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Location
Located at Honolulu, to the west is Hickam Field and to the north-west Pearl Harbor.
Construction
Built prior to the war. Named in honor of aviator John Rodgers, known as John Rodgers Field or John Rodgers Airfield.
Adjacent to the runway was a seaplane piers, with piers connecting moorings to the edge of the airfield.
Pearl Harbor Attack
During the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor attack, a civilian Interstate Cadet piloted by Cornelia Fort with a student pilot were practicing landings, and attacked by Zeros. She took control of the plane and successfully landed at John Rodgers despite being fired on.
Nine A6M2 Zero fighters from Akagi, led by Lt. Commander Shigeru Itaya then strafed the airfield. They hit a loaded Hawaiian Airlines DC-3, causing it to burn, but none aboard were hit. Afterwards, the Zeros broke off their attack to chase transports (actually B-17s) about to land at Hickham Field.
Wartime History
On June 1, 1945 US Navy Air Transport Squadron VR-12 is formed at
Honolulu to function as headquarters and maintenance squadrons for NATS (Naval Air Transport Service). Two nose hangers at the center of the airfield able to accomidate 10 aircraft each were used for inspections. At their height of operations, 700-800 passengers per day traveled via NATS. By January 1, 1946 NATS flights doubled, with further base expansion to handle 2,000+ passengers per day.
Units based at Honolulu
USN
VR-12 (R4D, R5D) 1945
Today
Still in use today as Honolulu International Airport as
Oahu's main civilian airport.
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Last Updated
October 1, 2009
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