Northwest Field
{{Short description|U.S. military installation on Guam}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox military installation
| name = Northwest Field
| pushpin_relief =
| pushpin_image =
| pushpin_label = Northwest Field
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_mark =
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| ownership = United States Air Force
| controlledby = Pacific Air Forces
| used = 1945–1949
{{circa|2010}}–present
| pushpin_map_alt =
| built = 8 January 1945 – 1 June 1945
| builder = 25th Naval Construction Battalion
48th Naval Construction Battalion
53rd Naval Construction Battalion
94th Naval Construction Battalion
1886th Engineer Aviation Battalion
1899th Engineer Aviation Battalion
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| fate =
| condition = Operational, in limited use
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| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Guam
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| ensign =
| caption = Northwest Field as seen from the air in 2002
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| native_name =
| partof = Andersen Air Force Base
| location = Yigo
| nearest_town =
| country = Guam, United States
| image = Northwestfield-guam-today.jpg
| alt =
| image2 = 100px
| pushpin_map = Guam#Pacific Ocean
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| coordinates = {{Coord|13.6253|N|144.8580|E|display=title,inline}}
| gridref =
| image_map = TPC K-13B Northwest Field Crop.png
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| image_map_caption = Northwest Field on a 1988 map
| elevation = {{Convert|510|ft|0}}
| r1-number =
| r1-length = {{Convert|8000|ft|0}}
| r1-surface = Paved
| footnotes =
}}
Northwest Field (NWF; historically Northwest Guam Air Force Base){{Cite web |last=Dollman |first=David |date=2017-07-10 |title=23 Fighter Group (ACC) |url=https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/1230891/23-fighter-group-acc/ |access-date=2022-07-30 |publisher=Air Force Historical Research Agency}} is a military airfield on the West Pacific island of Guam. Originally built during World War II, Northwest Field was closed as an airfield in 1949 but has been used for other military activity since, including housing a satellite tracking station, air defenses, and being used for training.
History
Built from 8 January 1945 to 1 June 1945{{Citation |last=Meyer |first=Jeffrey |title=Air Force Heritage on Guam 1944–2021 |url=https://www.andersen.af.mil/Portals/43/Documents/Early%20AAFB%20Heritage%20Pamphlet_USAF%2075th%20Anniv%20(2022-23).pdf |publication-date=March 2022 |access-date=2022-07-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220712211933/https://www.andersen.af.mil/Portals/43/Documents/Early%20AAFB%20Heritage%20Pamphlet_USAF%2075th%20Anniv%20(2022-23).pdf |url-status=live |publisher=36th Wing Public Affairs |archive-date=2022-07-12 |mode=cs1}} as a B-29 Superfortress base{{Cite news |date=1945-06-01 |title=New Air Field Ready For Use On Guam Isle |pages=1 |work=Lexington Herald-Leader |agency=International News Service |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lexington-herald-leader-new-air-field-re/130611208/ |via=Newspapers.com}} by the U.S. Navy's 25th, 48th, 53rd, and 94th Naval Construction Battalions, as well as the U.S. Army's 1886th and 1899th Engineer Aviation Battalions.{{Cite report |url=https://memory.loc.gov/master/pnp/habshaer/gu/gu0000/gu0010/data/gu0010data.pdf |title=Historic American Engineering Record – Anderson [sic] Air Force Base, Northwest Field |last=Aaron |first=D. Jayne |last2=Hart |first2=Daniel |last3=Baker |first3=S. Chris |access-date=2024-03-16 |via=Library of Congress}} Brigadier General Frank A. Armstrong of the U.S. Army Air Forces was the first to land his B-29 at the newly constructed airfield. Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz called the airfield's completion "another step along the road to Tokyo". After its initial use as a bomber base it became a fighter base in 1946.{{Cite news |date=2007-09-03 |title=The Air Force on Guam |pages=4 |work=Pacific Daily News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/pacific-daily-news-the-air-force-on-guam/130613134/ |via=Newspapers.com}}
Units deployed to the airfield included the 315th Bombardment Wing, stationed from 1945 to 1946,{{Cite book |url=https://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/21/2001330256/-1/-1/0/AFD-100921-044.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220180735/http://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/21/2001330256/-1/-1/0/AFD-100921-044.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 December 2016 |title=Air Force Combat Units of World War II |publisher=Office of Air Force History |year=1983 |isbn=0-912799-02-1 |editor-last=Maurer, Maurer |edition=reprint |location=Washington, DC |page=423 |lccn=61060979 |orig-year=1961}} and the 23rd Fighter Group, stationed from 1946 to 1949.
In September 1946, the airfield took severe damage from Typhoon Querida, with the 21st Fighter Group's barracks completely leveled.{{Cite news |date=1946-09-23 |title=Marianas Returning To Normal After Typhoon |pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-honolulu-advertiser-marianas-returni/130611321/ 1], [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-honolulu-advertiser-guam-digging-out/130611288/ 3] |work=The Honolulu Advertiser |agency=United Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-honolulu-advertiser-marianas-returni/130611321/ |via=Newspapers.com}}
The airfield was closed in 1949.
