Clark Air Base (Fort Stotsenburg)

Clark Air Base is a Philippine Air Force installation in Luzon, located 3 miles west of Angeles City and 40 miles northwest of Metro Manila. The United States Army established the site as Fort Stotsenburg in September 1903. A portion was designated as Clark Field in September 1919 for the Signal Corps Aviation Section. During the 1930s, the field accommodated U.S. Army Air Corps medium and heavy bombers. Japanese forces captured the airfield in December 1941 and operated it until U.S. forces retook the facility in January 1945, returning it to U.S. Army Air Forces control.

During the Cold War, the base provided logistical support during the Korean War and Vietnam War. Stationed U.S. Air Force units included the 405th Fighter Wing, the 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing operating F-4 Phantom II fighters, and the 374th Tactical Airlift Wing operating C-130E transport aircraft assigned to the 21st and 776th Tactical Airlift Squadrons. Following the non-renewal of the military bases agreement, the U.S. Air Force transferred the facility to the Philippine government in November 1991. The site was subsequently adapted to accommodate the Clark Freeport Zone and Clark International Airport while retaining active Philippine Air Force operations.

The Philippine Air Force operates Clark Air Base. Stationed units include the 1st Air Division, 410th Maintenance Wing, 420th Supply Wing, 600th Air Base Wing, 710th Special Operations Wing, Air Force Logistics Command, and Air Force Reserve Command. Under the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, the base hosts rotational U.S. military forces, including deployments of U.S. Air Force A-10C Thunderbolt II aircraft, HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters, and U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon aircraft.