Ewa Field

Ewa Field is a former United States Army airfield located on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, near the city of Ewa Beach. The airfield was used during World War II by the United States Army Air Forces and played a significant role in the Pacific Theater of Operations. Ewa Field was also used by the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps for training and operations. The airfield is situated near the Pearl Harbor and the Hickam Air Force Base, which were both attacked by the Imperial Japanese Navy on December 7, 1941, during the Attack on Pearl Harbor.

Introduction

Ewa Field was established in 1942, during the early years of World War II, as a training base for United States Army Air Forces pilots. The airfield was built on a plain near the city of Ewa Beach, on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. The construction of the airfield was overseen by the United States Army Corps of Engineers and was designed to accommodate the increasing number of aircraft and personnel being deployed to the Pacific Theater of Operations. The airfield was used by the 15th Air Force, the 7th Air Force, and the 13th Air Force, among others, and played a significant role in the Guadalcanal Campaign, the Battle of Tarawa, and the Battle of Iwo Jima. Ewa Field was also used by the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps for training and operations, including the Marine Corps Air Station Ewa.

History

The history of Ewa Field dates back to the early 1940s, when the United States Army began constructing the airfield as a training base for pilots. The airfield was built on a plain near the city of Ewa Beach, on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, and was designed to accommodate the increasing number of aircraft and personnel being deployed to the Pacific Theater of Operations. During World War II, Ewa Field was used by the United States Army Air Forces, the United States Navy, and the United States Marine Corps for training and operations. The airfield played a significant role in the Guadalcanal Campaign, the Battle of Tarawa, and the Battle of Iwo Jima, and was also used as a staging area for aircraft and personnel being deployed to the Marshall Islands, the Mariana Islands, and other locations in the Pacific Theater of Operations. Ewa Field was also used by notable units such as the 99th Bombardment Group, the 11th Bombardment Group, and the 307th Bombardment Group, which were all part of the Thirteenth Air Force.

Geography

Ewa Field is located on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, near the city of Ewa Beach. The airfield is situated on a plain near the Pearl Harbor and the Hickam Air Force Base, which were both attacked by the Imperial Japanese Navy on December 7, 1941, during the Attack on Pearl Harbor. The airfield is also near the Schofield Barracks, the Wheeler Army Airfield, and the Dillingham Airfield, which were all used by the United States Army and the United States Air Force during World War II. Ewa Field is surrounded by the Waianae Mountains to the west and the Koolau Mountains to the east, and is located near the Barbers Point Lighthouse and the Kahe Point. The airfield is also near the University of Hawaii at Manoa, the Hawaii Pacific University, and the Chaminade University of Honolulu.

Operations

Ewa Field was used for a variety of operations during World War II, including training, maintenance, and logistics. The airfield was used by the United States Army Air Forces, the United States Navy, and the United States Marine Corps for training and operations, and played a significant role in the Guadalcanal Campaign, the Battle of Tarawa, and the Battle of Iwo Jima. The airfield was also used as a staging area for aircraft and personnel being deployed to the Marshall Islands, the Mariana Islands, and other locations in the Pacific Theater of Operations. Ewa Field was used by notable units such as the 99th Bombardment Group, the 11th Bombardment Group, and the 307th Bombardment Group, which were all part of the Thirteenth Air Force. The airfield was also used by the Pacific Air Forces, the Far East Air Forces, and the Strategic Air Command, among others.

Environmental Concerns

Ewa Field has been the subject of environmental concerns in recent years, due to the presence of perchlorates and other contaminants in the soil and groundwater. The airfield was used for training and operations during World War II, and was also used as a storage facility for munitions and other hazardous materials. The United States Environmental Protection Agency has identified Ewa Field as a Superfund site, and has been working to clean up the contamination and restore the environment. The Hawaii Department of Health and the United States Army Corps of Engineers have also been involved in the cleanup efforts, which have included the removal of contaminated soil and the installation of groundwater treatment systems. The Sierra Club, the Environmental Defense Fund, and other environmental organizations have also been involved in efforts to protect the environment and promote sustainability at Ewa Field. Category:Airports in Hawaii