Villamor Air Base
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.
| 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 | |
Villamor Air Base | |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Map | |
Villamor Air Base Location in the Philippines | |
| Runways | |
The base is named after Filipino World War II pilot Jesús A. Villamor.
History edit
Nichols Field was built in 1919 by the United States during the insular government 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 edit
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 edit
- Two North American A-27s of the 17th Pursuit Squadron at Nichols Field in 1941.
- Façade of the Philippine Air Force Aerospace Museum
References edit
- ^ 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.