Rio Hato Airport
Encyclopedia
Río Hato Airport is an airport and former Panamanian Defense Base in Panama
, Río Hato
.
that currently crosses the runway. The award of this project, which has a cost of $53.2 million dollars, was done through a public bidding process, this project will be supervised by the Ministry of Public Works (MOP) and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and is expected to last 14 months. President Ricardo Martinelli said the new Scarlett Martínez Airport at Rio Hato will bring benefits and opportunities for area residents. The airport would free up Panama City’s Tocumen International Airport to accept more flights for business and connecting flights in an effort to secure Panama’s position as a hub for business and commercial activity in the region. It will serve to boost tourism along the Pacific beaches of Panama where several beach resorts and condo developments are located. President Martinelli confirmed that the use of this airport will be by charter companies from USA, Canada and Europe.
Battalions, 75th Ranger Regiment (TF RED ROMEO) departed Lawson Army Airfield
, Fort Benning
, GA at 18:00 on 19 December 1989. Its mission was to seize Río Hato and neutralize the 6th and 7th PDF Infantry Cos. At 01:00 on 20 December, the battalion jumped from C-130s onto the airfield at Río Hato. Both PDF companies had been alerted, and fired on the C-130s with small arms. Despite PDF resistance, the battalion assembled, attacked the barracks and established an airhead. By morning, the Rangers accomplished all missions, captured 250 prisoners and cleared the airfield for future operations.
Río Hato was also the first combat target for the United States Air Force F-117 Nighthawk
stealth fighter during Operation Just Cause. On 19 December 1989, a flight of eight F-117s lifted off from Tonopah Test Range Airport, Nevada. Their target was a large, open field beside barracks housing two companies of troops belonging to Battalion 2000, an elite unit known to be fiercely loyal to Panamanian Dictator Manuel Noriega. The plan was for the aircraft to drop two large 2,000-pound Mark 84 bombs colloquially known as "the Hammer" (the bombs which have been described as "the world's largest stun grenades" have a lethal radius of 400 feet and capable of blowing out eardrums half a mile away) close enough to the buildings to stun the sleeping soldiers so that they could not respond to the nearby nighttime parachute landings by the 2nd Ranger Battalion and elements of the 3rd Battalion. The explosion of the 2,000 lb bombs at a designated point of impact just 50 yards from the barracks would do just that, and fused to detonate after they had penetrated a few feet of earth, they would not cause many casualties.
Unfortunately, the fog of war was in the air. It also appears that, although the Pentagon brass understood the F-117A's accuracy, they did not fully understand what situation exactly the F-117A was suited for. As the two F-117A's approached their target the wind changed direction. Moreover, a last-minute change in the attack plan and confused communications resulted in the first pilot dropping his bomb where the second was to strike. The other pilot, thinking the attack had reverted to the original plan, dropped his bomb 325 yards wide.
Río Hato Army Air Base was used by the United States Army Air Forces
Sixth Air Force as part of the defense of the Panama Canal
. It was closed as an active Air Force facility in 1948, however it was used as an USAF axillary military landing field as late as 1990 as part of Howard Air Force Base
.
Units assigned to the base were:
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...
, Río Hato
Río Hato
Río Hato is a town in the Coclé province of Panama.- Sources :* – World-Gazetteer.com...
.
International Airport
In 2011 the Government of Panama gave the order to proceed for the project to rebuild the airport. The restoration work will include the rehabilitation of the runway, the airport terminal, and construction of a tunnel for the Carretera PanamericanaPan-American Highway
The Pan-American Highway is a network of roads measuring about in total length. Except for an rainforest break, called the Darién Gap, the road links the mainland nations of the Americas in a connected highway system. According to Guinness World Records, the Pan-American Highway is the world's...
that currently crosses the runway. The award of this project, which has a cost of $53.2 million dollars, was done through a public bidding process, this project will be supervised by the Ministry of Public Works (MOP) and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and is expected to last 14 months. President Ricardo Martinelli said the new Scarlett Martínez Airport at Rio Hato will bring benefits and opportunities for area residents. The airport would free up Panama City’s Tocumen International Airport to accept more flights for business and connecting flights in an effort to secure Panama’s position as a hub for business and commercial activity in the region. It will serve to boost tourism along the Pacific beaches of Panama where several beach resorts and condo developments are located. President Martinelli confirmed that the use of this airport will be by charter companies from USA, Canada and Europe.
Operation Just Cause
During Operation Just Cause, The United States Army 2d and 3d3d Ranger Battalion
The 3rd Ranger Battalion is one of three battalions of United States Army Rangers. They perform special operations, as well as light infantry missions and are based in Fort Benning, Georgia.-History:...
Battalions, 75th Ranger Regiment (TF RED ROMEO) departed Lawson Army Airfield
Lawson Army Airfield
Lawson Army Airfield is a military airport located at Fort Benning in Chattahoochee County, Georgia, south of the city of Columbus, Georgia. It is Fort Benning's primary Force Projection Platform.- Facilities :Lawson Army Airfield has one runway:...
