San Roque Airfield (Moret Field)

Mindanao | Philippines

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Circa 1945

 

Location
Located inland and to the north-west of Zamboanga, in Zamboanga Sibugay Province.

Wartime History
Occupied by the Japanese.

American Missions Against San Roque
October 30, 1944 - March 16, 1945

Liberation & American Use
Liberated March 11, 1945 by the 163rd Infantry, and put into action by US forces. A sign was erected at the base reading 'They have no tails in Zamboanga' and the tail section of an abandoned Japanese fighter suspended above it on a frame.

Naming Honors
San Roque airstrip was officially named Moret Field after Lt. Col. Paul Moret, USMC pilot, who was killed in an airplane crash at New Caledonia in 1943.

American Units Based at San Roque (Moret Field)
USMC 1st Marine Aircraft Wing
HQ Squadron 32
Service Squadron 32
VMSB 142
VMSB 243
VMSB 236
VMSB 341
VBM-611 (PBJ) March 30, 1945 -

Today
Still in use today as Zamboanga International Airport, airport code ZAM. To the north of the airport is Edwin Andrews Air Base.

 

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