Naval Air Station Cubi Point

During the Korean War, Admiral Arthur W. Radford, Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet saw the need for a naval air station at Cubi Point.Civilian contractors were initially contracted to fulfill the project, but after seeing the forbidding Zambales Mountains and the maze of jungle at Cubi Point, they claimed it could not be done.The $100-million facility (equivalent to $859 million in 2023) was commissioned on July 25, 1956 and comprised an air station and an adjacent pier that was capable of docking the Navy's largest carriers.Naval Air Station Cubi Point has enabled the United States Navy to provide invaluable support to the Seventh Fleet and to carry out its obligations under the Philippines-United States Mutual Defense Treaty.Eventually, NAS Cubi Point served as the primary maintenance, repair and supply center for the 400 carrier-based aircraft of the Seventh Fleet's carrier force.On June 15, 1991, Mount Pinatubo, only 20 miles (32 km) from Subic Bay, erupted and blanketed the facility in ash 1 foot (30 cm) deep.
An aerial view of Cubi Point
Subic Bay International AirportNaval Air StationUnited States NavyCoordinatesRunwaysNaval Base Subic BayBataan PeninsulaPhilippinesIATA airport codeKorean WarAdmiralArthur W. RadfordCommander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific FleetThe PentagonZambales MountainsSeabeesOlongapoSubic BayswamplandPanama Canalman-hoursSeventh FleetVietnam Warjet engineDesert StormDesert ShieldMount PinatuboSenate of the PhilippinesNational Museum of Naval AviationNAS PensacolaP-3A OrionKA-6D IntruderAttack Squadron (VA) 196S-3A VikingA-6E IntruderAttack Squadron (VA) 115 "Eagles"USS Midway (CV-41)EA-6B ProwlersA-6E IntrudersU.S. Naval Base Subic BayU.S. Naval Station Sangley PointMilitary History of the PhilippinesMilitary History of the United States