Mystery Airfield Update

There were several good guesses as to the identity of this “Mystery” airfield, but no one nailed it. So, here are a few more clues:

 – It is in Hawaii

– It is part of an active army post

– One could drive right past it and never know it was there

Avert your eyes because here comes the answer:

Waiele Gulch Field.

Where is that, you say? It is part of Wheeler Field and, as field’s name states, it is in a gulch and therefore rather hidden from the view of passersby. That, of course, was what made a small canyon/gulch such an appealing location for a military airfield.

Construction began just before Pearl Harbor with the idea of having a well-protected facility for the assembly of aircraft. Bunkers were hewed in the gulch walls. Taxiways connected with those on Wheeler Field. Today, it is still easily visible from the air, but still not so from the ground.

The top photo was taken at the height of World War II. The other photo is what one seens today.