Villamor Air Base: Difference between revisions

Villamor Air Base
Villamor Air Base
	IATA: MNL; ICAO: RPLL;
Summary
Airport type	Public/Military
Operator	Philippine Air Force
Serves	Manila
Elevation AMSL	23 m / 75 ft
Coordinates	14°30′31″N 121°01′10″E / 14.50861°N 121.01944°E
Website	www.paf.mil.ph
Map
	Villamor Air Base Location in the Philippines
Runways

Villamor Air Base
Villamor Air Base
Pasay City, Philippines
	522nd Logistics Group Headquarters Building
Coordinates	14°30′31″N 121°01′10″E / 14.50861°N 121.01944°E
Type	airbase
Site information
Owner	Philippines
Controlled by	Philippine Air Force
Condition	Active, as of 2016
Site history
Built	1919
Built by	United States
In use	1919–present
Battles/wars	World War II
Events	Philippines campaign (1941–42); Philippines campaign (1944–45);

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Latest revision as of 10:16, 3 July 2024

Colonel Jesus Villamor Air Base, known simply as Villamor Air Base (IATA: MNL, ICAO: RPLL), is the headquarters of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) and shares runways with Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). It was formerly known as Nichols Field or Nichols Air Base. Chiefly used as a PAF transport/helicopter airbase, the Maharlika Hall located at the base is used by the president of the Philippines when departing for foreign or domestic trips.^[1] Also, foreign dignitaries visiting Manila would usually arrive at the air base.

The base is named after Filipino World War II pilot Jesús A. Villamor.

History

The air base was built as Nichols Field in 1919 by the United States during the insular government era and in 1941, was used as an airfield by the United States Army Air Forces in the South West Pacific Theatre. The field was the location of the U.S. Far East Air Force's U.S. 20th Air Base Group. Also, based at the field was Troop F of the U.S. 26th Cavalry Regiment.

A Fifth Air Force base, Nichols Field was within the territory of Imperial Japan during their occupation of the Philippines from December 1941 to January 1945.

Nichols Air Base

Designated Nichols Air Base after Philippine independence, in 1997, the base was reduced to make way for construction of Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 and Newport City.

In 2010, the AVSECOM van (called by some as "Ninoy Aquino's death van") which had carried the body of Ninoy Aquino to the hospital after his assassination in 1983 was found rotting inside Nichols Air Base (now called Villamor Airbase). This was reported only two years later by ABS-CBN News.^[2] Photos of this "death van" were subsequently posted on the blog site of the Filipino investigative journalist, Raissa Robles, who reported the discovery.^[3]

Gallery

Villamor Air Base

Two North American A-27s of the 17th Pursuit Squadron at Nichols Field in 1941.
Façade of the Philippine Air Force Aerospace Museum

References

^ Malasig, Jeline (November 17, 2022). "'Maharlika Hall' at Villamor Airbase to serve as president's gateway for official trips". Interaksyon. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
^ "Ninoy Aquino's death van". ABS CBN News. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
^ Robbles, Raissa. "Ninoy Aquino's death van". raissarobles.com/. Retrieved August 30, 2013.

[1] Malasig, Jeline (November 17, 2022). "'Maharlika Hall' at Villamor Airbase to serve as president's gateway for official trips". Interaksyon. Retrieved December 12, 2022.

[2] "Ninoy Aquino's death van". ABS CBN News. Retrieved August 30, 2013.

[3] Robbles, Raissa. "Ninoy Aquino's death van". raissarobles.com/. Retrieved August 30, 2013.

