Clark Air Base Historical Events

Clark Air Base, Pampanga has been a historical place in the province and it attracts more and more tourist nowadays. Rich in history and unforgettable events, this is the story behind this so called “Air Force City”:

1898. Spain ceded the Philippines to the US in the Treaty of Paris for $20 million.

1899. February 6, the US Senate voted to annex the Philippines. Americans fought the Philippine Forces in the Battle of Angeles on August 13.

1902. The US Army studies relocating post from Angeles City to a more fertile plain what is now called “Clark Air Base”

1903. President Roosevelt signed the executive order on September 1st, establishing 7700 acres as Fort Stotsenberg with Camp Wallace and Camp John Hay, which were being established in November. Fort Stotsenberg is now a center of parade at Clark these days.

1906. The first flag post at Stotsenberg is commissioned on September 16 near modern 13 AF headquarters.

1912. Lt. Frank Lahn heads the Philippine Air School in March with one aircraft.

1917.  5 aircrafts hangars were constructed at what was the motorpool these days.

1919. The first dependent school called Leonard Wood School was opened in Clark.

1925. Worchester School, the 2nd dependent school is opened on November 8th.

1941. Japanese launched an attack on the Airbase on December 8.

Many and many events have followed after the world war II, where history started and grew in both Clark and Baguio city. In these days, names and structures in both places were named after several American names and titles.

These also attract many tourist and foreigner who love to start some business in the air base. During the days, there were a lot of duty free shops in the early 1990’s, where parks are main attractions of group of friends and families. Today, those duty free shops are closed, some of them are partially functioning, with limited product they are selling. More business are opening being exchanged by thos arks and shops.