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 5th AF c1945  US Army c1945  USAAF c1945  Robert Laessig c1945 |
Location Lat 9° 44' 32N Long 118° 45' 31E Puerto Princesa Airfield is located at an elevation of 71' above sea level at Puerto Princesa on Palawan Island in Palawan Province in the Philippines. Located inland from Puerto Princesa Seaplane Base and the port area. Also known as "Puerto Princesa Airfield" or "Palawan Airfield". During World War II, many Americans misspelled the location as "Puerta Princesa". Today still in use as Puerto Princesa Airport. Construction Built by the Japanese using Prisoner Of War (POW) laborers. The runway was surfaced with crushed coral. The former grass runway was located south of NCCC Mall Palawan on Lacao Street. Wartime History During the Pacific War, used by both the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) and Japanese Army Air Force (JAAF). Japanese units based at Puerto Princesa 71st Sentai (Ki-43 Oscar) During late 1944 until February 28, 1945 heavily bombed by American aircraft. American missions against Puerto Princesa October 28, 1944–February 27, 1945 On February 28, 1945 the U.S. Army 41st Infantry Division "Jungleers" Regimental Combat Team (RCT) made an amphibious landing at Puerto Princesa and captured Puerto Princesa Airfield. At the captured airfield was Ki-43-II Oscar and B6N Jill. After liberation, repairs and expansion were begun on Puerto Princesa Airfield by the U.S. Army 8th Engineers for American usage. Over twelve days, the 1897th Engineer Aviation Battalion reconstructed the 4,000' runway. On March 20, 1945 the first American aircraft began landing at Puerto Princesa Airfield. By early March, 13th Air Force Fighter Command moved to Puerto Princesa Airfield, where it was based until the end of the war. Puerto Princesa (Palawan Airfield) was designated as U.S. Army APO 705. On April 14, 1945 U.S. Navy Commander Fleet Air Wing 10 arrived at Puerto Princessa, to direct patrol plane operations against the shipping in the South China Sea and along coast of Indo-China (Vietnam). American units based at Puerto Princesa U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) 13th AF, 13th Fighter Command, Headquarters arrives March 1945 - August 1945 13th AF, 419th NFS (ground echelon) Middleburg arrives March 6, 1945 (P-61) Morotai March 16, 1945 347th FG, HQ San Jose arrives March 6, 1945 347th FG, 67th FS (ground echelon) San Jose arrives March 6, 1945 (P-38) Morotai March 21 - August 1945 347th FG, 68th FS (P-38) San Jose arrives March 6, 1945 347th FG, 339th FS (ground echelon) San Jose arrives March 6, 1945 (P-38 flight echelon) Morotai March 25, 1945 42nd BG, 69th BS (ground echelon) Sansapor arrives March 6, 1945 Morotai March 22, 1945 42nd BG, 100th BS (B-25) Sansapor arrives March 15, 1945 / Morotai March 22, 1945 42nd BG, 390th BS (B-25) Morotai arrives March 21, 1945 42nd BG, 75th BS (B-25) Sansapor arrives March 22, 1945 42nd BG, 70th BS (B-25) Morotai arrives March 26, 1945–January 31, 1946 Itami 13th AF, 550th NFS (P-38, P-61 detachment) ? - June 19, 1945 Tacloban USN, Fleet Air Wing 10 (PB4Y2 Privateers) arrives April 14, 1945 18th FG, 12th FS (P-38) San Jose arrives April 26 - May 11, 1945 Zamboanga 311th Photographic Wing, 2nd Photographic Charting Squadron (F-7) Morotai arrives May 5, 1945 4th PRG, 17th PRS (F-5, B-25) Morotai arrives May 7 1945 until the end of the Pacific War U.S. Navy (USN) VPB-106 "Wolverators" PB4Y-1 / PB4Y-2 1945 VPB-111 PB4Y-1 / PB4Y-2 1945 Today In the early 1970s, repaired and reopened on March 21, 1975 as Puerto Princesa Airport a civilian airport operated by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines. The single runway is oriented 27/09 measures 8,530' x 148' surfaced with concrete. Airport codes: ICAO: RPVP IATA: PPS. The runway is shared with Antonio Bautista Air Base operated by the Philippine Air Force (PAF). Named in honor of Colonel Antonio Bautista, a PAF pilot who was shot down and killed during a battle with Philippine rebels during January 1974. References Thanks to Tony Feredo for additional information Contribute
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