|
 |
|
|
| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
| Chronology | Locations | Aircraft | Ships | Submit Info | How You Can Help | Donate |
|
| Location Lat 121° 2' 0" E Long 12° 27' 0" N Elmore Airfield was located to the southwest of San Jose in Occidental Mindoro on Mindoro Island. To the north was the Bugsanga River. To the east was a sugar mill and beyond Old San Jose Airfield. Not to be confused with nearby San Jose Airport (McGuire Drome) built by the Americans during late 1944 and still in use today. Also incorrectly spelled "Ellmore" in wartime sources. Construction On December 15, 1944 the U.S. Army landed unopposed at Magarin Bay on White Beach near San Jose and advanced inland beyond this location to establish a beachhead line and outposts. Immediately, U.S. Army engineers began building a single runway at this location. Wartime History Occupied by the Japanese and used during their occupation. On December 12, 1944 the US Army landed on Mindoro and was occupied. Elmore and Hill Airfield were placed into operation. American forces expanded the runway to 6,000' x 100' (another source lists as 6450' x 100' runway plus 500' overrun) paved with gravel and oil at each end. American units based at Elmore (San Jose) 58th FG, 311th FS (P-47) San Roque arrives December 21, 1944–April 7, 1945 departs Mangaldan By July 1, 1945 this airfield was abandoned. Today Disused since the Pacific War. References Airdromes Guide Southwest Pacific Area Airdromes Guide Southwest Pacific Area - 1 July 1945 Corregidor.org - Remembering Mindoro by Don Abbott "Because of the delay getting our companies straightened out after our landing the Engineers were right behind us and kept nipping at our heels hoping to get to the place where they would begin construction of Elmore airstrip. Having D-8 Caterpillar tractors right behind you and trying to pass does not make for a very orderly infantry advance." "As the Elmore airstrip construction progressed it turned out the CP was not far from the end of a major landing strip. Nearby an Anti-Aircraft Artillery outfit set up a 40mm emplacement. This facility became the designated ''Alert'' gun for a large part of the area of occupation." "Being near the approach to Elmore field where the P-61's were based, we would hear a plane approaching. We would not know for sure whether it was one of ours or a Jap. If it landed, it was one of ours. If it began strafing and dropping bombs, it was one of theirs." "A unit which flew P-47's also was stationed at Elmore field. At the end of the East end of one of the main runways the sugar mill was left standing. It was an, at least, two stored corrugated iron building. One day, as I was going to Battalion HQ I could see where a P-47 had crashed into the building. The odd part was that the hole in the corrugated iron was in the exact shape of a P-47 faced head on. I never knew what happened to that pilot." "One of the many aircraft to be based at Elmore strip was a Navy version of the Air Corp B-24. Early models retained the twin tails of the B-24 [PB4Y-1] but the models stationed here had a huge, single tail [PB4Y-2 Privateers]. These aircraft were used by the Navy for long range patrol." Thanks to Tony Feredo for additional information Contribute
Information Last Updated
|
 Map Dec 15, 1944 Map 1945  View in Google Earth |
| Discussion Forum | Daily Updates | Reviews | Museums | Interviews & Oral Histories |
|
