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Wheeler Army Airfield , also known as Wheeler Field and formerly as Wheeler Air Force Base, is a United States Army post located in the City & County of Honolulu and in the Wahiawa District of the Island of O'ahu, Hawaii. It is a
National Historic Landmark A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a National Register of Historic Places property types, building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the Federal government of the United States, United States government f ...
for its role in the 7 December 1941 Japanese
attack on Pearl Harbor The attack on Pearl HarborAlso known as the Battle of Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike by the Empire of Japan on the United States Pacific Fleet at Naval Station Pearl Harbor, its naval base at Pearl Harbor on Oahu, Territory of ...
.


Overview

Wheeler AAF comprises approximately of land adjacent to Schofield Barracks and is home to a variety of Department of Defense activities including the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), the 169th Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron (169 ACWS) of the Hawaii Air National Guard, the 193rd Aviation Regiment (Medium Lift), Detachment 55 Operational Support Airlift (Det 55 OSA) of the Hawaii Army National Guard, the Regular Army's 25th Infantry Division's 25th Combat Aviation Brigade composed of the 25th Aviation Regiment, the 2nd Squadron- 6th Cavalry Regiment, and the 209th Aviation Support Battalion, also located on Wheeler is the Trial Defense Service-Hawaii.


History

On 6 February 1922, a detachment of 20 enlisted men from Luke Field, proceeded to Schofield Barracks, under Lieutenant William T. Agee, to clear the flying field on the grounds of the former 17th Cavalry Regiment drill grounds and construct housing for the divisional air service. Two canvas hangars were erected and the field cleared of weeds, guava and algaroba trees. Thus Wheeler Field got its modest start. It was named Wheeler Field on 11 November 1922 in honor of Major Sheldon H. Wheeler, former commander of Luke Field on
Ford Island Ford Island () is an islet in the center of Pearl Harbor, Oahu, in the U.S. state of Hawaii. It has been known as Rabbit Island, Marín's Island, and Little Goats Island; its native Hawaiian name is ''Mokuumeume''. The island had an area of ...
, killed in the crash of DH-4B, ''AAS Ser. No. 63525'' on 13 July 1921. In June 1923, 13 months after the designation of the new flying field, shop hangars, airplane hangars, and oil storage tanks were erected. In 1927, one of the wooden shop hangars was remodeled to provide space for a barracks and a mess hall incident to the formation of a pursuit group. It was not until 1930 that any permanent construction was started. Many different units were originally stationed at Wheeler Field. The first units of the Schofield Barracks divisional airdrome were the 4th Observation Squadron, Photo Section No. 11 and Branch Intelligence Office No. 11. In October 1922, the photo section and intelligence units were returned to Luke Field. The following May, the 17th Composite Group was organized at Wheeler. It consisted of a Headquarters Squadron, the 19th Pursuit Squadron and the 4th Observation Squadron. These units operated from the field until January 1924, when the 17th Group was rendered inactive. Three years later, the foundation for the present 18th Pursuit Group was laid and the 6th and 19th Pursuit Squadrons were transferred from Luke Field. More squadrons were eventually added to the 18th Pursuit Group and Bellows Field was opened as an aerial gunnery camp for the use of tactical organizations. The 15th Pursuit Group was formed next and was made a permanent part of the airdrome. Hand in hand with this move came the formation of the 14th Pursuit Wing. Wheeler Field was the site of several major historic aviation events prior to the
attack on Pearl Harbor The attack on Pearl HarborAlso known as the Battle of Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike by the Empire of Japan on the United States Pacific Fleet at Naval Station Pearl Harbor, its naval base at Pearl Harbor on Oahu, Territory of ...
on 7 December 1941, including the first transpacific flight from California in 1927; the great Dole Air Race from California to Hawaii; the first transpacific flight from the U.S. to Australia in 1928, and the first Hawaii-to-Mainland solo flight in 1935 by
Amelia Earhart Amelia Mary Earhart ( ; July 24, 1897 – January 5, 1939) was an American aviation pioneer. On July 2, 1937, she disappeared over the Pacific Ocean while attempting to become the first female pilot to circumnavigate the world. During her li ...
. Ms. Earhart visited Wheeler Field in 1935 in her
Lockheed Vega The Lockheed Vega is an American five- to seven-seat high-wing monoplane airliner built by the Lockheed Corporation starting in 1927. It became famous for its use by a number of record-breaking pilots who were attracted to its high speed and lo ...
and in 1937 in her
Lockheed Model 10 Electra The Lockheed Model 10 Electra is an American twin-engined, all-metal monoplane airliner developed by the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation, which was produced primarily in the 1930s to compete with the Boeing 247 and Douglas DC-2. The type gained ...
. Kingsford Smith, in his plane, the ''
Southern Cross CRUX is a lightweight x86-64 Linux distribution targeted at experienced Linux users and delivered by a tar.gz-based package system with BSD-style initscripts. It is not based on any other Linux distribution. It also utilizes a ports system to ...
'', also used the airfield on his historic flights across the Pacific. By 1940, Wheeler Field had evolved into a primary base for Army Air Corps pursuit (i.e., "fighter") aircraft such as the
P-40 Warhawk The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk is an American single-engined, single-seat, all-metal fighter-bomber that first flew in 1938. The P-40 design was a modification of the previous Curtiss P-36 Hawk which reduced development time and enabled a rapid entry ...
, responsible for air defense of the Hawaiian Islands Territory.


