Cabcaben Airfield

The closure was due to economic and land-use conversion. The site was strategically located within the Bataan Export Processing Zone (BEPZ), which was established in the 1970s and later became the Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB). The land was repurposed for industrial expansion, with factories, roads, and other commercial infrastructure being built directly over the former runway and airfield grounds to support the economic growth of the freeport zone.

The site of the former Cabcaben Airfield is now completely unrecognizable as an airport. It is fully integrated into the Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB), a major industrial and manufacturing hub. The land where the runway once lay is now occupied by numerous factories, warehouses, and the road network that serves the freeport. The coordinates provided (14.45437, 120.59218) place you in the middle of this dense industrial park. While the general alignment of the old runway can sometimes be inferred from the layout of certain roads, no physical infrastructure of the airfield remains.

Cabcaben Airfield has immense historical significance, primarily from World War II.

1. **Pre-War and Battle of Bataan:** It was constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers before the war and served as a key fighter base for the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) during the defense of the Philippines. It was one of the last operational airfields for American and Filipino forces during the Battle of Bataan in early 1942, from which P-40 Warhawk fighters conducted missions against the invading Japanese forces.

2. **Bataan Death March:** After the surrender of Bataan on April 9, 1942, Cabcaben Airfield became infamous as one of the primary starting points for the Bataan Death March. Thousands of American and Filipino prisoners of war were assembled on the airfield before being forced on the brutal march north to Camp O'Donnell.

3. **Post-War Operations:** After the war, it was used for a time as a light civil and general aviation airstrip, serving the local area before the industrial zone's development made it obsolete.

There are zero prospects for reopening Cabcaben Airfield at its original location. The site is now densely developed with valuable industrial and commercial properties that are critical to the region's economy. However, there have been various proposals and feasibility studies over the years for building a new, modern airport in the province of Bataan to better serve the logistical needs of the Freeport Area of Bataan and promote tourism. These plans all involve constructing a new facility at a different, undeveloped site within the province, not reviving the historic Cabcaben Airfield.