Location
Located near San Pablo on Leyte, due east of Bayug
Airfield, and south-east of Buri Airfield.
Construction
Built
by the Japanese and used until the Americans landed on Leyte in late October, 1944.
American Usage
Occupied
by American forces and immediatly put back into service as
a crash strip.
Japanese
Paratrooper Attack - December 7, 1944
After
the airstrip fell to the Americans, Japanese General
Yamashita ordered the entire First Airborne Brigade with
two regiments to jump on San Pabalo and Buri Airstrips at 1800 hours.
Although the
paratroopers caught the Americans by surprise, the first plane load of paratroopers
began leaving their aircraft direct over the Div. Hdqs. some 600 feet short
of their objective. Others were strung out well beyond the airstrip in an
area of tall trees, where many were entangled. One entire plane load jumped
to their deaths when the anchor line which pulls the rip chord failed to open.
Those who did reach the airfields were ineffective. The attack proved to be disorganized and an abortive
effort.
By later in 1945, the airfield was used as only an emergency crash strip and for limited use by L-5 liason light planes.
Today
Disused since the war.
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