Albrook Air Force Station | |
Ensign: | Air Combat Command.png |
Ensign Size: | 70px |
Partof: | Air Combat Command |
Location: | Located near Balboa, Panama |
Pushpin Map: | Panama |
Pushpin Label: | Albrook AFS |
Pushpin Mapsize: | 300 |
Type: | Military Air Force Station |
Controlledby: | United States Air Force |
Built: | 1928 |
Used: | 1932-1997 |
Albrook Air Force Station is a former United States Air Force facility in Panama. It was closed on 30 September 1997 as a result of the Torrijos-Carter Treaties which specified that United States military facilities in the former Panama Canal Zone be closed and the facilities be turned over to the Panamanian government. It was located on the east side of the Panama Canal just south of Fort Clayton and north of the township of Balboa, Panama. Beginning in January 1999, the air field initiated civilian air service as Albrook "Marcos A. Gelabert" International Airport.
USAF Southern Air Division, 1 January 1976 - 1 January 1989
830th Air Division, 1 January 1989 - 15 February 1991
Air Forces Panama, 15 February 1991 - 11 February 1992
24th Pursuit (later Fighter) Squadron, 26 October 1932-10 January 1943; 28 May-9 June 1943
28th Pursuit Squadron, 1 February-5 October 1940
29th Pursuit (later Fighter) Squadron, 1 October 1933-17 May 1942
43d Pursuit (later Fighter) Squadron, 1 February 1940-13 July 1942
73d Pursuit Squadron, 1 October 1933-14 July 1941
78th Pursuit Squadron, 15 October 1932-1 September 1937
Redesignated 19th Wing, 1937
Redesignated 19th Bombardment Wing, 1940 - 25 October 1941
30th Pursuit Squadron, 13 November 1940-24 November 1941
31st Pursuit (later Fighter) Squadron, 13 November 1940-9 November 1941; 31 December 1941-3 February 1942; 19 May-30 September 1942
Redesignated: Caribbean Air Force. August 5, 1941
Redesignated: 6th Air Force, September 18, 1942
Redesignated: Caribbean Air Command, July 31, 1946
Redesignated: United States Air Forces Southern Command July 8, 1963-1 January 1976
51st Pursuit Squadron, 1 January-21 August 1941
52d Pursuit Squadron, 1 January-21 August 1941
53d Pursuit Squadron, 1 January-21 August 1941
3rd Bombardment Squadron[4]
74th Bombardment Squadron[5]
20th Troop Carrier Squadron, 9 June 1943-September 1948
18th Troop Carrier Squadron, 1 August 1948-1 March 1949
In September 1997, the base was turned over to Panama. It was then refurbished with an operations / control tower constructed; also a passenger terminal (near Building 446, the hangar that previously housed the former Air Force Post Office). In January 1999, the domestic/commercial Albrook "Marcos A. Gelabert" International Airport was relocated to Albrook from Punta Paitilla (across Panama City). Airport is under Panama's Civil Aeronautics Authority (Autoridad de Aeronáutica Civil —previously named Civil Aviation Directorate).
A number of shops, markets, mall and government agencies (Panamanian Red Cross, International Maritime University of Panama) operate out of some of the old buildings and hangars, and most of the officers quarters are now private homes.
The Civil Aviation Authority has its headquarters in Building 805.[6]