In 1949, Northwest Field was one of two locations being considered for the establishment of an international airport on Guam, the other being Harmon Air Force Base, with the military favoring Northwest Field and airlines favoring Harmon AFB.{{Cite news |date=1949-03-03 |title=News of the Airlines |pages=3 |work=Honolulu Star-Bulletin |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/honolulu-star-bulletin-news-of-the-airli/130611481/ |via=Newspapers.com}} Harmon was later consolidated into Naval Air Station Agana and is now the site of Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport.
File:HAER GU-5-A-4 Guam Tracking Station (cropped).jpg
Since 1965, a satellite tracking station has been located at Northwest Field.{{Cite news |last=Hernandez |first=Maria |date=2015-09-18 |title=Celebrating squadron at Northwest Field site |page=A2 |work=Pacific Daily News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/pacific-daily-news-celebrating-squadron/130613756/ |via=Newspapers.com}} {{As of|2023}}, the station is operated by Detachment 2 of the 21st Space Operations Squadron.{{Cite web |title=Det. 2, 21st Space Operations Squadron |url=https://www.andersen.af.mil/Units/Wing-Tenant-Units/Det-2-21st-Space-Operations-Squadron/ |access-date=2023-08-25 |publisher=Andersen Air Force Base}}
In 1990, Northwest Field was being considered as a site for a U.S. Navy Relocatable Over-the-Horizon Radar.{{Cite news |last=Avanar |first=Liz |date=1990-07-10 |title=Radar funding decision set for summer's end |pages=4 |work=Pacific Daily News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/pacific-daily-news-radar-funding-decisio/130612288/ |via=Newspapers.com}} The project drew controversy due to the threat it posed to a native bird habitat. In March 1991, the Navy cancelled the project, citing high costs and a reduced threat in the West Pacific.{{Cite news |date=1991-03-09 |title=Navy cans ROTHR plan |pages=4 |work=Pacific Daily News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/pacific-daily-news-navy-cans-rothr-plan/130612351/ |access-date=2023-08-25 |via=Newspapers.com}}
Since at least 2001, the Air Force has used Northwest Field for various types of training, including low-level cargo drops.{{Cite news |last=Limtiaco |first=Steve |date=2001-07-21 |title=Air Force to boost Andersen training |pages=5 |work=Pacific Daily News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/pacific-daily-news-air-force-to-boost-an/130612442/ |via=Newspapers.com}} Since around 2010, the airfield has also been used for training related to operating at airfields in austere conditions, including being one of the locations to host Cope North exercises.{{Cite web |last=Andriacco |first=Mike |date=2010-04-13 |title=Northwest Field critical to training, ecosystem |url=https://www.andersen.af.mil/News/Features/Article/415578/northwest-field-critical-to-training-ecosystem/ |access-date=2022-04-08 |publisher=Andersen Air Force Base |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Rogoway |first=Tyler |date=2021-01-27 |title=F-35s And F-16s Set To Operate From Austere Jungle Airfield During Major Exercise On Guam |url=https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/38971/f-35s-and-f-16s-set-to-operate-from-austere-jungle-airfield-during-major-exercise-on-guam |access-date=2022-04-08 |website=The Drive |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Pacic Air Forces Public Affairs |date=2022-01-26 |title=Australia, Japan, US converge on Guam for Cope North 22 |url=https://www.pacaf.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2913782/australia-japan-us-converge-on-guam-for-cope-north-22/ |access-date=2022-07-30 |publisher=Pacific Air Forces |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=Robson |first=Seth |date=2023-02-10 |title=US, allies converge on Guam for annual Cope North exercise |language=en |work=Stars and Stripes |url=https://www.stripes.com/branches/air_force/2023-02-10/cope-north-guam-fighter-jets-9096105.html |access-date=2023-08-25}} In this capacity, US$9.8 million were awarded by the U.S. military for repairs to the field's northern runway in 2018.{{Cite news |date=2018-08-03 |title=Hawaiian Rock awarded additional $9.8M work for runway repairs |language=en |work=The Guam Daily Post |url=https://www.postguam.com/news/local/hawaiian-rock-awarded-additional-9-8m-work-for-runway-repairs/article_33f28026-9617-11e8-917d-e34bf7f65949.html |access-date=2023-08-25}}