[1]

[2]

[3]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|Airbase of the Philippine Air Force}}
-{{Infobox military structure
+{{For|the civilian use of this facility|Ninoy Aquino International Airport}}
+{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2022}}
+{{Use Philippine English|date=September 2022}}
+{{Infobox military installation
 | name            = Villamor Air Base
-| location        = [[Parañaque]] and [[Pasay]], [[Metro Manila]]
+| location        = [[Pasay City]], [[Philippines]]
 | image           = VillamorAirBasej-Bulacanf0894 11.JPG
 | caption         = 522nd Logistics Group Headquarters Building
@@ Line 10: / Line 14: @@
 | ownership       = {{flag|Philippines}}
 | controlled by   = [[Philippine Air Force]]
-| condition       = active, as of 2016
+| condition       = Active, as of 2016
 | built           = 1919
 | builder         = {{flag|United States}}
-| used            = 1919-present
+| used            = 1919–present
 | battles         = [[World War II]]
+| events          =
-| events          = [[Battle of the Philippines (1941-1942)]]<br>[[Philippines Campaign (1944-1945)]]
+* [[Philippines campaign (1941–42)]]
-* 250th Presidential Airlift Wing
+* [[Philippines campaign (1944–45)]]
-* 520th Airbase Wing
-* 505th [[Search and Rescue]] Group
-* 207th [[military tactics|Tactical Operations]] Squadron
 }}
 {{Infobox airport
 | name                = Villamor Air Base
@@ Line 37: / Line 40: @@
 | metric-rwy          = yes
 | r1-number           = 06/24
-| r1-length-f         = 12, 260
+| r1-length-f         = 12,260
-| r1-length-m         = 3, 737
+| r1-length-m         = 3,737
-| r1-surface          = [[Asphalt]]
+| r1-surface          = [[Asphalt concrete|Asphalt]]
 | r2-number           = 13/31
-| r2-length-f         = 7, 766
+| r2-length-f         = 7,766
-| r2-length-m         = 2, 367
+| r2-length-m         = 2,367
-| r2-surface          = [[Asphalt]]
+| r2-surface          = [[Asphalt concrete|Asphalt]]
 }}
-'''Villamor Air Base''' {{airport codes|MNL|RPLL}}, named for Filipino [[World War II|WWII]]  pilot [[Jesús A. Villamor]] is the home of the [[Philippine Air Force]] (PAF) and shares [[runways]] with the [[Ninoy Aquino International Airport]] (NAIA). It is also known as '''Nichols Field''' or '''Nichols Air Base'''. Chiefly used as a PAF transport/helicopter [[airbase]], it is also the military installation that the [[President of the Philippines|Philippine president]] uses when departing for foreign or domestic trips, though foreign departures are mostly done at the NAIA. Also, foreign dignitaries visiting Manila would usually arrive at the air base.
+'''Colonel Jesus Villamor Air Base''', known simply as '''Villamor Air Base''' {{airport codes|MNL|RPLL}}, is the headquarters of the [[Philippine Air Force]] (PAF) and shares [[runway]]s with [[Ninoy Aquino International Airport]] (NAIA). It was formerly known as '''Nichols Field''' or '''Nichols Air Base'''. Chiefly used as a PAF transport/helicopter [[airbase]], the Maharlika Hall located at the base is used by the [[president of the Philippines]] when departing for foreign or domestic trips.<ref>{{Cite news|title=‘Maharlika Hall’ at Villamor Airbase to serve as president’s gateway for official trips |first=Jeline |last=Malasig |date=November 17, 2022 |work=Interaksyon |access-date=December 12, 2022 |url=https://interaksyon.philstar.com/politics-issues/2022/11/17/234952/maharlika-hall-in-villamor-airbase-to-serve-as-presidents-gateway-for-official-trips/}}</ref> Also, foreign dignitaries visiting Manila would usually arrive at the air base.
+The base is named after Filipino [[World War II]] pilot [[Jesús A. Villamor]].
 ==History==
-[[Nichols Field (Philippines)|'''Nichols Field''']] was built in 1919 by the United States during the [[History of the Philippines#The American Period .281898-1913.29|Philippine Commonwealth period]] and in 1941 was used as an airfield by the [[United States Army Air Forces in the South West Pacific Theatre]]. The field was the location of the [[U.S. Far East Air Force]]'s [[U.S. 20th Air Base Group]]. Also, based at the field was Troop F of the [[U.S. 26th Cavalry Regiment]].
