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 USN Air Group 22 December 14, 1944 USN Air Group 22 December 16, 1944   USAAF 1945 |
Location Lat 13° 10' 0" N Long 123° 44' 0" E Legaspi Airfield (Legazpi Airfield) is located outside Legaspi (Legazpi) in southern Luzon in the Bicol Region (Region V) in the Philippines. Also known as Sanborn Field. Construction Built prewar as a single runway operated by the Philippine goverment named Sanborn Field. Named for 2nd Lt. Elwell A. Sanborn pilot Boeing P-12 killed June 10, 1932 in a crash at Fort Stotsenberg. By 1941, the runway measured 2,700' x 330'. Wartime History On December 12, 1941 in the early morning, the Legaspi Attack Force landed the Japanese Army Kimura Detachment unapposed and by 9:00am occupied Legaspi Airfield. On During the middle of December 1941, occupied by the Japanese Army. By late December 1941, a contingent of Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) A6M2 Zeros from Tainan Kōkūtai (Tainan Air Group) began operating from Legaspi Airfield until early 1942. The airfield was expanded for military use with additional taxiways and revetments During the Japanese occupation of the Philippines, used by Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) and Japanese Army Air Force (JAAF) fighters, bombers and transports as a forward base and transit point to other airfields. During 1944, Ki-43 Oscars from the 33rd Sentai (33rd Flying Regiment) were based at Legaspi. Japanese units based at Legaspi Tainan Kokutai (A6M2 Zero) Tainan arrives late December 1941–January 16, 1942 departs Tarakan 33rd Sentai (Ki-43) 1944 On December 14, 1941 bombed by B-17s and strafed by P-40E Warhawk pilot Lt. Grattan "Grant" Mahony. On April 7, 1942 bombed during the "Royce Mission". Starting in the middle of November 1944 targeted by American planes until late April 1945. American missions against Legaspi Airfield December 14, 1941–April 27, 1945 On April 1, 1945 the Legaspi Attack Group (TG 78.4) lands the U.S. Army RCT 158 (reinforced) at Legaspi and quickly liberates the port, town and Legaspi Airfield meeting only token resistance. At Legaspi Airfield, Allied Technical Intelligence Unit (ATIU) noted the wreckage of two A6M2 Zeros, twelve A6M5 Zeros, five Ki-43-II Oscars, five B6N2 Jills, four G4M2 Bettys, three D4Y3 Judys, three N1K2-J Georges, two Ki-61 Tony, one D3A Val, one P1Y1 Francis, one G3M Nell, one DC-2 Tess and two Ki-45 Nicks. Today Postwar, repaired and used as civilian airport known as Legaspi Airport, a small airport that serves as the primary airport in the Bicol Region. The single runway is oriented 24/06 measures 7,480' x 118' surfaced with asphalt. Airport codes IATA: LGP – ICAO: RPLP. Designated as a Class 1 principal domestic airport by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines. On October 7, 2021 the last flight took off and the airport closed the same day and was replaced by the newly built Bicol Airport further to the southwest. Since closure, the former airfield area is planned to be developed into a business district. Since closure, remains in use by the Philippine Air Force (PAF) as a base for Tactical Operations Group 5 (TOG5) across the runway from the former terminal. F6F-5 Hellcat 58607 Pilot Ens George B. Whitehouse crashed December 14, 1944 References FindAGrave - Elwell A Sanborn (grave photo) ATIU Intelligence Summary No. 281 "Planes Recovered on Airfields" July 21, 1945 page 27 via Tony Feredo "Legaspi A/D, Luzon: Zeke 21 - 2, Zeke 52 - 12, Oscar 2 - 5, Jill 12 - 5, Betty 22 - 4, Judy 33 - 3, George 11 - 3, Tony - 2, Val - 1, Francis - 1, Nell - 1, Tess - 1, Nick - 2" LegazpiAirport.net official website removed as of 2021 Thanks to Tony Feredo for additional information Contribute
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