Aeródromos de la IIGM: Mokuleia

Aeródromo de Mokuleia (Dillingham AFB)

El aeródromo está ubicado en Mokuleia, en el extremo norte de Oahu. Al oeste se encuentra Kaena Point. También conocido como Dillingham Air Force Base.Fue construido durante la primera parte de la guerra. Comenzando a funcionar en febrero de 1942 con los Curtiss P-40 Warhawks del 72nd Pursuit Squadron. A mediados de 1942 la pista fue asfaltada y tenía dos hileras de bunkers en el lado sur de la pista.

Se utilizó como un campo de aviación para las operaciones de bombardeo pesado, y más tarde para cazas. Revestimientos de grandes refugios con paredes en ángulo se construyeron para los bombarderos pesados. En abril de 1945, el aeropuerto estaba operativo.

Unidades basadas en el aeródromo de Mokuleia.

5th BG, 23rd BS (B-17) Hickam March 24, 42 - ? Funafuti returns Feb 1, 43 departs Feb 6, 43 Bomber 1

307th BG, 424th BS (B-24) USA November 2, 1942 - February 6, 1943 Espiritu Santo

30th BG, 27th BS (B-24) ? - November 10, 1943 Namumea

11th BG, 98th BS (B-17) April 8, 1943 - November 11, 1943 Namumea

318th FG, 73rd FS (P-40) NAS Kaneohe May 5, 1943 - November 8, 1943 Bellows

318th FG, 72rd FS (P-47) ? - June 8, 1944 Haleiwa

15th FG, 78th FS (P-47) Stanley April 1, 1944 - June 8, 1944 Bellows

21st FG, 531st FS (P-38, P-51) Kuoloa October 8, 1944 - ?

21st FG, HQ Wheeler October 13, 1944 - ?

508th FG, 466th FS (P-47) Kuoloa February 25, 1945

21st FG, 72th FS (P-51) ? - March 26, 1945 Iwo Jima

El campo se cerró en 1947 con una pista asfaltada de 8.900´.En 1948, el aeródromo fue inactivado y el nombre de "Dillingham Air Force Base", en memoria de B-29 "Maniuwa" 42-63678 pilotada por el capitán Henry Gaylord Dillingham, muerto en acción en Kawasaki el 25 de julio de 1945.

 P-40 Warhawks del 72nd Pursuit Squadron, febrero de 1942

En la década de 1950, los aviones se basa de nuevo en este campo, pero fue nuevamente cerrado. Una parte de la pista de aterrizaje fue utilizado como una superficie Ejército de los EE.UU. para la batería de misiles tierra-aire OA-84, durante la década de 1950 a 1960.

A mediados de la década de 1970, reabrió sus puertas como un campo de aviación civil, con 5.000 'x 60' pista de aterrizaje para aeronaves de propulsión ligera dentro de los 9.000 existentes 'x 100' de la pista anterior. Hoy en día todavía está en uso, principalmente para los paseos en parapente para los turistas. En el extremo occidental de la pista, una porción de al menos un revestimiento de tiempos de guerra sigue existiendo.

Fuentes:

MAURER, M. “Air Force Combat units of World War II” Office of Air Force History. 1983

MUELLER, R. “Active Air Force Bases within the United States of America on 17 de September 1982” Office of Air Force History, 1989

RAVENSTEIN, C.A. “Air Force Combat Wings lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977” Office of Air Force History, 1984

English version

The airfield is located in Mokuleia on the north end of Oahu. To the west is Kaena Point. Also known as Air Force Base.Fue Dillingham built during the first part of the war. Starting to work in February 1942 with the Curtiss P-40 Warhawks of the 72nd Pursuit Squadron. In mid 1942 the track was paved and had two rows of bunkers on the south side of the track.

Was used as an airfield for the operation of heavy bombardment, and later for fighters. Coating of large shelters with angled walls were built for heavy bombers. In April 1945, the airport was operating.

1943

Unidades basadas en el aeródromo de Mokuleia.

5th BG, 23rd BS (B-17) Hickam March 24, 42 - ? Funafuti returns Feb 1, 43 departs Feb 6, 43 Bomber 1

307th BG, 424th BS (B-24) USA November 2, 1942 - February 6, 1943 Espiritu Santo

30th BG, 27th BS (B-24) ? - November 10, 1943 Namumea

11th BG, 98th BS (B-17) April 8, 1943 - November 11, 1943 Namumea

318th FG, 73rd FS (P-40) NAS Kaneohe May 5, 1943 - November 8, 1943 Bellows

318th FG, 72rd FS (P-47) ? - June 8, 1944 Haleiwa

15th FG, 78th FS (P-47) Stanley April 1, 1944 - June 8, 1944 Bellows

21st FG, 531st FS (P-38, P-51) Kuoloa October 8, 1944 - ?

21st FG, HQ Wheeler October 13, 1944 - ?

508th FG, 466th FS (P-47) Kuoloa February 25, 1945

21st FG, 72th FS (P-51) ? - March 26, 1945 Iwo Jima

The camp was closed in 1947 with an asphalt runway of 8,900 '. In 1948, the airfield was inactivated and the name of "Dillingham Air Force Base", in memory of B-29 "Maniuwa" 42-63678 piloted by Captain Henry Gaylord Dillingham, killed in action in Kawasaki on July 25, 1945.

In the 1950s, the aircraft is based again on the field, but was again closed. A portion of the runway surface was used as a U.S. Army Battery-to-air missile OA-84, during the decade from 1950 to 1960.

In the mid 1970's, reopened as a civilian airfield, with 5,000 'x 60' landing strip for light aircraft propulsion within the existing 9000 'x 100' of the previous track. Today is still in use, mainly for glider rides for tourists. At the western end of the runway, a portion of at least one coating of wartime remains.

 July 29, 1942

Sources:

MAURER, M. “Air Force Combat units of World War II” Office of Air Force History. 1983

MUELLER, R. “Active Air Force Bases within the United States of America on 17 de September 1982” Office of Air Force History, 1989

RAVENSTEIN, C.A. “Air Force Combat Wings lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977” Office of Air Force History, 1984