+The air base was built as [[Nichols Field]] in 1919 by the United States during the [[Insular Government of the Philippine Islands|insular government]] era and in 1941, was used as an airfield by the [[United States Army Air Forces in the South West Pacific Theatre]]. The field was the location of the [[U.S. Far East Air Force]]'s [[U.S. 20th Air Base Group]]. Also, based at the field was Troop F of the [[U.S. 26th Cavalry Regiment]].
-A [[Fifth Air Force]] base, Nichols Field was within the territory of the [[Japanese occupation of the Philippines]], December 1941 – January 1945 and now my Fiancée lives there I love here more than anything. Hi Elyne Jhoy!
+A [[Fifth Air Force]] base, Nichols Field was within the territory of [[Empire of Japan|Imperial Japan]] during [[Japanese occupation of the Philippines|their occupation of the Philippines]] from December 1941 to January 1945.
 ===Nichols Air Base===
-Designated '''Nichols Air Base''' after Philippine independence, in 1997 the base was reduced to make way for construction of [[Ninoy Aquino International Airport#Terminal 3|NAIA Terminal 3]] and [[Newport City, Metro Manila|Newport City]].
+Designated Nichols Air Base after Philippine independence, in 1997, the base was reduced to make way for construction of [[Ninoy Aquino International Airport#Terminal 3|Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3]] and [[Newport City, Metro Manila|Newport City]].
+In 2010, the [[Philippine National Police Aviation Security Command#History|AVSECOM]] van (called by some as "Ninoy Aquino's death van") which had carried the body of [[Ninoy Aquino]] to the hospital after his [[Assassination of Ninoy Aquino|assassination in 1983]] was found rotting inside Nichols Air Base (now called Villamor Airbase). This was reported only two years later by [[ABS-CBN News]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Ninoy Aquino's death van|url=http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/blogs/insights/08/21/12/ninoy-aquinos-death-van|access-date=August 30, 2013|newspaper=ABS CBN News}}</ref> Photos of this "death van" were subsequently posted on the blog site of the Filipino investigative journalist, Raissa Robles, who reported the discovery.<ref>{{cite web|last=Robbles|first=Raissa|title=Ninoy Aquino's death van|url=http://raissarobles.com/2012/08/20/ninoy-aquinos-death-van/|website=raissarobles.com/|access-date=August 30, 2013}}</ref>
-In 2007, a [[Metro Manila Skyway|Skyway]] exit to both the air base and NAIA Terminal 3 was completed.
-In 2010, the [[Philippine National Police Aviation Security Command#History|AVSECOM]] van (called by some as '''Ninoy Aquino's death van''') which had carried the body of [[Ninoy Aquino]] to the hospital after his [[Assassination of Ninoy Aquino|assassination in 1983]] was found rotting inside Nichols Air Base (now called Villamor Airbase). This was reported only two years later in the popular [[ABS-CBN News]] website.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ninoy Aquino's death van|url=http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/blogs/insights/08/21/12/ninoy-aquinos-death-van|accessdate=30 August 2013|newspaper=ABS CBN News}}</ref> Photos of this "death van" were subsequently posted on the blog site of the Filipino investigative journalist, Raissa Robles, who reported the discovery.<ref>{{cite web|last=Robbles|first=Raissa|title=Ninoy Aquino's death van|url=http://raissarobles.com/2012/08/20/ninoy-aquinos-death-van/|publisher=http://raissarobles.com/|accessdate=30 August 2013}}</ref>
 ==Gallery==
 {{Gallery
+| title = Villamor Air Base|File:Two North American A-27s intercepted from order from Siam on Nichols Field.jpg |Two [[North American A-27]]s of the [[17th Pursuit Squadron]] at Nichols Field in 1941.
-| title = Villamor Air Base|lines=3
+|File:PAFMuseumjf0743 09.JPG|Façade of the [[Philippine Air Force Aerospace Museum]]
-|File:Two North American A-27s intercepted from order from Siam on Nichols Field.jpg |Two [[North American A-27]]s of the [[17th Pursuit Squadron]] at Nichols Field in 1941.
-|File:PAFMuseumjf0743 09.JPG|Facade of Museum
 }}
@@ Line 72: / Line 75: @@
 {{Airports in the Greater Manila Area}}
 {{Military Bases of the Philippines}}
+<!--United States categories are at the [[Nichols Field]] page-->
 [[Category:Military facilities in Metro Manila]]
 [[Category:Air force installations of the Philippines]]
 [[Category:Buildings and structures in Pasay]]
-<!--United States categories are at the [[Nichols Field]] page-->

