Clark AF Base - Philippines

• Strategic Location: Clark Air Base was established in 1903 as Fort Stotsenburg and became one of the largest US military bases outside continental America, located in Angeles City, Pampanga, Philippines. • World War II Significance: The base played a crucial role during World War II, serving as a major hub for American air operations in the Pacific. It was captured by Japanese forces in 1942 and later liberated in 1945. • Namesake: Clark Air Base was named after Major Harold M. Clark, a US Army Signal Corps pilot and the first American to fly in Hawaii. • The 1991 Eruption: The base was heavily damaged and eventually abandoned by the US in 1991 after the catastrophic eruption of Mount Pinatubo, which buried much of the facility in volcanic ash. • Vietnam War Era: During the Vietnam War, Clark was a major logistics and transit point for US forces, serving as a staging area for troops and supplies heading to Southeast Asia. • Cold War Operations: Clark Air Base hosted a variety of aircraft, including B-52 bombers, and was a key base for US Air Force operations throughout the Cold War. • Evacuation Point: The base was famously used as a primary evacuation point during Operation Babylift and Operation New Life, which evacuated thousands of Vietnamese refugees and orphans in 1975. • Home to the 13th Air Force: For much of the 20th century, Clark served as the headquarters for the US 13th Air Force, responsible for operations in the Pacific and Southeast Asia. • Clark's Runway: The base boasted one of the longest runways in the Pacific, capable of handling the largest American military aircraft, including the C-5 Galaxy and B-52 Stratofortress. • Transformation: After US withdrawal, the base was converted into Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone, now home to Clark International Airport and a thriving business district, but still retains visible remnants of its military past.