Bellows AFS is an inactive airfield, established in 1917
by the Presidential Executive Order that created the Waimanalo Military
Reservation on land that was leased from the Waimanalo Sugar Plantation.
The station covers almost 1500 acres on the windward side of O'ahu near
the southeast corner of the island. It is about 6 miles southeast
of the Kaneohe MCBH and about 6 miles west of Makapu Point.
History
The land at which Bellows AFS now occupies is the site
of an ancient native Hawaiian community. Many artifacts, some of
which are among the oldest in the Hawaiian Islands, have been found there.
Evidence of the Waimanalo Sugar Plantation is still evident in the scattered
wild sugarcane and the graves of immigrant workers. Many of the graves
are now unmarked because of deterioration but some are still visible.
There is a rumor that some of the famous Japanese American 442nd are buried
at Bellows but that seems to be a myth.
1940's
Just before the infamous date of December 7th, 1941,
Bellows was home to the 86th Observation Squadron and the a temporary home
and training area for new recruits from the 44th Pursuit Squadron.
Bellows was an outlying field and did not receive nearly the attention
Hickam Field did. In 1941 only one runway existed. With the
outbreak of war Bellows was transformed almost overnight into an important
facility where aircraft were prepared for their duty in the Pacific Theater.
Hundreds of men and aircraft flowed through Bellows requiring more runways
and facilities.
Only one squadron has the distinction of being permanently
assigned to Bellows, the 86th Observation Squadron C&D. This
now long forgotten squadron is featured further down on this page.
Following World War II a National Guard Unit was assigned to Bellows
but the 86th remains the only active duty unit permanently based at Bellows.
Bellows Air Force Base
Main Gate 1949
History of the 86th Observation Squadron*
The 86th Observation Squadron has a long and varied history
beginning Aug. 17, 1917, as the 86th Aero Squadron. It served as part of
the zone of advance in France during the latter part of World War I. Then
in 1935, it was an observation squadron operating as part of the Air Corps
Tactical School at Maxwell Field, Alabama. Beginning Dec. 7, 1941, the
squadron conducted patrols over the Hawaiian islands.
The squadron then switched yet again. As a combat mapping
squadron, the unit's aircrews flew over Japanese held islands photographing
and mapping the terrain and enemy positions. The 86th prepared the way
for the taking of the Marshall Islands, Wake, Saipan. Guam, and Iwo Jima.
Finally, in 1944, the squadron made the first photographic mosaics of Tokyo.
The squadron was redesigned as the 43rd Reconnaissance Squadron (long range
photographic) in 1945 then was deactivated in 1946. In January 1954, the
43rd was again activated, this time at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina.
The squadron's aircrews flying RB-57 and RB-66 aircraft, accomplished a
bight photographic mission. The unit was deactivated in 1959.
Redesigned, the 43rd Electronic Combat Squadron, the unit
was activated June 6, 1986, at Sembach Air Base, Germany. It served in
Europe until 1991, then came to Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona and the 355th
Wing or the 12th Air Force, May 1, 1992, as the sister squadron to the
41st. The 43rd earned a combat streamer for its duties in World War I and
six more for missions flown in the Pacific during World War II. More
detail coming soon! From 43 ECS Web site
Aircraft of the 86th Observation Squadron (B-12, O-47,
O-49)
.B-12,
Martin.
.O-47,
North American.
.O-49,
Stinson Vigilant
.
.
.
.
44th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) (P-40B, P-40C)
P-40,
Curtiss
History of the 44th Pursuit Squadron by Duane E. 'Bud'
Biteman, Lt Col, USAF, Ret. can be found by using the image below.
Bellows Field on December 7th 1941
On December 7th, 1941 Bellows Field fell victim, as did
all the military installations on O'ahu, to the Japanese surprise attack.
At 0830 Private Raymond F. McBriarty, witnessed a lone aircraft approach
from the ocean and fire into the Bellows tent area. He believed that
the shots were blanks and the aircraft appeared to be an AT-6 trainer so
he continued on his way to church. This would be the initial attack
on Bellows.
The second attack came at 0900. Three formations
of three Zeke "Zeros" led by Lt. Fusata Iida, head of the the Third Air
Control Group from the Carrier Soryu, arrived at Bellows doing considerable
damage. The damage inflicted follows:
Aircraft Based
at Bellows
Aircraft Destroyed
Other Damage/Causualties
| O-47 6 |
1 O-47 |
Gasoline Tanker Truck |
| O-49 2 |
1 O-49 |
Two Pilots Killed in Action* |
| P-40 12 (one squadron) |
3 P-40 |
Under Investigation |
| B-17C* |
1 B-17C* |
Under Investigation |
The B-17 was not based at Bellows but was forced to make
an emergency landing after being severely damaged while waiting to land
at Hickam Field.
Lt. Hans Christenson and Lt. George Whiteman were both
killed while attempting to engage the attacking Japanese aircraft
.
.
Memorial to Fallen Airmen
Bellows Field 1941
First POW of World War II
Bellows has the distinction of being the site of the
first POW captured during World War II. On December 8, 1941 at 0540
Ensign Kazuo Sakamaki's "Type A" midget submarine "Number 19" was grounded
on the reef just offshore of Bellows. It was one of 5 midget subs
that were involved with the attack at Pearl Harbor. Sakamaki's sub
had drifted all the way around the island after suffering from a malfunctioning
gyrocompass. Sakamaki and his crew member were lapsing in and out
of consciousness because the batteries that powered the submarine were
emitting toxic fumes. When the submarine ran aground on the reef
they elected to abandon ship. After a failed attempt to destroy the
sub both men tried to swim ashore but only Sakamaki made it. He was then
captured by Lt. Paul S. Plybon, and Cpl. David Akui of the 298th Infantry.
