Pangasinan | Luzon | Philippines

1945


1945 via Tony Feredo

Justin Taylan 2003


Tony Feredo 2004

Location
Located at the town of Lingayen, parallel to the beach running roughly east to west along Lingayen Gulf. Also known as 'Lingayen Aerodrome' or 'Lingayen Field'.

Construction
This airfield was built prior to the war by the Americans (possibly Philippine Army). The field was used as a landing field by US pilots flying familiarization flights in North Luzon. A Philippine Army contingent (most likely the troops of the 21st Division, Phil Army) was also stationed in the area. When the Japanese struck Clark and Iba on December 8, 1941, some of the USAAC pilots landed their P-40s at Rosales and at Lingayen.

"Sawali" is a wooven material used for houses. Clark had a row of "sawali" houses for the barracks in 41.

Japanaese Usage
Occupied by the Japanese when they landed at Lingayen Gulf in December 1941. Extensivly used by the Japanese in 1944 for both Army and Navy aircraft, flying from the Formosa and Japan, when the threat against the Philippines by American forces aproached.

Japanese Units Based at Lingayen
98th Sentai (Ki-67 Peggy)

American Usage
After the American landing at Lingayen Gulf on January 9, 1945, this area was liberated on the first day. Liberating American forces did locate several wrecked planes, mostly transports and bomber at the airfield including the wreckage of a Ki-67 Peggy.

The airfield was repaired and improved, including a portion on the beach built by the 836th Engineer Aviation Battalion, and Filipino labor, using 'sawali' (woven palm fronds) with marston matting over top to form the surface of the runway, to keep the sand down. The repairs were completed in late February 1945 and it was immediately put into use by fighter and tactical reconnaissance squadrons, and was capable of handling B-25 and larger aircraft. Used as an emergency field for damaged bombers returning from strike on Formosa that were too damaged to reach Clark Field.

Japanese Air Raids
January 29, 1945 a solitary plane dropped four bombs onto the runway.

Ken Barber adds:
"The Filipino matting was called 'sawali' (wooven material used for houses) and was made of woven fine split bamboo. The 38th BG was not at Lingayen but rather at nearby MANGALDAN air field, a much bigger facility I believe. My friend Harry Terrell was with the 38th and flew missions from Mangaldan.

Travis Smith, 41st FS P-51 pilot remembers:
"We were stationed briefly at Lingayan, but because of trouble flying the Mustangs off that strip because the matting and our tail wheels. We ended up at Clark Field, swapping sites with a P-38 outfit. They defiantly got the worst of the deal."

Units Based At Lingayen
18th FG, HQ, 12th FS (P-38) Sansapor Jan 13 - Feb 27, 1945 San Jose
18th FG, 70th FS (P-38) Sansapor Jan 19 - February 26, 1945 San Jose
547th NFS (P-38, P-61) San Jose Jan 16 - Aug 13, 45 Ie Shima
71st TRG, 82nd TRS (F-6, P-40) San Jose Jan 17-20, 45 - ?
71st TRG, 110th TRS (P-40) San Jose Jan 22 - July 28, 45 Okinawa
38th BG, 822nd BS (B-25) Morotai Jan 29 - July 24, 1945Okinawa
38th BG, 823rd BS (B-25) Morotai Jan 29 - July 24, 1945 Okinawa
38th BG, 405th BS (B-25) Morotai Jan 30 - July 21, 1945 Okinawa
38th BG, 71st BS (B-25) Morotai Feb 1 - July 25, 1945 Okinawa
49th FG, 7th FS (P-38) San Jose Feb 25 - Aug 16, 1945 Okinawa
49th FG, 8th FS (P-38) San Jose Feb 27 - Aug 16, 1945 Okinawa
49th FG, 9th FS (P-38) San Jose Feb 26 - Aug 16, 1945 Okinawa
71st TRG, 17th TRS (B-25s) San Jose April - July 29, 1945Ie Shima
35th FG, 41st FS (P-51) Mangaldan April 16 - 20, 45 Clark
35th FG, HQ Morotai/Mangaldan January 20 - April 19, 1945 Clark
35th FG, 39th FS (P-47) Mangaldan April 10 - April 21, 1945 Clark
475th FG, HQ, 431st FS (P-38) Clark April 19 - Aug 8, 45 Ie Shima
475th FG, 432nd FS (P-38) Clark April 19 - Aug 8, 45 Ie Shima
475th FG, 433nd FS (P-38) Clark April 19 - Aug 8, 45 Ie Shima
475th FG, HQ Clark April 20 - Aug 8, 45 Ie Shima
309th BW HQ San Marcelino May 1, 1945 - ?
6th PRG, 26th PRS (F-5) Biak Jan 16 - July 22, 45 Clark / Aug 6 Okinawa

Today
The Lingayen Capital Compound and memorial is located behind the airstrip. Now the runway has been shortened and can only accommodate light to medium aircraft.

The present location is still part of the original runways in early 41 and 45. In 45e, the Americans expanded Lingayen to accomodate heavy aircraft such B-24s and medium bombers. Its was also a stop gap field for damaged bombers striking Formosa and are damaged to get back to Clark. The field is still in use today and light and medium aircraft still use the airfield as of today.

Tony Feredo visited in 2004:
"The Lingayen Field was shortened after the war.  Its original length covered the grounds of the Lingayen provincial capital and its revetments were near the road that you see now.  You have to drive further down the road near the Philippine National Police HQ.  You can't miss it as I even walked in the airstrip itself. The length reach part of the capitol. I have photos of Privateers and B-24s taking off from Lingayen as well." [ Photos from 2004 ]

References
Thanks to Tony Feredo for additional information.

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