|
 |
|
|
| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
| Chronology | Locations | Aircraft | Ships | Submit Info | How You Can Help | Donate |
|
   David Mason 2004   Justin Taylan 2005 |
Location Mabalacat East Airfield was located to the east of the MacArthur Highway and railroad to the north of Mabalacat in Pampanga Province on Luzon in the Philippines. Also known as "East Airfield", "Mabalacat No 2" or "Kamikaze East" by the Japanese. To the west was Mabalacat West Airfield (Kamikaze West, Mabalacat No 1). Construction Prior to development, the area was flat farm land planted with rice. Prewar, the U.S. Army built a single runway was at this location for as a landing ground. Wartime History Occupied by the Japanese and used as a fighter airfield. During October 1944, a detachment of the 201 Kōkūtai (201 Air Group) operating N1K1 Georges and A6M5 Zeros. Also based the Shimpu Special Attack Corps flying kamikaze missions. Japanese units based at Mabalacat East Airfield 201 Kōkūtai (A6M5 Zeros also operated from Clark Field) Shimpu Special Attack Corps First Organized Kamikaze Mission On October 20, 1944 from Mabalacat East Airfield the first organized kamikaze mission in the Philippines commanded by Vice-Admiral Takjuro Ohnishi was launched from this location against U.S. Navy (USN) vessels off Leyte. The first kamikaze pilots were twenty-three from the 1st Air Fleet, 201 Kokutai (201 Air Group) divided into for units designated by the name of the led pilot: Shikishima, Yamato, Asahi and Yama Yukio Seki. The first to take off at 7:25pm was the Shikishima unit led by by Lt. Yokjo Seki and flew to the target area. At 10:45pm they attacked USN vessels off Leyte and Lt. Yokjo Seki succeeded in hitting the escort carrier USS St. Lo (CVE-63), which sank 20 minutes later and was credited as the fist kamikaze in the Philippines. Afterwards, Mabalacat East Airfield continued to be used for kamikaze missions. During late January 1945 liberated by the U.S. Army. Afterwards, this location was not used as an airfield. Today Disused since the Pacific War. Today, the former airfield area is planted with crops. Kamikaze East Airfield Peace Memorial A memorial and sign mark the site of the old runway, and it is frequently visited by tourists, especially Japanese. The memorial was built by the Mabalacat Tourism Office: "Not for the glorification of the Kamikaze but rather for the use of war history as a tool for the promotion of peace and friendship among nations. This shrine serves as a reminder that the Kamikaze phenomenon shall never happen again." Contribute
Information Last Updated
|
 Map 1944 Map Fallingrain |
| Discussion Forum | Daily Updates | Reviews | Museums | Interviews & Oral Histories |
|
