Digos (Daliao) Airfield

The closure was a gradual process resulting from a combination of factors:
1) **Post-War Military Abandonment:** After the end of World War II, the U.S. Army Air Forces consolidated operations at larger, more strategic bases, leading to the abandonment of many smaller, temporary airfields like Daliao.
2) **Economic Redundancy:** The development and continued expansion of the nearby Davao International Airport (Francisco Bangoy International Airport) as the primary commercial air hub for the entire Davao Region made a smaller airfield in Digos economically unviable for scheduled passenger or significant cargo traffic.
3) **Urban and Agricultural Encroachment:** As Digos City and the surrounding areas grew, the land occupied by the defunct airfield became more valuable for agriculture (specifically banana plantations), industrial facilities, and residential housing.

The site of the former Digos (Daliao) Airfield is now completely redeveloped and is unrecognizable as an airport from the ground. The land is occupied by a mix of agricultural, industrial, and residential properties. A large portion of the former runway and surrounding area is now part of a major banana plantation, complete with industrial-scale packing and processing facilities. Roads, houses, and other buildings have been constructed directly over the former airfield grounds. While the faint, straight-line outline of the runway can sometimes be discerned in historical satellite imagery, the physical infrastructure is entirely gone.

The airfield holds significant World War II history. It was originally constructed by the Japanese Imperial forces during their occupation of the Philippines and was known as Daliao Airdrome. It served as a strategic airbase for Japanese operations in Mindanao and was a key target for Allied bombing raids.

Following its capture by the U.S. Army's 24th Infantry Division in May 1945, the airfield was repaired and put into service by the U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF). It was used by the Thirteenth Air Force and hosted several units, most notably the 42nd Bombardment Group and the 345th Bombardment Group, which flew B-25 Mitchell medium bombers. These units conducted missions from Daliao against remaining Japanese forces in the Southern Philippines and Borneo until the war concluded. After the war, it was turned over to the Philippine government and likely saw only limited, intermittent use for general aviation or agricultural flights before being abandoned.

There are zero known plans or prospects for reopening the Digos (Daliao) Airfield. The site is now privately owned and heavily developed, which would make any attempt at land reclamation and reconstruction prohibitively expensive and logistically impossible. Furthermore, there is no strategic or economic need for another airport at this location, as the entire Davao Region is adequately served by the modern and continuously improving Davao International Airport (DVO).