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
Coordinates14°30′31″N 121°01′10″E
Typeairbase
Site information
Owner Philippines
Controlled byPhilippine Air Force
ConditionActive, as of 2016
Site history
Built1919
Built by United States
In use1919–present
Battles/warsWorld War II
Events
Villamor Air Base
Summary
Airport typePublic/Military
OperatorPhilippine Air Force
ServesManila
Elevation AMSL23 m / 75 ft
Coordinates14°30′31″N 121°01′10″E
Websitewww.paf.mil.ph
Map
Villamor Air Base is located in Philippines
Villamor Air Base
Villamor Air Base
Location in the Philippines
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
06/24 3,737 12,260 Asphalt
13/31 2,367 7,766 Asphalt

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

History

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

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]

Villamor Air Base

References
  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.
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