Aguadulce Army Airfield
Encyclopedia
Aguadulce Army Airfield (also known as Airdrome Aguadulce ) is a former United States Army Air Forces
World War II
airfield in Panama
used as part of the defense of the Panama Canal
. It was closed on 1 March 1948.
Established on 1 April 1941, Aguadulce Airfield's mission was to defend the Panama Canal
. Most of its operational history was that of an auxiliary airfield, hosting fighter squadrons. Training of South American air force personnel was also conducted at the field.
Wartime units assigned were:
With the end of World War II Aguadulce was reduced in scope, with only a skeleton staff. It was closed on 1 March 1948 due to budget reductions. For several years, it was used as a civil airport, but was later closed; today the airfield is abandoned, with the runway still visible but in poor condition.
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
airfield in Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
used as part of the defense of the Panama Canal
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
. It was closed on 1 March 1948.
Established on 1 April 1941, Aguadulce Airfield's mission was to defend the Panama Canal
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1904 to 1914, the canal has seen annual traffic rise from about 1,000 ships early on to 14,702 vessels measuring a total of 309.6...
. Most of its operational history was that of an auxiliary airfield, hosting fighter squadrons. Training of South American air force personnel was also conducted at the field.
Wartime units assigned were:
- 74th Bombardment Squadron74th Bombardment SquadronThe 74th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 106th Bombardment Wing, based at March Air Force Base, California...
(6th Bombardment Group)
- 8 November-11 December 1941 (B-18 Bolo)
- 13 February-1 May 1945 (B-24 Liberator)
- 59th Bombardment Squadron59th Bombardment SquadronThe 59th Bombardment Squadron is a United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment wa with the 319th Bombardment Group, based at Birmingham Airport, Birmingham, Alabama...
(9th Bombardment Group), 11 December 1941-19 February 1942
- 59th Bombardment Squadron
- Detachment operated from: Hato FieldHato International AirportHato International Airport or Curaçao International Airport is the airport of Willemstad, Curaçao. It has services to the Caribbean region, South America, North America and Europe...
, CuraçaoCuraçaoCuraçao is an island in the southern Caribbean Sea, off the Venezuelan coast. The Country of Curaçao , which includes the main island plus the small, uninhabited island of Klein Curaçao , is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands...
, 13 January-24 September 1942 - Detachment operated from: Dakota FieldQueen Beatrix International AirportQueen Beatrix International Airport , in Oranjestad, Aruba, is an aviation facility. It has flight services to the United States, most countries in the Caribbean, the northern coastal countries of South America, Canada and some parts of Europe, notably the Netherlands...
, ArubaArubaAruba is a 33 km-long island of the Lesser Antilles in the southern Caribbean Sea, located 27 km north of the coast of Venezuela and 130 km east of Guajira Peninsula...
, 14 January-24 September 1942- 29th Bombardment Squadron (40th Bombardment Group), 16 June 1942-29 March 1943 (B-18 Bolo, Northrup A-17 Nomad)
- 30th Fighter Squadron30th Fighter-Bomber SquadronThe 30th Fighter-Bomber Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 37th Fighter-Bomber Wing, based at Clovis Army Airfield, New Mexico...
(XXVI Fighter CommandXXVI Fighter CommandThe XXVI Fighter Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Sixth Air Force, based at Albrook Field, Canal Zone...
), 10 February 1943-25 January 1945 (P-40 Warhawk)
With the end of World War II Aguadulce was reduced in scope, with only a skeleton staff. It was closed on 1 March 1948 due to budget reductions. For several years, it was used as a civil airport, but was later closed; today the airfield is abandoned, with the runway still visible but in poor condition.