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    Dulag Airfield Leyte Province Philippines
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1944

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July 1945

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U.S. Army 1946

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David Mason 2000
Location
Lat 10° 57' 9N Long 125° 1' 54E  Dulag Airfield was located approximately one mile west of Dulag on eastern Leyte in Leyte Province in the Eastern Visayas Region (Region VIII) of the Philippines. Also known as Dulag Field. To the west roughly five miles away was San Pablo Airfield and beyond was Bayug Airfield (Burauen). Today located in the vicinity of Rawis village.

Construction
Built by the Japanese Army using local laborers as a single runway oriented roughly east to west north south of the road westward to Julita and north of the Daguitan River (Marabong). By October 1944 the runway was overgrown with weeds and was not occupied or used by the Japanese.

Wartime History
On October 20, 1944 after the American landings on eastern Leyte including Dulag, the U.S. Army 7th Division reached the eastern edge of Dulag Airfield and overnight repels counterattacks. On October 21, 1944 by 9:00am the 184th Inf easily captures the entire Dulag Airfield and pushes beyond to the west. The next day, the 17th Inf, less 3d Bn, assembles in the Dulag Airfield area.

Immediately, Dulag Airfield was repaired and expanded by the U.S. Army for use by American fighters, bombers and transports. Later, a double set of revetments and taxiways added to each side of the runway.

American units based at Dulag
475th FG, Headquarters (HQ) Mokmer arrives October 28, 1944–February 5, 1945 departs San Jose
71 TRG, 110 TRS (ground echelon) Biak arrives November 3, 1944–Dec 25, 1944 departs San Jose
6th PRG, 8th PRS (F-5) Biak arrives November 4, 1944–May 20, 1945 departs Clark Field
8th FG, 35th FS (ground echelon) Morotai arrives Nov 5, 44 flight ech Nov 28, 44–Dec 20, 44 departs San Jose
8th FG, 36th FS (ground echelon) Morotai arrives Nov 5, 1944 flight ech Nov 30, 44–Dec 20, 44 departs San Jose
3rd BG, 89th BS (A-20) Hollandia arrives November 7, 1944December 30, 1944 departs San Jose
3rd BG, 13th BS (A-20) Hollandia arrives November 20, 1944December 30, 1944 departs San Jose
475th FG, 431st FS (P-38) Biak arrives November 9, 1944–Feb 28, 1945 departs Clark Field
475th FG, 432nd FS (P-38) Biak arrives November 2-9, 1944–Feb 27, 1945 departs Clark Field
475th FG, 433rd FS (P-38) Biak arrives November 9, 1944–Feb 28, 1945 departs Clark Field
345th BG, 500th BS (B-25) Biak arrives November 10, 1944–December 27, 1944 departs Tacloban
345th BG, 499th BS (B-25) Biak arrives November 12, 1944–December 27, 1944 departs Tacloban
345th BG, Headquarters (HQ) arrives November 12, 1944–December 27, 1944 departs Tacloban
345th BG, 501st BS (B-25) Biak arrives November 13, 1944–December 27, 1944 departs Tacloban
13th AF, 418th NFS (P-61) Morotai arrives November 14, 1944–November 30, 1944 departs San Jose
3rd BG, 8th BS (A-20) Hollandia arrives November 15, 1944–December 30, 1944
6th PRG, 20th CMS (ground) Biak arrives November 15, 44–May 18, 45 departs Clark Field
8th FG, 80th FS (ground) Morotai arrives November 15, 1944–December 20, 1944 departs San Jose
6th PRG, 25th PRS (F-5) Biak arrives November 24, 1944January 3, 1945 departs San Jose
8th FG, 35th FS (P-38s) arrives November 28, 1944
8th FG, 36th FS & 80th FS (P-38s) arrives November 30, 1944
71st TRG, 25th LS (UC-78, L-5) Biak arrives March 5, 1945 with det Tanuan–April 19, 1945 departs Malabang
433rd TCG, 66th TCS (C-46, C-47) Biak arrives Jan 18, 194–January 15, 1946 disbanded
433rd TCG, 70th TCS (C-46, C-47) Hollandia arrives February 28, 1945–April 12, 1945 departs Tanuan
6th PRG, 20th CMS (F-7) Biak arrives January 22, 1945–May 18, 1945 departs Clark Field
2nd CCG, 8th CCS (C-46) Biak arrives March 19, 1945–August 20, 1945 departs Okinawa
2nd CCG, 6th CCS (C-46) Biak arrives March 25, 1945–August 16, 1945 departs Okinawa
2nd CCG, 7th CCS (C-46) Biak arrives May 1, 1945–August 20, 1945 departs Okinawa
403rd TCG, 63th TCS (C-47) Biak arrives May 3 1945 - ?
2nd CCG, 5th CCS (C-46) Biak arrives May 15, 1945–Aug 16, 45 departs Okinawa
2nd CCG, Headquarters (HQ) Biak arrives May 15, 1945–Aug 20, 45 Okinawa
403rd TCG, 65th TCS (C-46, C-47) arrives July 15, 1945
403rd TCG, 64th TCS (C-47) arrives July 16, 1945
403rd TCG, 13th TCS (C-47) Espiritu Santo arrives July 17, 1945
418th NFS (ground echelon) Morotai arrives November 14, 1944–November 30, 1944 departs San Jose
17th PRS (B-25, F-5 detachment) Morotai arrives Feb 9, 1945
FEAF, 25th Liaison Sqn (UC-78, L-5) Biak arrives Mar 5 - April 19, 45 departs Malabang

Today
Since 1946, disused as an airfield. The the former airfield is located in the vicinity of Rawis village with many of the roads and taxiways still in use as roads.

Dulag Airfield Memorial
A memorial is built at the former airfield., with a memorial plaque and an airplane model on a concrete pad. The memorial plaque reads: "World War II Airfield - Brgy. Rawis Dulag, Leyte, Philippines. Constructed by the Japanese Imperial Army supported by free labor from the Dulagnons. Taken over by the Allied liberation forces in 1944, improving and widening the area with steel matting runways. Fighter and bomber planes wee stationed here through the war days."

References
U.S. Army in World War II Leyte: The Return to the Philippines Chapter VIII Southern Leyte Valley: Part Two pages 124, 126 (photo)
The Little Giants U.S. Escort Carriers Against Japan (1987) pages 123, 127, 128, 166, 170, 171, 218, 227-229, 456 (index Dulag)

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November 29, 2025

 

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