World War II

Wheeler Army Airfield was a primary target and site of the first attack on 7 December 1941, leading up to the
attack on Pearl Harbor The attack on Pearl HarborAlso known as the Battle of Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike by the Empire of Japan on the United States Pacific Fleet at Naval Station Pearl Harbor, its naval base at Pearl Harbor on Oahu, Territory of ...
. The Japanese attacked the airfield to prevent the numerous planes there from getting airborne and engaging them. Most of the planes were destroyed, but 12 pilots assigned to the 15th Pursuit Group at Wheeler (predecessor of the present day 15th Wing) succeeded in getting their
P-36 Hawk The Curtiss P-36 Hawk, also known as the Curtiss Hawk Model 75, is an American-designed and built fighter aircraft of the 1930s and 40s. A contemporary of the Hawker Hurricane and Messerschmitt Bf 109, it was one of the first of a new generation ...
and
P-40 Warhawk The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk is an American single-engined, single-seat, all-metal fighter-bomber that first flew in 1938. The P-40 design was a modification of the previous Curtiss P-36 Hawk which reduced development time and enabled a rapid entry ...
aircraft off the ground, engaged the Japanese in furious dogfights, and scored some of the first American victories of World War II. 2nd Lieutenant Phil Rasmussen found an old, unscathed Curtiss P-36 Hawk and taxied it to a revetment where he had it loaded with ammunition. During a lull in the bombing, he took off with three other pilots. Lieutenant Rasmussen managed to shoot down a
Mitsubishi A6M Zero The Mitsubishi A6M "Zero" is a long-range carrier-capable fighter aircraft formerly manufactured by Mitsubishi Aircraft Company, a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. It was operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) from 1940 to 1945. The ...
and the American pilots subsequently engaged 11 Japanese aircraft. The installation has a
National Historic Landmark District A National Historic Landmark District (NHLD) is a geographical area that has received recognition from the United States Government that the buildings, landscapes, cultural features and archaeological resources within it are of the highest signific ...
in association with the attack on 7 December 1941. The 1941 Flightline, hangars and barracks survive today. Casualties at Wheeler totaled 33 killed and 75 wounded. Of the 233 aircraft assigned to the Hawaiian Air Force, 146 were in commission before the attack; afterward, only 83 were in commission (including 27 P-40s) and 76 had been totally destroyed. During World War II as part of the US Army Air Forces and until 1949 as part of the newly established
United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Air force, air service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is one of the six United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Tracing its ori ...
, Wheeler was assigned to the
Seventh Air Force The Seventh Air Force (Air Forces Korea) (7 AF) is a Numbered Air Force of the United States Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). It is headquartered at Osan Air Base, South Korea. The command's mission is to plan and direct air component operations in ...
(former Hawaiian Air Force) and successor commands.


