Basa Air Base

Basa Air Base
Floridablanca Airfield
Located at Floridablanca, Pampanga, Philippines

Facade of Basa Air Base
Coordinates 14°59′00″N 120°29′00″E / 14.98333°N 120.48333°E / 14.98333; 120.48333 (Antonio Bautista Airbase)
Type Air Base
Site information
Owner  Philippines
Controlled by Philippine Air Force
Condition active, as of 2014
Site history
Built November 1941
Built by  United States
In use 1941-1945  Japan,
1945-1947 United States,
1947-current Philippines
Garrison information
Garrison
  • Air Defense Wing headquarters
  • 5th Fighter Group (5th Tactical Fighter Group)
  • 355th Aviation Engineering Wing
  • 1302nd Dental Dispensary
Basa Air Base
Floridablanca Air Field
IATA: none – ICAO: RPUF
Summary
Airport type Military
Operator Philippine Air Force
Location Floridablanca, Pampanga
Commander Brigadier General Nestor P. Deona, AFP (GSC)
Elevation AMSL 33 ft / 11 m
Coordinates 14°59′00″N 120°29′00″E / 14.98333°N 120.48333°E / 14.98333; 120.48333Coordinates: 14°59′00″N 120°29′00″E / 14.98333°N 120.48333°E / 14.98333; 120.48333
Map
Basa Air Base

Location of Basa Air Base

Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
04L/22R 10,390 3,167 Concrete

Basa Air Base (formerly known as Floridablanca Airfield)(ICAO: RPUF), is a Military base base currently operated by the Philippine Air Force. It is located at Floridablanca, Pampanga about 40 miles northwest of Metro Manila in the Philippines. It is named after César Basa, one of the pioneer fighter pilots of the PAF.[1]

The base was built and used by the US Army Air Corps before the Second World War and was captured and used by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force during the early stages of World War II. Combined American and Philippine Commonwealth military forces were eventually able to recapture it during the later stages of the war.

History

World War II

Company B, 803rd Engineer (Aviation) Battalion, began work on what was originally known as Del Carmen Field in mid-November, 1941. It was to be major airdrome with multiple runways designed to serve heavy bombers that were to be assigned to the Philippines prior to the start of World War II. The engineers were not able to complete the field, and only the 34th Pursuit Squadron, Far East Air Force (FEAF), with its P-35 aircraft operated from there. Several P-40's from other FEAF pursuit squadrons used Del Carmen as an emergency landing strip after the bombing of Clark and Iba Fields on December 8, 1941.

In late December 1941, during the early stages of World War II, the facility was successfully captured and taken over by the Japanese Army. The base was used by the Japanese as an auxiliary airfield. It was in this aerodrome complex of Clark, Floridablanca, Porac and Mabalacat airfield where the scheme to employ "kamikaze" fighters was first conceived and launched.

In January 1945, the USAAF re-established a presence at the airfield when the United States Sixth Army cleared the area of Japanese forces. The 312th Bombardment Group (19 April-13 August 1945) based A-20 Havocs and the 348th Fighter Group (15 May-6 July 1945) based P-47 Thunderbolts and P-51 Mustangs at the airfield. In 1945, during the period of Philippine liberation to joint U.S. and Filipino troops, the U.S. Army Air Forces enlarged the airfield further to accommodate B-17s and B-24s, which were used for air strikes against Japan.[2]

The United States government later turned over the installation to the Philippines. On August 22, 1947, three M35 2-1/2 ton cargo trucks ferried in the 2nd Tactical Fighter Squadron to lay the groundwork for a fighter base.

On September 9, 1947, the Headquarters Composite Group, with a subordinate unit known as the Floridablanca Base Service Detachment, was organized to continue the pioneering venture. The 6th and 7th Fighter squadrons, armed with P-51D "Mustangs", were activated on October 24, 1947. From 1947 to 1955, these two squadrons extensively conducted pacification campaigns against the Huks in Central Luzon and the forces of Kamlon in Southern Mindanao.

The increasing awareness of the important role of air defense and the gradual expansion of the base led to the activation of other support units. Some of the units activated during the early days were the Basic Flying School Squadron and the Advance Flying School Squadron, which were later transferred to Fernando Air Base.

On August 1, 1951, the 8th Fighter Squadron was activated to complete the tactical set-up of three fighter squadrons that comprises the 5th Fighter Group. On January 15, 1949, the 5th Fighter Group Headquarters was re-designated as Basa Air Base Headquarters.

Pursuant to General Orders No. 381, GHQ, AFP, dated September 30, 1952, and HPAF, dated October 7, 1952, Basa Air Base Headquarters was finally re-designated as the 5th Fighter Wing Headquarters. After being reorganized into an Air Wing set-up, the position of the Base Commander has been changed, since then, to Wing Commander.

Basa Air Base was closed in 1955 to pave the way for the gradual transition to jet aircraft operations, which was a move towards modernization and expansion. It was then developed into a modern fighter base complex, equipped with a sprawling multi-million peso jet runway, aircraft movement areas, lighting and refueling facilities, workshops, and other vital installations for the 5th Fighter Wing jet operations. On December 14, 1962, the 5th Fighter Wing formed the 9th Tactical Fighter Squadron ("Limbas") as the PAF contingent to Congo, Africa.

