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Northwest Field
Northwest Field (NWF; historically Northwest Guam Air Force Base) 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.
Built from 8 January 1945 to 1 June 1945 as a B-29 Superfortress base 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. 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.
Units deployed to the airfield included the 315th Bombardment Wing, stationed from 1945 to 1946, 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.
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. Harmon was later consolidated into Naval Air Station Agana and is now the site of Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport.
Since 1965, a satellite tracking station has been located at Northwest Field. As of 2023[update], the station is operated by Detachment 2 of the 21st Space Operations Squadron.
In 1990, Northwest Field was being considered as a site for a U.S. Navy Relocatable Over-the-Horizon Radar. 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.
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Northwest Field
Northwest Field (NWF; historically Northwest Guam Air Force Base) 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.
Built from 8 January 1945 to 1 June 1945 as a B-29 Superfortress base 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. 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.
Units deployed to the airfield included the 315th Bombardment Wing, stationed from 1945 to 1946, 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.
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. Harmon was later consolidated into Naval Air Station Agana and is now the site of Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport.
Since 1965, a satellite tracking station has been located at Northwest Field. As of 2023[update], the station is operated by Detachment 2 of the 21st Space Operations Squadron.
In 1990, Northwest Field was being considered as a site for a U.S. Navy Relocatable Over-the-Horizon Radar. 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.