Fernando Air Base

ERNANDO AIR BASE used to be a sugar plantation before the Second World War. It is 1,200 feet above sea level & is situated on the plateau overlooking Taal Volcano. This airfield is about 45 nautical miles south-south-east of Manila in the province of Batangas (GEOREF: VGBP080575), covering an area of 272 hectares of land and the weather is generally cool through out the year.

The Japanese Imperial Army started construction of a base in 1942, utilizing some American POW's and Filipino forced labor. Due to its strategic location, the occupation army later converted the place into a fighter base for the Japanese Imperial Air Force.

In early 1945, after Batangas was liberated, the US army occupied the base in Lipa, Batangas. The famed 11th Airborne Division, the US Army used this base as a staging point for paratroop assaults in the liberation of Cavite and Corregidor. At the same time the "Airfield in Lipa" or simply Lipa Airfield was used for the aircraft recovery operations.

On September 1st of the same year, the Philippine Army Air Corps established the First Troop Carrier Sqdn in this base. Capt Roberto Lim, the base first Commander, chose this site because of its god water supply and cool climate. The airfield was officially designated as Lipa Army Air Base. Later, there was a talk that surfaced among the personnel of the base to rename it Lawas Army Base after MSg Gregorio Lawas, an airman who died in a vehicular accident. MSg Lawas was one of their top mechanic and he was also the first airmen sent to Randolf, US for Air Mechanics Course. However this proposal was never pushed through.

Actual occupation of the base took place days after the activation of the first TCS. Upon arrival at the airfield, all they found were a few wrecked gliders, a water tower, some dilapidated dallas huts and a lot of cogon grass.

When the Philippines gained its independence on July 4, 1946, the Air Base was formally turned over Philippine government. More PAF units were activated and some those assigned to the base included elements of the fighter, transport and liaison units. After the Philippine Air Force become a separate major service in July 3, 1947, Lipa Army Air Base was re designated as Lipa Air Base.

On April 12, 1948, the late President Manuel A. Roxas directed the remaining of Lipa Air Base to Fernando Field (GO #139 HPAF, Camp Murphy dtd 12 Apr 48), and subsequently Fernando Air Base in honor of the late Basilio Fernando ­one of the pioneers of Philippine Aviation. It was during Major Pedro Q Molina's term as Base Commander when the birth of Fernando Air Base as training base took place. Training units and other support units were all grouped under the 100th Training Wing on 22 Sep 52. The Troop Carrier Squadron was deactivated. Thus began the unique role Fernando Air Base as the training center of the Philippine Air Force. It has become the home of the 100th Training Wing.