Gen. Douglas MacArthur (Del Monte Airfield) Evacuation Landmark
Details:
On the roadside.
MonumentA large concrete monument with a propeller attached to the front and sides sculpted like airplane wings. The memorial also includes twon inscribed marble plaques.
The memorial landmark is located near the former US Army Air Corps Del Monte Airfield during WW2. It was named Del Monte Airfield due to its close location to the large Del Monte pineapple plantation. On December 8, 1941 Clark Airfield was destroyed by the Japanese with a devastating air attack. With the destruction of Clark Airfield, most of the air operations were moved to the Del Monte Airfield and thereafter, the Del Monte base was used as a staging area for missions flown from Australia and Evacuation flights.
This historic landmark is named after Gen Douglas MacArthur since it is the place where General Douglas MacArthur, his family and key staff members took off on their historic flight to Australia before the fall of Bataan and Corregidor by B-17 on March 17, 1942. Contrary to what most Filipinos have known, it was actually in Manolo Fortich where Gen Douglas MacArthur has said his final farewell from the Philippines.
The memorial was built and maintained by the Rotary Club of Northern Bukidnon,
Source: https://web.archive.org/web/20170105084936/https://manolofortich.com.ph/gen-douglas-macarthur-landmark/
Monument Text:
Inscription at the top of the monument:
IN ALIS VINCIMUS
("On the wings we conquer")
Plaque # 1:
GEN DOUGLAS MacARTHUR LANDMARK*
(January 26, 1880 - April 5, 1964)
COMMANDER OF THE UNITED STATES AND ALLIED FORCES IN THE PACIFIC DURING WORLD WAR IT SERVED AS SUPREME COMMANDER OF THE OCCUPATION FORCES IN JAPAN AND OFFICIALY ACCEPTED IT'S SURRENDER IN 1945, IN TOKYO BAY, LED THE UNITED NATIONS COMMAND DURING THE FIRST NINE MONTHS OF THE KOREAN WAR AGAINST NORTH KOREA AND CHINA, PREVENTED THE COMMUNISTS FROM TAKING OVER THE ENTIRE KOREAN PENINSULA
ALSO SERVED AS FIELD MARSHALL TO THE PHILIPPINE COMMONWEALTH ARMY AND PREPARED OUR COUNTRY FOR ITS INDEPENDENCE. FOR HIS LIBERATION OF THE PHILIPPINES, HE WAS AWARDED THE MEDAL OF HONOR
*TRIBUTE CONSTRUCTED BY THE ROTARY CLUB OF NORTHERN
BUKIDNON, INC. INAUGURATED ON MARCH 13;2008
Plaque # 2:
U.S. AIRFORCE DEL MONTE AIRFIELD
THIS SITE, AT DICKLUM (FORMERLY PART OF BARANGAY TANKULAN) MANOLO FORTICH, BUKIDNON, MINDANAO, MARKS THE AREA OF THE DEL MONTE AIRFIELD WHICH SERVED AS A BASE FOR B-17 BOMBERS OF THE 19TH GROUP AND P40 FIGHTERS OF THE 24 TH PURSUIT SQUADRON. THIS AIRFIELD BECAME A STRATEGIC STAGING POINT FOR THE REMAINING AIR ASSETS OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES FAR EAST (USAFFE) AIR FORCE UNTIL THE SURRENDER IN MAY 1942.
GEN, DOUGLAS MacARTHUR, SUPREME COMMANDER OF THE USAFFE, AFTERA DARING ESCAPE BYPT BOAT FROM CORREGIDOR ISLAND, BATAAN PENINSULA FIN LUZON FLEW OUT FROM THIS AIRFIELD ON MARCH 17, 1942, WITH HIS FAMILY AND STAFFTO AUSTRALIA, WHERE HE DECLARED HIS FAMOUS PHRASE:
"I SHALL RETURN"
ABOUT A WEEK AFTER GEN. MacARTHUR LEFT, PRESIDENT.
OF THE PHILIPPINE
COMMONWEALTH MANUEL L. QUEZON, HIS FAMILY AND PARTY TOOK OFF FROM THIS AIRFIELD FOR THEIR HISTORIC EVACUATION TO THE UNITED STATES.
IN 1946, THE AIRFIELD WAS DE ACTIVATED BY THE U.S AIR FORCE AND TURNED OVER TO THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES. EVENTUALLY THE AREA WAS GIVEN TO FARMERS
Commemorates:
People:
Units:
5th Air Force
United States Air Force
United States Army
United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE)
United States Marine Corps
United States Navy
US Army Air Corps
Wars:
WWII
Battles:
Pacific Theater
Philippines Campaign (1941–1942)
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