This site marks the location of the Del Monte Airfield which served as a base for B17
bombers of the 19th Bomb Group and P40 Fighters of the the 24th pursuit squadron, This
Airfield became a strategic staging point of the remaining air assets of the United
States Armed Forces Far East (USAFFE) Air Force until the surrender in May 1942.

On Dec. 14, 1941, six B17s from Del Monte Airfield were dispatched to attack the Japanese
Invasion Fleet in Legaspi, Albay. Only the Flying Fortress flown by Capt. Hewitt
"Shorty" Wheless made it back after engaging a dozen enemy fighters and
crashlanding in Cagayan de Oro, earning them the distinguished Service Cross.

General Douglas MacArthur, Supreme Commander of the USAFFE, after a daring escape by
PT boat from Correigidor, flew out from Del Monte on March 17, 1942 with his family
and general staff to Australia, where he declared the famous phrase,

"I SHALL RETURN"

President of the Philippine Commonwealth, Manuel L. Quezon, his family and party also took off from this airfield for his historic evacuation to the United States.

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