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 USAAF October 1941  USAAF December 7, 1941 |
Location Lat 21° 29' 1N Long 158° 2' 23W Wheeler Field was located at an elevation of 837' above sea level south of Wahiawa along the Kamehameha Highway across from Schofield Barracks on Oahu in Hawaii in the United States. To the southwest adjacent to Wheeler Field was built Waiele Field (Waiele Gulch Army Airfield). Today known as Wheeler Army Airfield. Construction Built prewar. Wartime History On December 7, 1941 in the morning when the first wave of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Oahu arrived, U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) pursuit planes at Wheeler Field were parked wing tip to wing to prevent sabotage and many were destroyed or damaged on the ground. At Wheeler Field, only a few planes were undamaged and four pilots managed to take off including P-36A Hawk 38-86 pilot 2nd Lt. Philip M. Rasmussen and P-36A Hawk pilot X. The fighters were vectored by radio to Kaneohe Bay to intercept Japanese planes. Meanwhile, pursuit pilots Ken Taylor and George Welch observed the first wave of attacking Japanese aircraft and drove to Haleiwa Field where they took off piloting P-40 Warhawks and intercept the attackers. During the Pacific War, Wheeler Field was an important base for USAAF fighters and bombers and was used for the duration of the war for units deploying to the South Pacific and Central Pacific. American units based at Wheeler 14th PW HQ inactivated January 23, 1942 18th PG, 19th PS (P-40) prewar–February 20, 1942 departs Bellows 18th FG HQ May 15, 1942 established–March 11, 1943 departs Espiritu Santo 18th FG, 73rd FS (P-40) activated October 5, 1941–May 22, 1942 to Bellows Field 11th BG, 26th BS (B-17, B-24) Hickam Field Dec 20, 1941–July 19, 1942 depart Bauer, returns May 11, 1943–Nov 11, 1943 departs Nukufetau 18th FG, 6th FS (P-40) ? - August 30, 1942 to Kahuku 307th BG, 371st BS (B-24) US Nov 2, Dec 21-26 1942 Midway Feb 6-12, 1943 Canton April 18-23, 1943 Funafuti 58th BS (A-24) ? - June 18, 1943 Canton 318th FG, 72nd FS (P-39) ? - July 25, 43 Hilo returns Oct 21, 1943–Dec 18, 1943 Makin 30th BG, 819th BS (B-24) Barking Sands Nov 12, 1943 returns July 25, 19 44–March 17, 1945 Saipan returns 7th FW, 21st FG activated April 21 - June 3, 1944 Bellows 21st FG HQ ? - October 13, 44 Mokuleia 41st BG, 48th BS (B-25) Makin Oct 14, 1944–May 20, 45 Okinawa 41st BG, 396th BS (B-25) Makin Oct 14, 1944–May 20, 45 Okinawa 41st BG, 820th BS (B-25) Makin Oct 14, 1944–May 20, 45 Okinawa 30th BG, 27th BS (B-24) Kahuku May 23, 1945 30th BG, 392nd BS (B-24) Kahuku May 23, 1945 7th AF, 58th BS (A-24) ?–June 18, 1943 departs Canton Today Still in use today as Wheeler Army Airfield (Wheeler AAF) a military airport that is part of the U. S Army Garrison Hawaii. The single runway is oriented 24/06 measures 5,604' x 295' surfaced with asphalt . Airport codes: FAA: HHI ICAO: PHHI IATA: HHI. The hangar row and airfield layout are identical to the Pacific War. P-40 Warhawk (Replica) A replica of a P-40 is stationed at the Kawamura Gate near the Hamehameha Highway in the markings of the P-40 piloted by Ken Taylor. B-24D Liberator "938" Wreckage located near Wheeler Field in January 1996 Contribute
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