, Fort Benning
Fort Benning
Fort Benning is a United States Army post located southeast of the city of Columbus in Muscogee and Chattahoochee counties in Georgia and Russell County, Alabama...
, GA at 18:00 on 19 December 1989. Its mission was to seize Río Hato and neutralize the 6th and 7th PDF Infantry Cos. At 01:00 on 20 December, the battalion jumped from C-130s onto the airfield at Río Hato. Both PDF companies had been alerted, and fired on the C-130s with small arms. Despite PDF resistance, the battalion assembled, attacked the barracks and established an airhead. By morning, the Rangers accomplished all missions, captured 250 prisoners and cleared the airfield for future operations.
Río Hato was also the first combat target for the United States Air Force F-117 Nighthawk
F-117 Nighthawk
The Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk was a single-seat, twin-engine stealth ground-attack aircraft formerly operated by the United States Air Force . The F-117A's first flight was in 1981, and it achieved initial operating capability status in October 1983...
stealth fighter during Operation Just Cause. On 19 December 1989, a flight of eight F-117s lifted off from Tonopah Test Range Airport, Nevada. Their target was a large, open field beside barracks housing two companies of troops belonging to Battalion 2000, an elite unit known to be fiercely loyal to Panamanian Dictator Manuel Noriega. The plan was for the aircraft to drop two large 2,000-pound Mark 84 bombs colloquially known as "the Hammer" (the bombs which have been described as "the world's largest stun grenades" have a lethal radius of 400 feet and capable of blowing out eardrums half a mile away) close enough to the buildings to stun the sleeping soldiers so that they could not respond to the nearby nighttime parachute landings by the 2nd Ranger Battalion and elements of the 3rd Battalion. The explosion of the 2,000 lb bombs at a designated point of impact just 50 yards from the barracks would do just that, and fused to detonate after they had penetrated a few feet of earth, they would not cause many casualties.
Unfortunately, the fog of war was in the air. It also appears that, although the Pentagon brass understood the F-117A's accuracy, they did not fully understand what situation exactly the F-117A was suited for. As the two F-117A's approached their target the wind changed direction. Moreover, a last-minute change in the attack plan and confused communications resulted in the first pilot dropping his bomb where the second was to strike. The other pilot, thinking the attack had reverted to the original plan, dropped his bomb 325 yards wide.
Río Hato Army Air Base
Established in 1931, during World War IIWorld 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...
Río Hato Army Air Base was used by the United States Army Air Forces
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....
Sixth Air Force 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 as an active Air Force facility in 1948, however it was used as an USAF axillary military landing field as late as 1990 as part of Howard Air Force Base
Howard Air Force Base
Howard Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base located in Panama. It was closed on 1 November 1999 as a result of the Torrijos-Carter Treaties which specified that United States military facilities in the former Panama Canal Zone be closed and the facilities be turned over to the...
.
Units assigned to the base were:
- 28th Pursuit Squadron28th Test SquadronThe 28th Test and Evaluation Squadron is an active United States Air Force unit. Its current assignment is with the 53d Wing, based at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.-Overview:...
(37th Pursuit Group37th Training WingThe 37th Training Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force stationed at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.The 37th TRW provides basic military, professional and technical skills, and English language training for the Air Force, other military services, government agencies, and...
), 5 October – 13 November 1940 (Boeing P-26 Peashooter) - 30th Pursuit 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...
(37th Pursuit Group37th Training WingThe 37th Training Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force stationed at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.The 37th TRW provides basic military, professional and technical skills, and English language training for the Air Force, other military services, government agencies, and...
), 5 October – 13 November 1940 (Boeing P-26 Peashooter) - 31st Pursuit Squadron31st Fighter-Interceptor SquadronThe 31st Tactical Reconnaissance Training Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing stationed at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina...
(37th Pursuit Group37th Training WingThe 37th Training Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force stationed at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.The 37th TRW provides basic military, professional and technical skills, and English language training for the Air Force, other military services, government agencies, and...
), 5 October – 13 November 1940 (Boeing P-26 Peashooter) - 1st Bombardment Squadron1st Reconnaissance SquadronThe 1st Reconnaissance Squadron is a United States Air Force reconnaissance training unit based at Beale Air Force Base, near Marysville, California. It is the oldest squadron in the Air Force, and the first organization to be established as a U.S. military flying unit...
(9th Bombardment Group), 13 November 1940 – 24 April 1941 (B-18 Bolo) - 5th Bombardment Squadron (9th Bombardment Group), 13 November 1940 – 28 September 1941 (B-18 Bolo)
- 99th Bombardment Squadron99th Reconnaissance SquadronThe 99th Reconnaissance Squadron is part of the 9th Reconnaissance Wing at Beale Air Force Base, California. It operates U-2 Dragon Lady aircraft flying reconnaissance missions around the world.-Mission:...
