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    Kahuku Airfield (Kuilima Air Park) Oahu | Hawaii United States
Location
Lat 21.71 North, Long 157.97 West. Located at the northern tip of Ohau near Kahuku Point. Also known as "Kahuku Point Airfield" or "Kahuku Field". Prewar and during the Pacific War part of the Territory of Hawaii (Hawaii Territory). Today part of Hawaii in the United States. Today known as Kuilima Air Park.

Construction
Built as a grass runway in late 1941. with a large bombing target on the ground. During late 1941 or early 1942, the runway was paved with asphalt and concrete to to support heavy bomber operations. By 1943, the airfield was expanded with two overlapping runways. A small rail line allowed bombs and ammunition from hill storage bunkers to be transported to the airfield. By April 1945, this airfield was listed as an emergency airfield with a 6,500' hard surfaced runway. Postwar, this airfield was closed.

Wartime History
Used by fighters at the start of the war and was a heavy bomber for the rest of the war.

American units based at Kahuku
18th FG, 6th FS (P-40) Wheeler August 30, 1942–?
307th BG, 372nd BS (B-24) USA arrives November 2, 1942April 23, 1943 departs Funafuti
11th BG, 50th RS (B-17)
30th BG, 392d BS (B-24) ? - May 23, 1944 departs Wheeler
30th BG, ? BS (B-24) US October 20, 1943–?
30th BG, 38th BS (B-24) Hickam ?–November 12, 1943 departs Nanumea

Postwar
During the early 1950s, the former runway was used as a drag racing track, and continued into the 1960s. An antenna array for short wave radio transmitters was located at the northern portion of the airfield and a National Guard summer camp ground.

Today
Between 1954-1977 a portion of the airfield was opened as the private "Kuilima Air Park" using 2,700' of the former runway. Today, the southern end of the former airfield is a wildlife refuge.

References
Abandoned & Little Known Airfields: Kahuku Airfield / Kuilima Air Park

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Last Updated
April 19, 2021

 

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