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    Zettle Airfield (Jolo Airport) Sulu Province | ARMM Philippines
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Shingo 1942
Location
Lat 6° 3' 13N Long 121° 0' 40E  Zettle Airfield is located to the east of Jolo Town on Jolo Island in the Sulu Archipelago (Sulu Islands) in Sulu Province in the Autonomous Region In Muslim Mindanao Province (ARMM) of the Philippines. Also known as Zettle Field. Still in use today as Jolo Airport.

Construction
Built prewar by the U.S. Army as a single runway known as Zettle Airfield.

Wartime History
On December 25, 1941 Japanese forces landed at Jolo and occupied Jolo Airfield without resistance. Occupied by the Japanese until early April 1945.

Japanese units based at Zettle Field
Tainan Kokutai (A6M2 Zero) Tainan / Legaspi arrives January 7, 1942–January 16, 1942 depart Tarakan

American missions against Jolo
December 19, 1941–July 28, 1945

On April 9, 1945 the U.S. Army U.S. Army, 41st Infantry Division (41st ID), 163rd Regimental Combat Team (163rd RCT) lands on Jolo and occupies Jolo Town without resistance. By April 11, 1945 had cleared the Japanese from the south and southwest and secured Jolo Airfield.

Today
Still in use today as Jolo Airport as a small airport. The single runway is oriented 27/09 measures 4,144' x 98' surfaced with asphalt. Airport codes: ICAO: RPMJ IATA: JOL. During 2008, 323 million peso was allocated for a rehabilitation and expansion project for the airport, funded by the United States to expand the runway to allow Boeing 737 to land, larger terminal and facilities.

References
U.S. Army in World War II Part 7 The Southern Philippines Chapter XXX The Campaign Begins pages 598
Thanks to Tony Feredo for additional information

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Last Updated
April 19, 2025

 

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