Lieutenant Cesar Basa Air Base (Basa Air Base)

 airport, military airbase, village, barangay, fourth-level administrative division

Airbase
ICAO: RPUF

Barangay: Basa Air Base
Municipality: Floridablanca
Province: Pampanga

History
Known as Floridablanca Airfield, the USAAF established the base prior to World War II, but the facility fell to the Japanese Army in December 1941. Early in the war. It was in this aerodrome complex of Clark, Floridablanca, Porac and Mabalacat airfield where the scheme to employ "kamikaze" fighters was first conceived and launched, and the base was used by the Japanese as an axillary airfield.

In January 1945, the United States Sixth Army cleared the area of Japanese forces and the USAAF re-established a presence at the airfield. The 312th Bombardment Group (19 Apr-13 Aug 1945) based A-20 Havocs and the348th Fighter Group (15 May-6 Jul 1945) based P-47 Thunderbolts and P-51 Mustangs at the airfield. In 1945, during the period of Philippine liberation from the combined Filipino and American troops, the US Air Force enlarged the airfield further to accommodate B-17s and B-24s, which were used for air strikes against Japan.

The United States government later turned over this installation to the Philippines. On August 22, 1947, three M35 2-1/2 ton cargo trucks ferried in the 2nd Tactical Fighter Squadron to lay the groundwork for a fighter base.

On September 9, 1947, the Headquarters Composite Group, with a subordinate unit known as the Floridablanca Base Service Detachment, was organized to continue the pioneering venture.

Armed with P-51D "Mustangs", the 6th and 7th Fighter squadrons were activated on October 24, 1947. From 1947 to 1955, these two squadrons extensively conducted pacification campaigns against the Huks in Central Luzon and the forces of Kamlon in Southern Mindanao.

The increasing awareness of the important role of air defense and the gradual expansion of the base led to the activation of other support units. Some of the units activated during the early days were the Basic Flying School Squadron and the Advance Flying School Squadron, which were later transferred to Fernando Air Base.

The 8th Fighter Squadron was activated on August 1, 1951, to complete the tactical set-up of three fighter squadrons that comprises the 5th Fighter Group.

On January 15, 1949, the 5th Fighter Group Headquarters was re-designated as the Basa Air Base Headquarters.

Pursuant to General Orders No. 381, GHQ, AFP, dated September 30, 1952, and HPAF, dated October 7, 1952, Basa Air Base Headquarters was finally re-designated as the 5th Fighter Wing Headquarters. After being reorganized into an Air Wing set-up, the position of the Base Commander has been changed, since then, to Wing Commander.

Basa Air Base was closed in 1955 to pave the way for the gradual transition to jet aircraft operations, which was a move towards modernization and expansion. It was then developed into a modern fighter base complex, equipped with a sprawling multi-million peso jet runway, aircraft movement areas, lighting and refueling facilities, workshops, and other vital installations for the 5th Fighter Wing jet operations.

In December 14, 1962, the 5th Fighter Wing formed the 9th Tactical Fighter Squadron ("Limbas") as the PAF contingent to Congo, Africa.

Aircraft
The 5th Fighter Group originally had nine L-5s, one C-47 aircraft and eighteen F-51 Mustangs. By 1950, fifty more F-51 Mustangs, and twenty-two T-6 trainer planes were added to bolster the training of fighter pilots.

In 1957, the propeller-driven Mustangs gave way to the T-33 jet trainer aircraft and the Korean war-tested F-86F "Sabre" jets.

In 1960, the Philippine Air Force added the F-86D all-weather interceptors to its fighter aircraft arsenal.

When the Philippine Air Force finally entered into the supersonic jet age, the 5th Fighter Wing acquired the jet-powered twin-engined, F-5A/B "Freedom Fighter" supersonic aircraft. This positioned the 5th Fighter Wing as the spearhead of defense, responsible for air reconnaissance, interdiction and ground support.

The rapid depletion of the Philippine Air Force reserves in the 80's saw the decline of the 5th Fighter Wing as a potent force in the Asian region. The fleet of F-8H Crusaders, acquired in 1978 from the US Navy, was decommissioned in 1988 from the Philippine Air Force inventory because of high maintenance costs. At the same time the 7th Tactical Fighter Squadron was temporarily unmanned. By then, only a handful of F-5 jets were left on operational status.


Aerobatic Teams
The elite Blue Diamonds Aerobatics Team was formed in 1953 during the advent of the supersonic jet era. that gained nationwide recognition. It showcased the Philippine Air Force pilot's skill and proficiency in flying.

In 1971 another aerobatics team, the Red Aces, was formed. But due to economic setbacks, brought by the increase in oil prices and inflation, and the Philippine Air Force's heavy losses in its Mindanao campaigns, the Red Aces Team was forced to retire in 1974.


1990's - Mount Pinatubo Eruption

Basa Air Base suffered heave infrastructural damages when Mount Pinatubo erupted in 1991. This left most buildings buried in thick layers of ash fall and forced the evacuation of its residents to other Philippine military facilities, such as Camp Olivas in San Fernando, Pampanga and Villamor Air Base (VAB) in Pasay City.

New Aircraft Acquisition

By 1994, with the acquisition of the S-211 jet, the 7th Tactical Fighter Squadron was manned and reorganized. The aircraft mainstay then on was the warrior version of the S-211 also known as the AS-211 fitted with hard points and weapons systems.

Cesar Fernando Basa was a Filipino pilot and hero of World War II. Born in 1915, he was one of the pioneer fighter pilots in the Philippine Air Force and the first Filipino casualty during World War II.