World War II USAAF units assigned

* 7th Fighter Wing, 18 November 1946 – 1 May 1948 * 15th Fighter Group, 1 February – 15 October 1946 * 30th Bombardment Group, 1 March – 29 September 1945; 1 February – 25 January 1946 * 41st Bombardment Group, 14 October 1944 – 7 June 1945 * 81st Fighter Group, 15 October 1946 – 21 May 1949 * 6th Pursuit Squadron, 11 January 1927 – 30 August 1942; 2 October 1945 – 31 May 1946 * 19th Pursuit Squadron, 1 May 1923 – 15 January 1924; 11 January 1927 – 20 February 1942 * 26th Attack (later Bombardment) Squadron, 1 September 1930 – 1 February 1940; 20 December 1941 – 19 July 1942; 11 May – 11 November 1943 * 27th Bombardment Squadron, 23 May – 25 September 1945 * 38th Bombardment Squadron, 17 March – 21 September 1945 * 86th Observation Squadron, 1 February 1940 – 15 March 1941; 17 August 1942 – 28 June 1944 : Re-designated: 43d Reconnaissance Squadron, 22–28 February 1946 * 44th Pursuit (later Fighter) Squadron, 12–27 December 1941; 25 January – 23 June 1942 * 44th Troop Carrier Squadron, 29 September 1945 – 25 March 1946 * 45th Troop Carrier Squadron, 29 September – 20 December 1945 * 46th Pursuit (later Fighter) Squadron, 1 December 1940 – 6 February 1942; 17 February – 13 October 1944 * 47th Bombardment Squadron, 5 November 1944 – 7 June 1945 * 47th Fighter Squadron, 9 February – 16 October 1946 * 48th Bombardment Squadron, 14 October 1944 – 20 May 1945 * 72d Fighter Squadron, 21 October – 18 December 1943 * 78th Pursuit (Later Fighter) Squadron, 1 February 1940 – 9 December 1941; 9 February – 15 October 1946 * 91st Fighter Squadron, 15 October 1946 – 21 May 1949 * 92d Fighter Squadron, 15 October 1946 – 21 May 1949 * 93d Fighter Squadron, 15 October 1946 – 21 May 1949 * 321st Bombardment Squadron, 12 September – 4 November 1942 * 371st Bombardment Squadron, 2 November 1942 – 13 June 1943 * 392d Bombardment Squadron, 23 May – 29 September 1945 * 396th Bombardment Squadron, 14 October 9144-20 May 19 May 1945 * 58th Bombardment Squadron, 1 January – 18 March 1941; 19 December 1941 – 18 June 1943 * 819th Bombardment Squadron, 12 November 1943 – 9 July 1944; 17 March – 26 September 1945 * 820th Bombardment Squadron, 14 October 1944 – 20 May 1945


Cold War

With the establishment of the U.S. Air Force as a separate service in 1947, Wheeler Army Air Base was re-designated Wheeler Air Force Base under the operational control of
Pacific Air Forces The Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) is a List of Major Commands of the United States Air Force, Major Command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force and is also the air component command of the United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM). PAC ...
( PACAF). The following year, the installation was placed on minimum caretaker status; however, with expansion of the Air Force during the
Korean War The Korean War (25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953) was an armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula fought between North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea; DPRK) and South Korea (Republic of Korea; ROK) and their allies. North Korea was s ...
, Wheeler AFB was restored to fully operational status in 1952. On 24 February 1952, the 1508th Support Squadron was organized to provide administrative and logistical support to activities at Wheeler AFB. The unit was redesignated the 6487th Support Squadron on 1 April 1955, then inactivated on 1 November 1971, concurrent with activation of the 15th Air Base Squadron. A subordinate unit of the 15th Air Base Wing, the 15 ABS served as the host organization at Wheeler AFB, which consisted of approximately 1,389 acres of land and facilities valued at over $37 million. Responsibilities of the 15 ABS included providing munitions service and support to all Air Force activities within the Hawaiian area, in addition to operating a small arms firing range where personnel of the Air Force, U.S. Customs and local law enforcement agencies were certified. During the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, the installation hosted a number of Army and Air Force activities, including Army rotary-wing and fixed-wing aviation units and USAF fixed-wing air support / forward air control units flying the O-2 Skymaster and OV-10 Bronco. In August 1987, the Secretary of the Interior designated Wheeler AFB as a
National Historic Landmark A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a National Register of Historic Places property types, building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the Federal government of the United States, United States government f ...
, recognizing it as a site of national significance in the history of the United States and, in particular, World War II in the Pacific. The 15th Air Base Squadron inactivated at Wheeler on 31 October 1991, one day before the U.S. Army assumed operational control of the installation in accordance with a memorandum of understanding signed by the Commander in Chief,
Pacific Air Forces The Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) is a List of Major Commands of the United States Air Force, Major Command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force and is also the air component command of the United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM). PAC ...
, and the Commander, US Army Western Command.


Return to Army control

On 1 November 1991, the Army held a simple ceremony to signify their takeover of the base, then changed the sign at the main gate to Wheeler Army Airfield. The installation, however, remained on the real property records of the 15th Air Base Wing until 15 March 1993 when an Action Memorandum signed by the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Environment, Safety and Occupational Health) and the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Installations and Housing) authorized the exchange of Wheeler AFB for Fort Kamehameha Military Reservation.


Design

Wheeler Army Airfield was constructed in the pattern of the Garden City. These types of neighborhoods are the inspiration of Sir Ebenezer Howard of England, who designed these type neighborhoods in re-action to the industrial company towns that had blighted his nation. The neighborhoods are designed in loops with ample green spaces that were to be shared in common among the residents. The homes within the loops are of the Spanish Colonial Revival style that was flourishing in the 1920s and 1930s. Today, Wheeler Army Airfield comprises approximately of land returned to the Department of the Army on 1 November 1991. As of the 2000 Census, the base had a total population of 2,829 military personnel and families.