By 1994, with the acquisition of the SIAI-Marchetti S.211 (S-211) jet, the 7th Tactical Fighter Squadron was manned and reorganized. The aircraft mainstay then on was the warrior version of the S-211 also known as the AS-211 fitted with hard points and weapons systems.

As of 2009, Basa Air Base housed the Air Defense Wing headquarters, the 5th Fighter Group (also referred to as the 5th Tactical Fighter Group), and the 355th Aviation Engineering Wing, along with the 1302nd Dental Dispensary. The Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Plan called for the procurement of a fighter aircraft replacement by 2012, which would likely be based at Basa Air Base.[3]

Mount Pinatubo Eruption

Basa Air Base suffered heavy infrastructural damage when Mount Pinatubo, less than 15 miles away, erupted in 1991. This left most buildings buried in thick layers of ash. Many of the PAF's grounded F-8 Crusader jet fighters were damaged, and residents were evacuated to other Philippine military facilities, such as Camp Olivas in San Fernando, Pampanga and Villamor Air Base in Pasay City. Eventually the whole fleet was sold for scrap.[4]

Facilities & Equipments

Aircraft

The 5th Fighter Group originally had nine Stinson L-5 Sentinels, one C-47 aircraft and eighteen F-51 Mustangs. By 1950, fifty more F-51 Mustangs, and twenty-two North American T-6 Texan trainer planes were added to bolster the training of fighter pilots.

In 1957, the propeller-driven Mustangs gave way to the T-33 jet trainer aircraft and the Korean War-tested North American F-86 Sabre jets.

In 1960, the Philippine Air Force added the F-86D all-weather interceptors to its fighter aircraft arsenal.

The 5th Fighter Wing eventually acquired the jet-powered, twin-engined, F-5A/B Freedom Fighter supersonic aircraft, which ushered the Philippine Air Force into the supersonic jet age. This positioned the 5th Fighter Wing as the spearhead of defense, responsible for air reconnaissance, interdiction and ground support.

In 1978, a fleet of F-8H Crusaders were acquired from the U.S. Navy. The last of the Crusaders were decommissioned in 1988 from the Philippine Air Force inventory because of their high maintenance and operating costs. At the same time, the 7th Tactical Fighter Squadron was temporarily unmanned. By then, only a handful of F-5 jets were left on operational status.

Aerobatic Teams
In 1953, the elite Blue Diamonds Aerobatics Team was formed from the core of the 6th Tactical Fighter Squadron. Showcasing the Philippine Air Force pilot's skill and proficiency in flying, the team quickly gained nationwide recognition.

In 1971, two other aerobatics teams: the 9th Tactical Fighter Squadron's Golden Sabres, led by Lt Col Antonio M Bautista and the 7th Tactical Fighter Squadron's Red Aces, were formed. In 1974, both teams retired due to economic setbacks brought by the increase in oil prices, inflation, and the Philippine Air Force's heavy losses in its Mindanao campaigns.

Basa Air Base Hospital

Basa Air Base Hospital is one of the primary medical facilities of the Philippine Air Force.

Our Lady of Loretto Chapel

Basa Air Base Chapel (currently known as Our Lady of Loretto Chapel) was founded in 1949 with St. Michael the Archangel as patron. Originally located at the flight line, it was transferred to its present location in 1956. It was renovated in 1984 after typhoon damage in 1983. It was rededicated to Our Lady of Loretto, and used as evacuation center for Pinatubo victims in 1991. In its first 50 years, 19 chaplains served. It was inaugurated on the 55th Founding Anniversary on August 22, 2002.[5]

Current Plans

Since the Basa Air Base has few aircraft today, it serves as a venue of sports and other outdoor tourism activities. It was planned to be converted into a tourism spot instead of a military base because of the low budget allotment of the government. Aside from housing active soldiers, there were also facilities for tourism.[6]

However, in March 2016, the United States and the Philippines concluded their Sixth Annual Bilateral Security Dialogue session in Washington, D.C. At that forum, one of the first fruits of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) came to bear: the announcement of five Philippine-controlled bases where the United States could rotate troops and pre-position facilities and materials in support of the U.S. Pacific Pivot. One of those installations was Basa Air Base, which has plenty of room for potential U.S. Air Force operations by fighter and bomber elements of the U.S. Air Force, specifically the Pacific Air Forces and the Air Combat Command.[7]

Accidents and incidents

Gallery

Basa Air Base
View from the road. 
Driveway. 
Entrance. 
Air Defense Wing recreation area. 
Facilities
Façade of the Our Lady of Loretto Chapel. 
Altar of the Our Lady of Loretto Chapel. 
Interior of the Our Lady of Loretto Chapel. 
Icon of Our Lady of Loretto in the Our Lady of Loretto Chapel. 
Basa Air Base Hospital. 
Panorama of the playground and the field

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://forum.worldofwarplanes.com/index.php?/topic/15814-cesar-basa/
  2. ↑ http://adac-5fw-adw.blogspot.com/
  3. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-04-01. Retrieved 2014-07-01.
  4. ↑ http://pubs.usgs.gov/pinatubo/casa/
  5. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2014-07-01.
  6. ↑ http://www.headlinegl.com/basa-air-base-today/
  7. ↑ Heredia, Armando J. (March 22, 2016). "Analysis: New U.S.-Philippine Basing Deal Heavy on Air Power, Light on Naval Support". usni.org. United States Naval Institute. Retrieved September 7, 2016.
  8. ↑ "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 19 September 2010.

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