Bucholz Army Airfield

"Bucholz" redirects here. For the German fighter pilot, see Max Bucholz. For other uses, see Buchholz (disambiguation).

Bucholz Army Airfield
Summary
Airport typeMilitary
OperatorUnited States Army
LocationKwajalein
Elevation AMSL9 ft / 3 m
Coordinates08°43′12″N 167°43′54″E / 8.72000°N 167.73167°E / 8.72000; 167.73167
Map
KWA is located in Marshall Islands
KWA
KWA
KWA is located in North Pacific
KWA
KWA
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
06/24 6,668 2,032 Asphalt

Bucholz Army Airfield (IATA: KWA, ICAO: PKWA, FAA LID: KWA) is a United States Army airfield located on Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands. Its position is ideal for refueling during trans-Pacific flights, and the airport is available to civilians through Air Marshall Islands and United Airlines, mostly for the Island Hopper.

Since the entirety of Kwajalein Atoll is a military base, non-military passengers on commercial flights are transported to and from the neighboring island of Ebeye, the civilian population center of Kwajalein Atoll.

History

30th Bombardment Group B-24 Liberators at Kwajalein Airfield, 1944

After the defeat of the Japanese, Kwajalein was developed into a major United States Military airbase and staging area for further operations by Seabees of the 109th Naval Construction Battalions.[1]

After the war, the United States used Kwajalein as a main command center and preparation base for Operation Crossroads and an extensive series of nuclear tests (comprising a total of 67 blasts) at the Marshalls' atolls of Bikini and Enewetak.[citation needed]

On Memorial Day 1967, Kwajalein Airfield was renamed Bucholz Army Airfield after PFC Fred Henry Bucholz (1907–1944), posthumous recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in the Battle of Kwajalein.[2]

Passengers may disembark and reboard at each stop or remain on the Island Hopper with the exception of Kwajalein, where passengers are prohibited from leaving the aircraft unless they have prior authorization from the U.S. government, as the atoll is an active military installation served via Bucholz Army Airfield. Photography and videography there are also restricted.[3]

Airlines and destinations

AirlinesDestinations
Air Transport International Military Charter: Honolulu[citation needed]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Building the Navy's Bases Online, Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands".
  2. ^ Thompson, Erwin N. (2 May 1984). "Kwajalein Island Battlefield". National Register of Historic Places. United States National Park Service. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
  3. ^ Dwyer, Chris (4 December 2018). "Pacific Island Hopper: The world's most scenic flight?". CNN Travel.

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwajalein_Airfield