Since April 2013, a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-ballistic missile defense system has been stationed at the field.{{Cite news |last=Petty |first=Adarius |date=2014-05-26 |title=Local Senators tour THAAD |language=en-US |publisher=Andersen Air Force Base |url=https://www.andersen.af.mil/News/Articles/Article/638495/local-senators-tour-thaad/ |access-date=2023-08-25}}{{Cite news |last=Stafford |first=Jonathan |date=2015-05-05 |title=A win-win for THAAD in Guam |url=https://www.army.mil/article/147883/a_win_win_for_thaad_in_guam |access-date=2023-08-25 |publisher=United States Army |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Raymundo |first=Shawn |date=2016-03-11 |title=Senator: THAAD will deter harm |page=A7 |work=Pacific Daily News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/pacific-daily-news-senator-thaad-will-d/130613861/ |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite report |url=https://bsp.guam.gov/wp-bsp-content/uploads/2021/02/ENCL_1_THAAD-CZM-Program-Federal-Consistency-Project-Description.pdf |title=Consistency Determination For Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Additional Facilities and Infracstructure At Andersen Air Force Base, Guam |date=January 2021 |publisher=Bureau of Statistics and Plans Guam}}
Since at least 2012, Northwest Field and adjacent Ritidian Point were eyed by the U.S. military as a possible site for a U.S. Marine Corps firing range complex,{{Cite news |last=Kelman |first=Brett |date=2012-11-10 |title=Ritidian an option for firing range |pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/article/pacific-daily-news-ritidian-an-option-fo/130618398/ A1], [https://www.newspapers.com/article/pacific-daily-news-range-no-option-with/130613499/ A3] |work=Pacific Daily News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/pacific-daily-news-ritidian-an-option-fo/130618398/ |via=Newspapers.com}} becoming the preferred location over other options on Guam by 2013, in part due to its proximity to the site of the new U.S. Marine Corps base and because the land was already owned by the federal government.{{Cite news |last=Miculka |first=Cameron |date=2013-09-13 |title=Buildup sites narrowed |page=A1 |work=Pacific Daily News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/pacific-daily-news-buildup-sites-narrowe/130613540/ |via=Newspapers.com}}
The military's plan drew controversy, with locals complaining that part of Guam National Wildlife Refuge would be closed up to 39 weeks a year, due to being used as the proposed range's safety zone. Ritidian Point is also the site of among other things, ancient burial sites, drawing thousands of tourists to the area each year according to Guamanian politician Judith Won Pat, who in 2014 asked for the military to consider other options.{{Cite news |last=Daleno |first=Gaynor Dumat-ol |date=2014-05-17 |title=Bordallo says Hawaii would welcome Marines |page=A4 |work=Pacific Daily News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/pacific-daily-news-buildup-firing-range/130613618/ |via=Newspapers.com}}
In 2017, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) awarded a $78 million contract to a local construction company for the construction of a complex consisting of four live-fire training ranges, as well as supporting structures.{{Cite news |last=Daleno |first=Gaynor D. |date=2017-08-25 |title=Guam contractor wins $78M military work |language=en |work=The Guam Daily Post |url=https://www.postguam.com/news/local/guam-contractor-wins-78m-military-work/article_e673e28a-891b-11e7-a7fa-a7223860cb40.html |access-date=2023-08-25}}{{Cite news |last=Ridgell |first=Clynt |date=2017-08-24 |title=NAVFAC awards construction for Northwest Field firing range |language=en-US |publisher=Pacific News Center |url=https://www.pncguam.com/navfac-awards-construction-for-northwest-field-firing-range/ |access-date=2023-08-25}} The proposed location of a fifth range, a "multi-purpose machine gun range", was relocated in 2019 to protect the endangered Serianthes nelsonii tree.{{Cite news |last=Kerrigan |first=Kevin |date=2019-07-15 |title=One firing range moved to protect tree |language=en |work=The Guam Daily Post |url=https://www.postguam.com/news/local/one-firing-range-moved-to-protect-tree/article_c47167e2-a47c-11e9-b5d7-f77f99950c59.html |access-date=2023-08-25}} The $122 million contract for construction of the fifth range was awarded by NAVFAC in 2021, with an expected completion date in October 2024.{{Cite news |last=Wilson |first=Alex |date=2021-10-04 |title=Navy awards $122 million contract to build gun range for Marines on Guam |language=en |work=Stars and Stripes |url=https://www.stripes.com/branches/marine_corps/2021-10-04/gun-range-contract-navy-marine-corps-andersen-guam-3120244.html |url-access=limited |access-date=2023-08-25}}
Accidents and incidents
- On 17 May 1947, an AT-6 Texan trainer aircraft crashed south of the airfield, killing both U.S. Army officers on board.{{Cite news |date=1947-05-21 |title=Training Plane Crash On Guam Fatal to Two |pages=6 |work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-training-plane/130611444/ |via=Newspapers.com}}
See also
References
{{commonscategory|Northwest Field, Guam}}
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Category:Installations of the United States Air Force
Category:Defunct airports in the United States
Category:Military installations of the United States in Guam
Category:Airfields of the United States Army Air Forces in the Pacific Ocean theatre of World War II