Hill Airfield

Military decommissioning and operational consolidation. After World War II, the need for two major airfields in close proximity diminished. Air traffic and all subsequent development were consolidated at the nearby McGuire Field (the 'South Drome'), which became the modern San Jose Airport (RPUH/SJI). Hill Field was deemed redundant and was not developed for civilian use, eventually being abandoned.

The site is no longer recognizable as an airfield. The land has been completely redeveloped and is now integrated into the urban fabric of San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, primarily within Barangay San Roque. The faint outline of the former runway is partially visible from satellite imagery but is now transected by roads, including the Mindoro West Coastal Road. The area is occupied by residential housing, commercial establishments, agricultural plots, and the San Jose Municipal Cemetery, which sits directly on the path of the former runway.

Hill Field, also known as the 'North Drome', was a strategically vital military airfield during World War II. Originally constructed by Japanese forces, it was captured by the U.S. Army's 24th Infantry Division in December 1944 during the Battle of Mindoro. Alongside the nearby McGuire Field ('South Drome'), it formed the San Jose airbase complex. This complex was critical for the Allied campaign in the Philippines, serving as a forward operating base for the U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). It hosted fighter and bomber squadrons that provided air support for the invasion of Luzon, conducted strikes against Japanese shipping in the South China Sea, and helped secure air superiority in the region. Its capture and use significantly accelerated the liberation of the Philippines.

There are no plans or prospects for reopening Hill Field. The land has been extensively and irreversibly developed for civilian purposes over many decades. Furthermore, the aviation needs of San Jose and the surrounding region are fully served by the active San Jose Airport (RPUH), located just a few kilometers to the south.