Location
Lat 13° 41' 0" Long 121° 4' 0" Batangas Airfield (Batangas Field, Batangas Drome) is located north of Batanga Town (Batangas City).

Construction
Built prewar by the U.S. Army. Batangas Airfield was a single runway.

Wartime History
During 1941, used by the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) and Philippine Army Air Corps (PAAC) to accommodated P-26s and other light aircraft.

On December 12, 1941 Six P-26 Peashooter led by Captain Jesus Villamor from the Philippine Army Air Force (PAAF) scrambled to intercept fifty-four Japanese bombers attacking Batangas Field. Although thier P-26s were obsolete, their agressive harassing tactics minimized the damage the airfield. For his actions, he later earned an oak leaf cluster for his Distinguished Service Cross (DSC).

Japanese missions against Batangas
December 10, 1941–December 13, 1941

In late December 1941, the surviving P-26s were burned by their crews to prevent their captured and the airfield abandoned when American forces were ordered to retreat to the Bataan Peninsula. Afterwards, occupied by the Japanese during their occupation of the Philippines.

Starting in the middle of December 1944, attacked by U.S. bombers and fighters until late April 1945 when liberated by the U.S. Army.

Japanese and American missions against Batangas
December 10, 1941 - April 28, 1945

Today
Disused since the war, located behind the old police station.

References
Index to Air Bases - Research Report No. 85, I.G. No 9185 - July 30, 1944 - Batangas Airfield
Thanks to Tony Feredo for additional information

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Last Updated
April 19, 2021