v t e Airports in the Greater Manila Area
Commercial	Ninoy Aquino Clark Sangley Point Subic Bay
Military	Danilo Atienza Cesar Basa Clark Basilio Fernando Ernesto Rabina Jesus Villamor
General aviation	Plaridel
Historical	Bataan NAS Cubi Point Del Carmen Nichols Nielson Porac NS Sangley Point
Under construction	Bulacan

v t e Military bases of the Philippines
Army camps and forts	Emilio Aguinaldo (Quezon City) Emilio Jacinto (Santa Cruz, Laguna) Andres Bonifacio (Taguig City) Rigoberto Atienza (Quezon City) Servillano Aquino (Tarlac) Ramon Magsaysay (Nueva Ecija) Guillermo Nakar (Lucena) Fort Gregorio Del Pilar (Baguio) Edilberto Evangelista (Cagayan de Oro) Camp Lapu-Lapu (Cebu City) Sotero Cabahug (Cebu) Camp Navarro (Zamboanga City) Camp Panacan (Davao City) Camp Gen. Mateo Capinpin (Tanay, Rizal) Camp Major Cesar L. Sang-an (Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur) Camp Gen. Macario G. Peralta Jr. (Jamindan, Capiz) Camp Melchor F. dela Cruz (Gamu, Isabela) Camp BGen. Gonzalo H. Siongco (Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao) Camp Vicente Lukban (Catbalogan City, Samar) Camp Vicente Lim (Calamba, Laguna) Camp Elias Angeles (Pili, Camarines Sur) Camp O'Donnell (Capas, Tarlac) Camp Natividad (Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon) Camp Tito Abat (Manaoag, Pangasinan) Camp Gen. Mariano Riego de Dios (Tanza, Cavite) Camp Iranun (Maguindanao) Camp Gen. Manuel T. Yan (Mawab, Davao de Oro)
Air Force bases	Jesus Villamor (Pasay) Danilo Atienza (Cavite) Cesar Basa (Pampanga) Basilio Fernando (Batangas) Antonio Bautista (Palawan) Benito Ebuen (Cebu) Edwin Andrews (Zamboanga City) Lumbia Air Base (Cagayan de Oro) Rajah Buayan (General Santos) Clark (Angeles City)
Naval bases and stations	Naval Base Heracleo Alano (Naval Base Cavite) Naval Base Camilo Osias (Naval Operating Base San Vicente) Naval Base Rafael Ramos (Naval Operating Base Mactan) NS Juan Magluyan (Naval Operating Base Batu-Batu) NS Leovigildo Gantioqui (NS San Miguel) Naval Station Ernesto Ogbinar NS Julhasan A Arasain (NS Legaspi) NS Narciso Del Rosario (NS Balabac) NS Apolinario Jalandoon (NS Puerto Princesa) NS Emilio Liwanag (NS Pag-asa) NS Carlito Cunanan (NS Ulugan) NS Alfonso Palencia (NS Guimaras) NS Dioscoro Papa (NS Tacloban) NS Felix Apolinario (NS Davao) NS Romulo Espaldon (NS Zamboanga) NS Jose Francisco (Bonifacio NS) NS Jose Andrada (Fort San Antonio Abad) NS Pascual Ledesma (Fort San Felipe)
Marine barracks	Rudiardo Brown Marine Barracks (Marine Base Manila) Gregorio Lim Marine Barracks (Marine Base Ternate) Arturo Asuncion Marine Barracks (Zamboanga City) Domingo Deluana Marine Barracks (Marine Base Tawi-Tawi)