His companion washed up on the shore later.
.
.
.
.
Photos
from the National Archives
Memorial of the Capture WW II's 1st POW
World War II
Immediately following the Japanese attack Bellows Field
and the entire Island of O'ahu was immersed in a frenzy to build defensive
positions to guard against invasion. Some of the following images
represent the efforts in those uncertain days. Coming
Soon!
The Post-War Bellows
Following the closure of the runway complex, Bellows
Air Force Base became Bellows Air Force Station and the home to a NIKE
missile site and a Communications Facility. The Communication Transmitter
Facility was a large Air Force communications antenna site. The site
was operated and maintained by the 1957th Communications Group. The
transmitter facility, established in 1956, was a major communications
network which included tie-ins with the presidential communication network.
There were 27 high frequency antennae, both rotateable and fixed, occupying
577 acres. The facility was decommissioned in the early 1990's or
the late 1980's. This communications network was one of the reasons
the runways at Bellows were allowed to deteriorate and also hindered attempts
to make at least part of Bellows a reliever or general aviation airport.
.
Main Gate to the Communications Site and one of the many signs that
are posted around Bellows that warned of RF Radiation from the Antenna.
The NIKE Missile Site
Information about the NIKE Missile Site located at Bellows
is still under research. Do not rely on the following information!
Bellows
was one of many NIKE Missile Sites located around the U.S. There
were at least two other sites on O'ahu, one at Dillingham AFB, and one
on Kamehameha Ridge. The Site opened in the 1950's and was shut down
in 1970. This site was different from many of those on the mainland
U.S. in that the NIKE missiles were kept above ground. The area was
secured of course. The pictures below show the site after almost
30 years of abandonment. The site is very well preserved because
of its location on a military installation. Other Hawaiian NIKE sites
are severely damaged by vandals.
Gate NIKE Site, April 1999
Facilities
Bellows has five inactive runways. Three southern
runways (6/24, 12/30, and 3R/21L) and two northern runways (18/36 and 3L/21R).
These runways are severely deteriorated and not usable by fixed wing aircraft.
The runways were closed in 1958 and are only used by helicopters from Kaneohe
Marine Corps Base Hawaii.
.
.
Runway Configuration
Diagram
View of Runway 21R as it appears today
Current Status
Due to the deactivation of the airfield in 1958 and the
over-grown condition of the runways and taxiways, no aircraft are based
at Bellows.
However, the Marines still use Bellows for some limited helicopter operations.
The Marine Corps also uses the beach and parts of Bellows as a training
area for amphibious operations on a frequent basis. In fact, Bellows
is scheduled to be transferred to the Marine Corps as soon as environmental
cleanup efforts are completed. Bellows also serves as a recreation
area for military personnel. There are cabins located around the
beach front and camping grounds. There has been some effort made
by native Hawaii groups and Hawaii Representative Neil Abercrombie (D)
to have Bellows returned to the Hawaiian people for homesteads but in the
interests of national security Bellows will remain a military installation.
.
.
Bellows AFS from the Enchanted Lakes end of Lanikai Hillside. (Runways
21R and 18)
The Future of Bellows?
While there is a call for the return of Bellows to people
of native Hawaiian descent, the military's need for a suitable training
ground continues to preclude these efforts. There was some talk of
returning some of the runways to usable condition and operating them under
joint use agreements but Bellows AFS's runways continue to decay.
In 1970 the U.S. Air Force offered part of Bellows to the State of Hawaii
for use as a general aviation airport but opposition by the local community
was so strong that the state had to decline. The residents of nearby
Waimanalo have, and will probably continue to, hinder any development of
Bellows as a general aviation airport.
According to a study done by the H. H.. Aerospace Design
company Inc. (Full
report!) on potential joint use of Bellows and other O'ahu military
airports, the F.A.A estimated over 100,000 operations could take place
if just 150 aircraft were based at Bellows. At the same time the
U.S. Air Force stated that "activation of the airfield would have a negative
impact on... marine assault training that is conducted by the Marine Corps."
For now at least, the runways of Bellows will continue
to be only a memory of the days gone by.
Do you want to learn more?
The best way to see Bellows AFS is by taking
the Bellows AFS Historical Tour lead by Aaron Acosta, the Recreation Program
Manager. You will learn not only about the military history of Bellows
AFS but also the history of the Hawaiian Islands. The tour can be
done two ways; for those who are just interested in seeing the sights the
easy way the Friday van tour is best. For those who enjoy the outdoors
and are up for some mountain biking, take the Sunday tour. Either
tour will show you all the sights in this page. Some of the pictures
on this web site were taken during these tours so consider this a preview!
Visit the Bellows AFS web site link below to learn more. I highly
recommend it.
Thank you for for visiting the Bellows AFS Main Page produced
by Hawaiian Aviation History. If you served at Bellows or have any
information, no matter how trivial it may seem, please contact Hawaiian
Aviation History. These pages are dedicated to preserving the unique
history of Bellows Air Force Station and other Hawaiian airports.
Bellows AFS News & Links
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Aviation History and they will be posted on this site if the host is no
longer maintaining them.
If you have comments or suggestions, email HawaiianAviationHistory@usa.net
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