos or additional information to add?

Last Updated
October 1, 2009

View in Google Earth

Photo Archive