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    Wheeler Field (Wheeler Army Airfield) Oahu | Hawaii United States
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USAAF 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. Used by the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as a base for pursuit aircraft.

Wartime History
On December 7, 1941 during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Oahu, some U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) pursuit did manage to take off and intercept the Japanese. 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) July 19, 1942–May 11, 1943–Nov 11, 1943 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 Field 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 Field
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

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Last Updated
July 19, 2024

 

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