Wheeler Army Airfield facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Wheeler Army Airfield
Wahiawa, Hawaii in the United States
A US Army UH-60 Blackhawk preparing for flight at Wheeler AAF during 2011
Wheeler AAF Location in Hawaii
Coordinates	21°28′48″N 158°02′24″W / 21.48000°N 158.04000°W / 21.48000; -158.04000
Type	Army Airfield
Site information
Owner	Department of Defense
Operator	US Army
Controlled by	Combat Aviation Brigade, 25th Infantry Division
Condition	Operational
Site history
Built	1922 (1922)
In use	1922 – present
Airfield information
Identifiers	IATA: HHI, ICAO: PHHI, FAA LID: HHI, WMO: 911700
Elevation	255 m (837 ft) AMSL
Runways Direction Length and surface 6/24 1,708 m (5,604 ft) asphalt

Wheeler Army Airfield (IATA: HHI, ICAO: PHHI, FAA LID: HHI), also known as Wheeler Field, is a United States Army base in Hawaii. It is located on the island of O'ahu, near Wahiawa.

This airfield is a very important historical site. It is a National Historic Landmark because of its role in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

What is Wheeler Army Airfield?

Wheeler Army Airfield covers about 1,389 acres (5.6 square kilometers) of land. It is right next to Schofield Barracks, another important military base.

Many different parts of the Department of Defense use Wheeler AAF. These include the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA). The Hawaii Air National Guard and Hawaii Army National Guard also have units here. The 25th Infantry Division's Combat Aviation Brigade, which flies helicopters, is also based at Wheeler.

History of Wheeler Army Airfield

How Wheeler Field Started

Wheeler Field began on February 6, 1922. A group of 20 soldiers from Luke Field came to Schofield Barracks. Their job was to clear land for a flying field. They also built places for soldiers to live.

They put up two canvas hangars and cleared away weeds and trees. The field was officially named Wheeler Field on November 11, 1922. It was named after Major Sheldon H. Wheeler. He was a commander who died in a plane crash in 1921.

Growing the Airfield

By June 1923, more buildings were added, like hangars for planes and storage for fuel. In 1927, one hangar was changed to make room for barracks and a dining hall. Permanent buildings started to be built in 1930.

Many different air units were based at Wheeler Field over the years. These units helped protect Hawaii. They also trained pilots and maintained aircraft.

Famous Flights from Wheeler Field

Before the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, Wheeler Field was part of several major aviation events.

• In 1927, the first flight across the Pacific Ocean from California landed here.
• The famous Dole Air Race from California to Hawaii also ended at Wheeler.
• In 1928, the first flight from the U.S. to Australia took off from Wheeler.
• In 1935, Amelia Earhart made the first solo flight from Hawaii to the U.S. mainland. She visited Wheeler Field in her Lockheed Vega and later in her Lockheed Model 10 Electra.
• Charles Kingsford Smith also used the airfield for his historic flights across the Pacific in his plane, the Southern Cross.

By 1940, Wheeler Field was a main base for Army Air Corps fighter planes. These planes, like the P-40 Warhawk, were important for defending the Hawaiian Islands.

Wheeler Field During World War II

Curtiss P-40 planes burning at Wheeler, December 7, 1941

Wheeler Army Airfield was a main target during the Japanese attack on December 7, 1941. This attack led to the start of World War II for the United States. The Japanese attacked the airfield to stop American planes from taking off and fighting back.

Most of the planes at Wheeler were destroyed on the ground. However, 12 brave pilots managed to get their P-36 Hawk and P-40 Warhawk planes into the air. They fought against the Japanese planes and scored some of the first American victories of the war.

One of these pilots was 2nd Lieutenant Phil Rasmussen. He found a working P-36 Hawk and got it ready for flight. During a short break in the bombing, he and three other pilots took off. Lieutenant Rasmussen even shot down a Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero plane.

The attack caused 33 deaths and 75 injuries at Wheeler. Many planes were destroyed or damaged. Today, the 1941 Flightline, hangars, and barracks from that time still stand. Wheeler is a National Historic Landmark because of its role in this important event.

Wheeler Field During the Cold War

After World War II, the U.S. Air Force became its own military branch in 1947. Wheeler Army Air Base was then renamed Wheeler Air Force Base. It was controlled by the Pacific Air Forces (PACAF).

In 1952, Wheeler Air Force Base became fully active again. This was due to the expansion of the Air Force during the Korean War. For many years, Wheeler hosted both Army and Air Force units. These units flew different types of aircraft, including helicopters and observation planes.

In August 1987, Wheeler Air Force Base was officially recognized as a National Historic Landmark. This showed its national importance, especially for World War II in the Pacific.

Wheeler Field Returns to Army Control

On November 1, 1991, the U.S. Army took control of the base again. The sign at the main gate was changed to "Wheeler Army Airfield." This change made it an Army base once more.

Design of Wheeler Army Airfield

Wheeler Army Airfield was built using a special design called the "Garden City" pattern. This idea came from Sir Ebenezer Howard in England. He wanted to create neighborhoods with lots of green spaces that everyone could share.

The homes in these areas are often built in loops. The buildings themselves are in the Spanish Colonial Revival style. This style was popular in the 1920s and 1930s.

Geography of Wheeler Army Airfield

Wheeler Army Airfield is located at 21°28'56" North and 158°2'24" West. The main entrance is on Kamehameha Highway (State Route 99). This road leads north to Wahiawa and west to Schofield Barracks.

If you go south on Kamehameha Highway, you can reach Interstate H-2 and Mililani Town. Another entrance, the Wheeler Kunia Gate, is on Kunia Road. This road goes south to Kunia and Waipahu.

Wheeler is very close to Schofield Barracks and Wahiawa. It sits on a central plateau on the island of O'ahu. The U.S. postal code for Wheeler Army Airfield is 96786. The base covers about 2.3 square miles (5.9 square kilometers) of land.

Current Units at Wheeler Army Airfield

Today, Wheeler Army Airfield is home to several important military units:

• Army Units:
  • Trial Defense Service-Hawaii
  • 25th Infantry Division Combat Aviation Brigade
    • This brigade includes units that fly UH-60 Black Hawk and CH-47 Chinook helicopters.
    • It also has the 2nd Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, which flies AH-64 Apache attack helicopters.
    • The 209th Aviation Support Battalion helps keep the aircraft flying.
  • Hawaii Army National Guard
    • This includes the 193rd Aviation Regiment and Detachment 55 Operational Support Airlift.
• Air Force Units:
  • Detachment 2, 1st Combat Weather Squadron
  • Hawaii Air National Guard
    • This includes the 169th Aircraft Control & Warning Squadron (169 ACWS).

Education at Wheeler Army Airfield

The Hawaii Department of Education operates two schools right on Wheeler Army Airfield. These are Major Sheldon Wheeler Elementary School and Major Sheldon Wheeler Middle School.

Images for kids

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  Curtiss P-40 planes burning at Wheeler, December 7, 1941

See also

In Spanish: Wheeler Army Airfield para niños