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 MSgt Karr c44-45 |
Location Lat 8° 54' 53N Long 79° 35' 59W Howard Field was located at 52' above sea level adjacent to Fort Kobbe (Ft. Kobbe) roughly six miles southwest of Balboa at the southern side of the Panama Canal in Panamá Oeste Province in Panama. Most of the surrounding area is uninhabited area considered part of the Panama Canal Zone watershed. Postwar known as Howard AFB. Today known as Panamá Pacífico International Airport. Construction Built by the U.S. Army and dedicated March 1, 1942 as Howard Field in honor of Major Charles H. Howard who flew in Panama in the late 1920s and died in a crash on October 25, 1936. Wartime History On May 15, 1942 U.S. Army soldiers arrived at the airfield known as Howard Air Base or Howard Field and used by fighters and bombers to defend the Panama Canal area. During World War II, known as APO 832. American units based at Howard Field 31st FS March 25, 1944 departs USA 3rd BS (B-24) David Field April 6, 1944 29th BS (B-24) Galapagos April 10, 1944 16th Air Base Group, May 15, 1941–June 1943 44 Reconnaissance Squadron, July 8, 1941–October 27, 1941 15th Air Base Squadron, May 15, 1941–October 1, 1945 6th AF, 7 Reconnaissance Squadron (B-17, B-18) arrives November 26, 1941–Dec 11, 1941 departs David Field 59th Bombardment Squadron October, 28, 1941–December 11, 1941 397th Bombardment Squadron November 26, 1941–December 10, 1941 51th Pursuit Squadron December 10, 1941–December 23, 1941 53d Fighter Group, January 1, 1942–November 26, 1942 72nd Observation Group arrives January 18, 1942–November 1, 1943 40th Bombardment Group arrives June 16, 1942–September 16, 1942 departs Albrook Field 20th Transport Squadron, Panama Air Depot detachment arrives December 1941 20th Troop Carrier Squadron arrives February 19, 1942–June 9, 1943 37th Fighter Group arrives September 20, 1942–November 1, 1943 6th Bombardment Group January 14, 1943–November 1, 1943 40th Bombardment Group June 2, 1943–June 16, 1943 43nd Fighter Squadron arrives February 9, 1944–April 6, 1944; August 29, 1944–January 10, 1945 51st Fighter Squadron June 10, 1944–October 15, 1946 32nd Fighter Squadron (P-38) January 10, 1945 - October 15, 1946 28th Fighter Squadron September 25, 1945–October 15, 1946 30th Fighter Squadron September 25, 1945–October 15, 1946 Postwar Deactivated on January 1, 1950, the base was turned over to the U.S. Army but the U.S. Air Force (USAF) continued to use the area for joint training exercises during the 1950s and by December 1961 all USAF flight operations in Panama relocated to Howard. On October 1, 1963 the Air Force officially reclaimed Howard from the Army and became known as Howard Air Force Base or Howard AFB and played a central role in U.S. military operations in Latin America ever since, largely due to its 8,500' runway and its status as the only jet capable American air base south of the Rio Grande. Today On November 1, 1999 closed and officially turned over to the Panamanian government. Still in use today as Howard Airport or Panamá Pacífico International Airport. The single runway is oriented 36/18 and measures 8,500' x 148' surfaced with asphalt. Airport codes: ICAO: MPHO, IATA: BLB. Portions of the former airfield area were developed into commercial real estate, known as "Panama Pacifico". Much of the base is today used to house call centers for technology companies, including Dell Computer. References Panama Pacifico - official website Alae Supra Canalem (1997) by Dan Hagedorn page 186 Contribute
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