History
The airfield was a temporary field located several miles from the southern tip of the Bataan peninsula built about 20 December 1941. Bataan Field consisted of a dirt runway, hacked out of the jungle by Army engineers. However, it was well camouflaged.
The airfield was used by whatever surviving aircraft were left on Luzon, mostly P-40s from the 24th Pursuit Group, but also a variety of observation aircraft and Navy planes.
During the Battle of Bataan, the airfield was attacked and strafed daily by the Japanese, however no aircraft were lost on the ground as a result of the attacks. Bataan Field, along with airfields at Cabcaben and Mariveles were kept in operation for several months during the Battle of Bataan.
Surviving aircraft were sent to Del Monte Airfield on Mindanao about 8 April 1942 to carry on the fight. Bataan Field was captured as part of the American surrender on 9 April 1942.
Read more about this topic: Bataan Airfield
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