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  USAAF November 1944   USAAF 1944  USAAF Dec 12, 1944   USN 1945   Justin Taylan 2005 |
Location Lat 11° 13' 39N Long 125° 1' 40E Tacloban Airfield is located at an elevation of 10' above sea level on the Cataisan Peninsula east of Tacloban on the northeastern tip of Leyte in Leyte Province in the Eastern Visayas (Region VIII) of the Philippines. Borders San Pedro Bay to the east and beyond Leyte Gulf. Also known as Tacloban Field or Tacloban Aerodrome. Still in use today as Tacloban Airport or Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport. Construction Built prewar as a single runway oriented north to south on the Cataisan Peninsula parallel to the coast bordering San Pedro Bay to the east and Cancabato Bay to the west with Cataisan Point to the north. Wartime History During 1942, occupied by the Japanese who referred to this location phonetically as "Tacroban". On October 20, 1944 on A-Day, the U.S. Army eastern Leyte. Tacloban Airifeld the most important objective of the invasion and afer the 7th Infantry Regiment (7th IR) landed at White Beach to the south turned northward to advance northward up the Cataisan Peninsula to captured Tacloban Airfield. Immediately, the runway was repaired and expanded for American use. Within a week, the first U.S. planes and units began arriving. On October 29, 1944 when the U.S. Navy (USN) withdrew from Leyte Gulf, Tacloban Airfield assumed control of direct air support over Leyte. Afterwards, developed into a major airfield designated U.S. Army Post Office 72 (APO 72) for Tacloban. Used by both U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) fighters, bombers and transports plus U.S. Navy land based bombers. American units based at Tacloban Airfield 49th FG, 7th FS (P-38) Biak arrives October 24, 1944–December 30, 1944 departs San Jose 49th FG, 9th FS (P-38) Biak arrives October 24, 1944–December 30, 1944 departs San Jose 49th FG, 8th FS (P-38) Biak arrives October 25, 1944–January 2, 1945 departs San Jose 86th FW, 421st NFS (P-38, P-61) Owi arrives October 25,1944–February 8, 1945 departs San Marcelino 71st TRG, 17th RS (B-25) Biak arrives November 2, 1944–December 23, 44 departs San Jose 71st TRG, air echelon (P-40) Biak arrives November 3, 1944 348th FG, 460th FS (P-47) Noemfoor arrives November 10, 1944–December 12, 1944 departs Tanauan 43rd BG, 63rd BS (B-24) Owi arrives November 23, 1944–March 19, 1945 departs Clark Field 43rd BG, 64th BS (B-24) Owi arrives November 23, 1944–March 22, 1945 departs Clark Field 43rd BG, 65th BS (B-24) Owi arrives November 23, 1944–March 16, 1945 departs Clark Field 43rd BG, 403rd BS (B-24) ? - March 15, 1945 Clark Field 348th FG, 340th FS (P-47) Noemfoor arrives November 30, 1943–December 14, 1944 departs Tanauan 348th FG, 342th FS (P-47) Noemfoor arrives December 1, 1944–December 16, 1944 departs Tanauan 348th FG, 341st FS (P-47) Noemfoor arrives November 30, 1943–December 15, 1944 departs Tanauan 345th BG, 498th BS (B-25) Dulag arrives December 27, 1944–February 12, 1945 departs San Marcelino 345th BG, 499th BS (B-25) Dulag arrives December 27, 1944–February 12, 1945 departs San Marcelino 345th BG, 500th BS (B-25) Dulag arrives December 27, 1944–February 12, 1945 departs San Marcelino 345th BG, 501th BS (B-25) Dulag arrives December 27, 1944–February 12, 1945 departs San Marcelino 417th BG 672nd BS (A-20) Noemfoor arrives December 6, 1944–December 22, 1944 departs San Jose 417th BG, 673rd BS (A-20) Noemfoor arrives December 6, 1944–December 22, 1944 departs San Jose 417th BG 674th BS (A-20s) Noemfoor arrives December 6, 1944–December 22, 1944 departs San Jose 417th BG, 675th BS (A-20s) Noemfoor arrives December 6, 1944–December 22, 1944 departs San Jose 20th CMS, 6th PRS (F-7s) arrives January 25, 1945–Feb 23, 1945 50th NFS (P-38, P-61, P-70) Morotai arrives March 8, 1945–April 27, 1945 departs Zamboanga 374th TCG 6th TCS (C-47s) Biak arrives March 12, 1945 6th RG 311th PW (F-7s) Hollandia arrives July 11, 1945–Aug 1, 1945 departs Clark Field USN VPB-117 (PB4Y) arrives December 1944 - February 1945 departs San Jose VPB-137 (PV-1) Mokerang arrives January 1, 1945 - February 17, 1945 departs Clark Field Today Still in use today as a civilian airport known as Tacloban Airport or Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport. The single runway is oriented 36/18 measures 7,014' x 148' surfaced with asphalt. Airport codes: ICAO: RPVA and IATA: TAC. On November 7, 2013 Typhoon Haiyan made landfall at Tacloban with sustained winds of 195-235 mph that caused severe damage to the airport and city due to flooding, mud and destroyed structures and resulted in thousands of casualties. The next day, Tacloban Airport became the center of relief efforts when the Philippine Government ordered C-130 Hercules to land and deliver the first relief supplies and personnel. In 2024, construction began of a larger terminal building and a new control tower are under construction to expand operations. Serviced by daily flights by Philippines Airlines, Air Asia and other smaller carriers and charter flights. XB-24D "Liberty Belle" 42-40686 Pilot Grimm force landed October 30, 1944 Abandoned at the airfield References U.S. Army in World War II The War in the Pacific Leyte: The Return to the Philippines Chapter V A Day: 20 October 1944 pages 62, 63, 65 (map), 67, 72, 78 Thanks to Tony Feredo for additional information Contribute
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