Dulag Airfield

Military Decommissioning. Dulag Airfield was a temporary, forward combat airfield constructed by the United States military during World War II. Following the successful Leyte Campaign and the end of the war, the base was no longer strategically necessary and was abandoned by the U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF).

The site of the former Dulag Airfield has been entirely reclaimed for civilian use. The land is now predominantly agricultural, consisting mainly of vast rice paddies. The distinct layout of the two parallel runways and connecting taxiways is still clearly visible in satellite imagery. Some of the original paved sections of the airfield have been repurposed as local farm-to-market roads and paths for the surrounding communities. Small settlements and houses have also been built on the footprint of the former military base.

Dulag Airfield was a critical component of the Allied effort during the liberation of the Philippines in World War II. Its history includes:

- **Construction:** Built in late 1944 by U.S. Army Aviation Engineer Battalions immediately following the American landings on Leyte on October 20, 1944. Construction was notoriously difficult due to the swampy, muddy terrain and persistent heavy rains, which significantly delayed its operational readiness.

- **Strategic Importance:** It was one of several key airfields (along with Tacloban, Tanauan, and San Pablo) established to provide air support for the Battle of Leyte. The goal was to establish air superiority over the central Philippines, interdict Japanese reinforcements, and support ground troops.

- **Operations:** The airfield became a major base for the USAAF Fifth Air Force and later, United States Marine Corps aviation units. It hosted a variety of aircraft, including:
- **Fighters:** Lockheed P-38 Lightning, Republic P-47 Thunderbolt
- **Bombers:** Consolidated B-24 Liberator, North American B-25 Mitchell
- **Night Fighters:** Northrop P-61 Black Widow
- **Marine Aircraft:** Vought F4U Corsair

- **Key Units:** Notable units that operated from Dulag included elements of the 13th Air Force, the 308th Bombardment Wing (V Bomber Command), the 419th Night Fighter Squadron, and Marine Aircraft Groups 12 and 14. Missions flown from Dulag were instrumental in neutralizing Japanese air and sea power in the region and supporting the subsequent invasion of Luzon.

There are no known or credible plans to reopen Dulag Airfield. The land has been fully converted to agricultural and residential use for over 75 years. The primary aviation gateway for the region is the Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport (Tacloban Airport), which serves the commercial and logistical needs of Leyte. The historical significance of the site is preserved through local memory and nearby WWII memorials, but there is no practical or economic case for its revival as an active airport.