Geography

Wheeler AAF is located at 21°28'56" North, 158°2'24" West (21.482216, −158.039959). The Wheeler Main Gate is located on Kamehameha Highway (State Rte 99) running north to Wahiawā (becoming State Rte. 80) and connecting westward to Wilikina Road (State Rte. 99) and Schofield Barracks. Proceeding south on Kamehameha Hwy. provides access to Interstate H-2 and Milillani Town. The Wheeler Kunia Gate is off Kunia Road directly across from the Schofield Lyman Gate. Kunia Road (State Rte. 750) continues south to Kunia, and eventually Waipahu. Wheeler is directly adjacent to Schofield Barracks across Kunia Road and to Wahiawā on the central plateau of the Island of O'ahu. The U.S.
postal code A postal code (also known locally in various English-speaking countries throughout the world as a postcode, post code, PIN or ZIP Code) is a series of letters or numerical digit, digits or both, sometimes including spaces or punctuation, inclu ...
for Wheeler Army Airfield is 96786. According to the
United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...
, the base has a total area of none of which is covered by water.


Demographics

Wheeler AFB-''cum''-Wheeler AAF is delineated for statistical purposes as a
census-designated place A census-designated place (CDP) is a Place (United States Census Bureau), concentration of population defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes only. CDPs have been used in each decennial census since 1980 as the counte ...
(CDP). At the 2010 Census, the CDP had a resident population of 1,634. As of the 2000 Census, there were 2,829 people, 739 households, and 724 families residing on the base. The population density was . There were 855 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the base was 57.02% White, 21.60% African American, 1.10% Native American, 3.99% Asian, 1.87% Pacific Islander, 6.33% from other races, and 8.09% from two or more races. 13.15% of the population were
Hispanic The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...
or Latino of any race. There were 739 households, out of which 77.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 89.7% were married couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 2.0% were non-families. 1.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 0.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.36 and the average family size was 3.38. In the base the population was spread out, with 36.8% under the age of 18, 20.9% from 18 to 24, 40.9% from 25 to 44, 1.3% from 45 to 64, and 0.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 23 years. For every 100 females there were 119.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 127.8 males. The median income for a household in the post was $32,485, and the median income for a family was $32,264. Males had a median income of $22,961 versus $22,151 for females. The per capita income for the post was $12,364. 7.9% of the population and 5.9% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 9.9% of those under the age of 18 and 0.0% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.


Current Units

*Army ** 25th Infantry Division, Combat Aviation Brigade *** 25th Infantry Division, Combat Aviation Brigade HHC *** 2nd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment (UH-60) "Diamond Head" *** 3rd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment (CH-47) (UH-60) "Hammerhead" *** 2nd Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment ( AH-64) "Lightning Horse" *** 209th Aviation Support Battalion (ASB) "Lobos" ** Trial Defense Service-Hawaii ** 516th Theater Signal Brigade *** HHD, 30th Signal Battalion "Berserkers" ** Hawaii Army National Guard *** 193rd Aviation Regiment (Medium Lift) *** Detachment 55 Operational Support Airlift (Det 55 OSA) * Air Force ** 1st Air Support Operations Group *** 25th Air Support Operations Squadron ** Detachment 2, 1st Combat Weather Squadron ** Hawaii Air National Guard *** 169th Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron (169 ACWS)


Education

Hawaii Department of Education The Hawaii State Department of Education (HIDOE, ) is a statewide public education system in the United States. The school district can be thought of as analogous to the school districts of other cities and communities in the United States, ...
operates Major Sheldon Wheeler Elementary School and Major Sheldon Wheeler Middle School on Wheeler AAF.
2000 Map:
As of 2016 the zoned high school is Leilehua High School.


See also

* Hawaii World War II Army Airfields * Phil Rasmussen


References


External links


Wheeler Army Airfield Historic Guide


by Pearl Harbor hq
Aviation: From Sand Dunes to Sonic Booms, a National Park Service ''Discover Our Shared Heritage'' Travel Itinerary
* {{authority control United States Army airfields Buildings and structures in Honolulu County, Hawaii Airports in Hawaii National Historic Landmarks in Hawaii Installations of the United States Army in Hawaii Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Hawaii Transportation in Honolulu County, Hawaii Airfields of the United States Army Air Forces in Hawaii World War II on the National Register of Historic Places in Hawaii Airports established in 1941 1941 establishments in Hawaii National Register of Historic Places in Honolulu County, Hawaii Airports on the National Register of Historic Places