(9th Bombardment Group), 13 November 1940 – 3 December 1941 (B-18 Bolo) - 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) 1 January – 28 October 1941 (A-20 Havoc) - Headquarters, 32d Pursuit Group, 1 January – 9 December 1941
- 51st Pursuit Squadron51st Fighter SquadronThe 51st Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 6th Fighter Wing, based at Howard Field, Canal Zone...
, 21 August – 10 December 1941 (Boeing P-26 Peashooter, Curtiss P-36 Hawk) - 52d Pursuit Squadron52d Fighter SquadronThe 52d Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Western Air Defense Force, based at Hamilton Air Force Base, California...
, 21 August 1941 – 23 March 1944 (P-40 Warhawk, P-39 Aircobra) - 53d Pursuit Squadron53d Fighter SquadronThe 53d Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 52d Operations Group and stationed at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. It was inactivated on 31 March 1999.-World War II:...
, 21 August – 12 December 1941 (Boeing P-26 Peashooter, Curtiss P-36 Hawk)- 4th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron4th Tactical Reconnaissance SquadronThe 4th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with 5600th Composite Wing, based at Howard Field, Canal Zone. It was inactivated on 14 March 1949.-History:...
(Caribbean Air Command), 20 August 1946 – 1 December 1947 (CQ-3, PQ-14) - 414th Fighter Squadron414th Combat Training SquadronThe 414th Combat Training Squadron is a United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the 57th Wing at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada....
(6th Fighter Wing) 24 March – 1 September 1947 (P-61 Black Widow) - 319th Fighter Squadron (6th Fighter Wing) 1 September 1947 – 14 January 1948 (P-61 Black Widow)
- 4th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron
- Headquarters, 6th Bombardment Group, 9 December 1941 – 14 January 1943
- 3d Bombardment Squadron3d Bombardment SquadronThe 3d Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 111th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, based at Travis Air Force Base, California. It was inactivated on 1 January 1953.-World War II:...
- 8 December 1941 – 4 May 1942 (B-18 Bolo)
- 26 August – 8 December 1944; 19 October 1945 – 1 November 1946 (B-24 Liberator)
- 25th Bombardment Squadron25th Space Range SquadronThe United States Air Force's 25th Space Range Squadron is a space control unit located at Schriever AFB, Colorado. 25 SRS operates the Space Test and Training Range .-Mission:...
, 8 December 1941 – 21 January 1942 (B-18 Bolo) - 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...
- 11 December 1941 – 9 January 1942 (B-18 Bolo)
- 7–21 August 1944; 1 May 1945 – 1 November 1946 (B-24 Liberator)
- 108th Reconnaissance Squadron (72d Observation Group72d Air Base WingThe 72d Air Base Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Force Materiel Command Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center . It is stationed at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma...
) 14–19 January 1942 (B-18 Bolo) - 395th Bombardment Squadron (40th40th Air Expeditionary WingThe United States Air Force's 40th Air Expeditionary Wing was an Air expeditionary unit located at Diego Garcia, in the Indian Ocean, from 2001 to c. 2006....
, 6th Bombardment Group6th Air Mobility WingThe United States Air Force's 6th Air Mobility Wing is the host wing for MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. It is part of Air Mobility Command's Eighteenth Air Force....
s) 17 June 1942 – 16 June 1943 (Northrup A-17 Nomad, B-24 Liberator) - 396th Bombardment Squadron96th Air Refueling SquadronThe 96th Air Refueling Squadron is an associate unit of the 15th Wing at Hickam AFB, Hawaii and partners with the 203th ARS of the Hawaii Air National Guard-Mission:...
(VI Bomber CommandVI Bomber CommandThe VI Bomber Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Sixth Air Force, based at Albrook Field, Canal Zone...
)
- 108th Reconnaissance Squadron (72d Observation Group
- 4 May 1943 – 7 April 1944 (B-17 Flying Fortress, B-24 Liberator)
- 6 February 1945 – 1 November 1946 (B-24 Liberator)
- 397th Bombardment Squadron397th Bombardment SquadronThe 397th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the VI Bomber Command, based at Rio Hato Army Air Base, Panama. It was inactivated on 1 November 1946.-Heraldry:...
(6th Bombardment Group6th Air Mobility WingThe United States Air Force's 6th Air Mobility Wing is the host wing for MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. It is part of Air Mobility Command's Eighteenth Air Force....
, VI Bomber CommandVI Bomber CommandThe VI Bomber Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Sixth Air Force, based at Albrook Field, Canal Zone...
)
- 397th Bombardment Squadron
- 4 May 1943 – 7 April 1944
- 6 February 1945 – 1 November 1946
- 25th Bombardment Squadron (VI Bomber CommandVI Bomber CommandThe VI Bomber Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Sixth Air Force, based at Albrook Field, Canal Zone...
), 9 September – 8 December 1944; 27 January – 26 April 1945; October 1945 – 1 November 1946 B-24 Liberator
- 25th Bombardment Squadron (VI Bomber Command