Overview
Construction began secretly on November 27, 1941. It was a part of Far East Air Force's plans to expand air capability in the Philippines. Two runways were built: No. 1 (main runway) and No. 2 (pursuit). A golf course was used as a third auxiliary strip. The airfield was created because bombers at Clark Field, on Luzon, were within range of land-based aircraft on Taiwan (then Formosa). There were additional auxiliary airstrips at Malaybalay (Maramag), Dalirig, and Valencia.
On the morning of December 6, 1941, two squadrons of 19th Bombardment Group B-17 Flying Fortresses stationed at Clark (16 of its 35 bombers) were sent down to Del Monte No. 1, just completed the day before, although no maintenance facilities existed and the materiel to support them was not scheduled to be moved until December 10. The decision to move only two squadrons from Clark Field was based on the expected arrival from the United States of the 7th Bombardment Group, which was en route; Del Monte had room for only six squadrons. On December 8, most of those remaining at Clark were destroyed on the ground by Japanese aircraft.
Read more about this topic: Del Monte Airfield