Caloocan, PH 🇵🇭 Closed Airport
PH-0321
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- ft
PH-00
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Loading...GPS Code: Not available
Local Code: Not available
Location: 14.65135° N, 120.99138° E
Continent: AS
Type: Closed Airport
It appears there might be a misunderstanding regarding Grace Park / Manila North Airfield (PH-0321) in Caloocan, PH. Historical records indicate that Grace Park Airfield was a significant location during World War II, serving as the first commercial airfield in Manila and later used by the U.S. Army. However, the airfield was disused after the war, by at least 1946, and the area has since been developed into an urban and industrial center. There is no longer an active airfield at this location, and the area where it once stood is now characterized by residential and commercial establishments.
Therefore, there are no recent traveler reviews or experiences related to an operational Grace Park / Manila North Airfield (PH-0321) as it does not exist as an active airport or airfield. The search results primarily offer historical context and information on transportation to the general Grace Park subdivision area from Manila Airport (MNL).
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| Designation | Length | Width | Surface | Status |
|---|
| Type | Description | Frequency |
|---|
Late 1940s, approximately 1947
The primary reason for its closure was the post-World War II consolidation of all air traffic in Manila to the larger, better-equipped, and more strategically located Nichols Field (the precursor to the current Ninoy Aquino International Airport, NAIA). Nichols Field, a former US military base, was turned over for civilian use and could accommodate larger aircraft and higher traffic volumes. Additionally, rapid urbanization and residential development began to encroach on the Grace Park airfield, making its expansion impossible and raising safety concerns for continued operations within a growing city.
The site of the former airport has been completely redeveloped and is now a densely populated, mixed-use urban district in Caloocan City. The area, still known as Grace Park, is a grid of residential subdivisions, commercial buildings, schools (such as Our Lady of Grace Academy), warehouses, and factories. The airport's existence is now only memorialized by local street names, including 'Aviation Street', 'Aviador Street', and 'Hangar Street', which trace the location of the former aviation facilities. The main runway's general alignment has been replaced by city streets and buildings.
Grace Park Airfield holds a pivotal place in Philippine aviation history. It was Manila's first commercial airport, opening in 1935. It served as the original home base for the Philippine Aerial Taxi Company (PATCO), the country's first airline. Most notably, on March 15, 1941, the airfield was the site of the inaugural flight of the newly-reorganized Philippine Air Lines (PAL), a flight from Manila to Baguio using a Beechcraft Model 18, marking the beginning of Asia's first airline. Prior to and during the early stages of World War II, it was also used by the US Army's Far East Air Force (FEAF). During the Japanese occupation, it was taken over by Imperial Japanese forces and subsequently became a target during the American campaign to liberate Manila.
There are zero plans or prospects for reopening the airport. The land has been fully and densely developed for over 70 years. The complete urbanization of the site makes any return to aviation operations physically, logistically, and economically impossible.