Lahug Airport | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Military, public (currently defunct) | ||||||||||
| Owner | Philippines United States (former) | ||||||||||
| Operator | Bureau of Aeronautics (currently known as the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP)) | ||||||||||
| Serves | Cebu City | ||||||||||
| Opened | June 25, 1938 | ||||||||||
| Closed | April 27, 1966 | ||||||||||
| Time zone | PHT ( UTC+08:00) | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 125 ft / 38 m | ||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||
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Lahug Airport ( ICAO: RPMC), also known as Cebu–Lahug Airport and historically known as Lahug Airfield, was a military airport used by the United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) and the Philippine Army Air Corps (PAAC). Located before in Cebu City, it was among the two functioning airfields in the Cebu City area, along with the former Opon Airfield. [1]
History
In World War II, Lahug Airport was the site of a battle between the Japanese Army and the American Army, eventually leading to 50 deaths. [1] After the battle, the airport was quickly repaired by the Americans. [1]
On August 12, 1947, the airfield was reclassified as a national airport under the Executive Order No. 75, issued by the former Philippine President Manuel Roxas. The purpose of the executive order was to accelerate the development of the civil aviation in the Philippines; it also resulted into the Bureau of Aeronautics taking control of the airport. [2] The Philippine Air Force was allowed to use the airport in times of war and for required daily missions. [3]
On February 19, 1981, the first papal mass in Cebu was held at the airport by Pope John Paul II. [4]
The airport would later suspend operations by April 27, 1966, after a new airport opened on the island of Mactan. The former Lahug Airport is now the site of Cebu IT Park. [3]
Accidents
There were three accidents involving the airport. President of the Philippines Ramon Magsaysay was killed in a crash after his aircraft took off from the airport; journalist Nestor Mata was the only person onboard who survived. [4]
References
- ^ a b c PacificWrecks.com. "Pacific Wrecks – Lahug Airfield, Cebu Province, Philippines". pacificwrecks.com. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
- ^ Oaminal, Clarence Paul. "The Lahug, Cebu National Airport". Philstar.com. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
- ^ a b Oaminal, Clarence Paul. "The Cebu Lahug Airport". Philstar.com. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
- ^ a b Bersales, Jobers R. (2014-05-08). "Remembering Lahug Airport". Cebu Daily News. Retrieved 2024-06-26.