Location
Located near San Fernando, south of Clark Field.

Construction
Prewar American airfield.

Wartime Usage
Used by American forces during December 1941 in defense of the Philippines.

American units based at San Fernando (1941-1942)
27th BG, 17th BS (ground echelon) ? - December 25, 1941 Cabcaben

Japanese Usage
Occupied by the Japanese and used an emergency landing strip.

Liberation
During 1945, liberated by the US Army.

George Walden recalls:
"I was stationed there for several months [in 1945]. I have since corresponded with Marco Lazatin who runs (ESSEL) supermarkets and a large bakery. Our office staff (3 enlisted men and 3 officers) once was invited over for dinner at his grandfather's house, the one that was occupied during the Japanese occupation by General Homma, leader of the Death March. The grandfather, Serafin Lazatin, was the owner of PASUDECO (Pampanga Sugar Development Company) plus a lot of sugar cane acreage (He was later murdered by the Huks - communist rebels). In San Fernando I got the aluminum from the Japanese planes sitting on Clark Field; the transparent band was from plane windshields. Initially I used a pair of toenail scissors to cut the aluminum, then my mother sent me a jeweler's saw so I could make the fine cut - outs in the straps that held the watch (I had an aunt who was a jeweler, so she had the tools) I "bummed" a supply of aluminum rivets from the shop at Clark. I remember making a band for one of our officers in exchange for him getting me a pair of Oxford shoes at the Manila officers PX so I no longer had to wear combat boots! I would bet your grandfather wore a similar watch band."

References
Note: there is another San Fernando Airfield in La Union.

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Last Updated
July 19, 2024