Ewa Field - MCAS Ewa: Texas family

Monday, July 1, 2019

Video Documentary 75th Anniversary and Commemoration at historic MCAS Ewa Field

Ewa Field History Project P.O. Box 75578 Kapolei, Hawaii 96707

By John Bond, Ewa historian

Many people do not know that NAS Barbers Point became operational through it's junior brother Naval Air Station Ewa while the larger NAS Barbers Point was being built in 1942.

While it may never have become an official name, it and "NAS Barbers Point" were widely used for Ewa Field in early 1942, mainly because of the large presence of two Navy aircraft carrier air groups during the critical early 1942 Pacific war period.This caused a great deal of later incorrect histories attributed to Barbers Point which in fact weren't true.

The history of Marine Corps Air Station Ewa officially began in September 1942, however it was a very busy and rapidly expanding joint Navy-Marine air base shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor in December, 1941. Virtually all of the construction material, manpower and money for NAS Barbers Point was redirected to Ewa Field while NAS Barbers Point was put on hold until the very crucial June 1942 Battle of Midway victory helped the Navy reassign construction priority to Barbers Point.

75th Anniversary and Commemoration at historic Ewa Field. Also history of the Battle of Midway where many Navy and Marine planes trained and operated from in early 1942. Ewa Field help support major US Navy aircraft carrier operations in the Pacific including the Doolittle Raid and Coral Sea battles. MCAS Ewa also supported the major Pacific battle for Guadalcanal.

75th Anniversary Battle of Midway Commemoration - Ewa Field

https://youtu.be/NivMSt-8a-o

Historic Ewa Field Concrete Warm-Up Parking Ramp

Remains of Ewa Field planes destroyed on December 7, 1941 buried by main runway

Marine R4D (C-47) ready to carry supplies, ground crew, ammunition to Midway Atoll

When the Ewa Field ramp was constructed a worker left this note in the concrete

Every R4D available rushed supplies and ammunition to Midway Atoll for the big buildup

Pearl Harbor historian Daniel Martinez

Midway historian and chairman of the International Midway Memorial Foundation

James D'Angelo

Small but dedicated veterans and community turned out for the low key commemoration

The always excellent and highly professional Hickam AFB Honor Guard

The most visible remains of the 1941-1945 airfield.

However many other undocumented historic archeological sites remain

Monday, September 14, 2015

Hunt Corp Destroys Local Historic Landmark - Barbers Point 1943 MCAS Ewa Squadron Wall

Hunt Corp Destroys

Local Historic Landmark

Barbers Point 1943 MCAS Ewa Squadron Wall

Identified in official 2012 report, Navy says it was a "mistake"

by John Bond Ewa Historian

The MCAS Ewa Squadron Wall was identified in the 2011 Ewa Battlefield Report by Mason Architects. There was a color photo of the wall and it was listed as having been constructed in 1943.

Shortly before the first Ewa Battlefield Section 106 meeting began in Kalaeloa Hunt Corp ordered the local landmark knocked down overnight with all of the evidence of it being there removed.

There was no notice or discussion with the community at all. The Navy had promised that all historic structures were protected by State and Federal laws and the Section 106 process would allow the community the opportunity to be notified and consulted.

The local community would eventually learn that the Navy never had any intention of keeping their promises when it came to Hunt Corp, a private Texas family corporation that has major influence over Hawaii politicians, government offices and the employees of the Naval Facilities command based at Pearl Harbor.

Hunt Corp always received exclusive special exemption from federal preservation laws as Navy realtor's greased the way towards massive profits from federal public lands.

It is believed that the squadron wall was built in 1943 primarily as a privacy wall for the nearby combat pilot officers quarters (foundations nearby.)

However squadrons began painting their insignia's on it (since they lived next to it) and the tradition continued during the Navy Cold War era. The Coast Guard was still using it and providing
periodic maintenance after the base closed in 1999.

The issue of knocking down the wall came up numerous times in the Navy-Hunt KREP PV farm Section 106 and the community was told it was just a "mistake" and Hunt shouldn't have done it. The Navy said they would probably rebuild it. But that never happened.

Later the community would learn that the Navy never intended to enforce any protections or covenants for identified cultural and historic sites in Kalaeloa, former Barbers Point.