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  USAAF November 1944   USAAF c1944  USAAF Dec 12, 1944   USN 1945   Justin Taylan 2005 |
Location Lat 11° 13' 39N Long 125° 1' 40E Tacloban Airfield is located on the Cataisan Peninsula to the 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 as "Tacroban". On October 20, 1944 on A-Day, the U.S. Army landed on White Beach and advanced inalnd with the 7th Infantry Regiment (7th IR) liberating Tacloban Airfield, A-Day's most important objective. Immediately, the runway was repaired and expanded for use by American aircraft. Within a week U.S. Army Air Force aircraft and units began moving to Tacloban and assumed control of direct air support over Leyte from the US Navy, when they withdrew on October 29, 1944. Developed into a major American airfield designated U.S. Army Post Office 72 (APO 72) for Tacloban. American units based at Tacloban Airfield 49th FG 7th FS (P-38) Biak arrives October 24, 1944–Dec 30, 44 San Jose 49th FG 9th FS (P-38) Biak arrives October 24, 1944–Dec 30, 44 San Jose 49th FG 8th FS (P-38) Biak arrives October 25, 1944–? 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 Nov 2 - Dec 23, 44 to San Jose 71st TRG air echelon (P-40) Biak November 3, 44 - ? 348th FG, 460th FS (P-47) Noemfoor arrives November 10, 1944–December 12, 1944 moves 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) Jan 25 - Feb 23, 1945 50th NFS (P-38, P-61, P-70) Morotai Mar 8 - Apr 27, 1945 Zamboanga 374th TCG 6th TCS (C-47s) Biak March 12, 1945 - ? 6th RG 311th PW (F-7s) Hollandia July 11 - Aug 1, 45 Clark Field USN VPB-117 (PB4Y) December 1944 - February 1945 San Jose VPB-137 (PV-1) Mokerang January 1, 1945 - February 17, 1945 Clark Field Today Still in use today as a civilian airport known as Tacloban Airport or Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport. Airport codes: ICAO: RPVA and IATA: TAC. The single runway is oriented 36/18 measures 7,014' x 148' surfaced with asphalt. On November 7 2013 Typhoon Haiyan made landfall at Tacloban with sustained winds of 195-235mph caused severe damage to the airport and city from flooding, mud, destroying structures and causing thousands of casualties. The next day, Tacloban Airport became the center of relief efforts when the Philippine Government ordered military C-130 Hercules transports to Tacloban Airport to deliver supplies and relief. 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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