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1972 -- Landing at Clark, with a Phantom and a Thud parked on the flightline.
(Photo by Tom Utts)

***
Clark Air Base was the largest overseas U.S. military base in the world, with
156,204 acres. While most of that was unoccupied fields and jungle, the base grew up
around the old cavalry post's large parade field, surrounded by wide, magnificent trees. At one
end, the 13th Air Force Headquarters occupied buildings that went back to the early part of the 20th
Century. At the opposite end stood the base headquarters and the administrative centers for GIs assigned
there. Along the sides of the parade field that once resounded with the thunder of polo ponies and Sunday
afternoon band concerts in bygone days, was housing both new and old. On one side, dating back to back to the
the horse soldiers days, stood the Officers' Club surrounded by the graceful old homes with large verandahs,
another remnant from the past, affectionately called barns by the occupants. Across the field was housing
build after World War II. From the old center of the base, curved boulevards wound past the shopping
areas, clubs, recreational facilities, barracks and work centers, on the way to the new center of
the base, the flightline. There in the huge expanse of concrete and buildings were the aircraft
operations and maintenance centers. And behind all, mountains loomed from the dark
green jungle, including Mount Pinatubo, though few at Clark were aware
of its existence until those fateful days and nights
that began unfolding in April 1991.

From the area pictured above, it was
nearly three miles to the main gate, (below), that
provided access to Balibago and Angeles City. Beyond the
gate the land was flat, except for one magnificent peak, Mount Arayat,
a dramatic symbol of the time and place for those who served in the Philippines.

1985
Mount Arayat
at sunrise, view
from officer's
housing area
by water tower
at sunrise.
(Photo by
Pat Snyder)

1982
Your host and web master.
A year after retiring I lived in Honolulu
while working on my book, KOREA BLUE.
The picture was taken on a time-out
trip for research. First to Osan,
then Clark. Tough work, but
you know what they say:
Somebody had to do it.

With the many pictures sent in by people who were stationed at Clark the Scrapbook has
grown. It has been revised in chronological order with material from Clark as well as John Hay
and the other United States Air Force activities in the PI during that period. There are also special
sections devoted to single topics such as the flightline, the security police and a book report on the
progress of the anecdotal history your host is working on. That project was the genesis of the
scrapbook. So enjoy, and contributions of both pictures and personal stories about the
Clark experience are still welcome. However, please contact the webmaster first.

1902-1946 Fort Stotsenberg Years, U.S. Army's Horse Soldiers and Clark Field.	1945 --Triumph Picking up the pieces and rebuilding. Arial photo unit documents Clark and Manila after WWII ends.	29th RSM The story of the 29th Radio Squadron Mobil in the days after WWII as the former Army post becomes Clark Air Base.
Early 1950s Around Clark in the early 1950s, those long gone black&white days.	1955-1960 The Korean War ended, Ike was president and America entered a Golden Era.	50s/60s Extras On base diversions included AFRTS radio & TV. Or the best Airmen's Club in PACAF. With Bob!
50s Flightline Early Jets make an appearance, but still lots of propellors on the big ones.	Downtown In 50s Angeles City was the place. Balibago was just a Jeepney ride past open field.	1960s Lost innocence -- a president killed, war defines the decade, Clark still a great assignment.
Clark Cops In the 50s they were Air Police, the 60s, Security Police, by any name Clark cops saw lots of action.	Support for Vietnam Clark troops vital to Vietnam as illustrated by one young man's career.	Early 70s Pictures from 1970-1971, from an aircraft maintenance crew chief who worked on the crowded flightline.
Into the 1970s POW go home through Clark, long war ends. America has Vietnam hangover, but life is good at Clark.	13th PAO 13th Air Force Public Affairs Office in early 70s. Your webmaster's duty shack.	Ville in the 70s Balibago is just outside the gates -- and the action never stops.
A BIG WET ONE In July 1972 it started to rain . . . and rain . . . and rain some more. . .	1980s Bases returned to Philippines in 79, US is tenant. Marcos out in 86. Terrorist violence starts in 87.	Flightline 80s &90 The flightline is never still with the roar of F-4s, C-130s, Jolly Greens, and MAC flights.
Ville in the 80s The decade starts out pleasant, but grows increasing radical and violent.	Cops: 70s/90s Never ending battle to safeguard life and property is an on going struggle.	Late 80s Great Wall of Clark goes up, the Thunderbirds visit, Crow Valley Cops in action, and some Holy Week Doings.
Into the 90s -- On Base Shootings, increasing mission demands, earthquake in Baguio, but there was also Billy Joel.	Ville in the 90s When the gate wasn't locked Cope Thunder TDY troops help keep Balibago green.	Fire In The Mountain 1991 -- First a little steam, then the ground started moving. 14,000 hit the road to Subic.
Evacuation to Subic The 2,000 that stayed behind didn't have to wait long. The first eruptions *weren't bad, until the big one* hit.**	Pinatubo's Wrath More photos and stories about Clark after the eruption, from editor of last Philippine Flyer.	Angeles' Misery The communities around Clark was hit just as hard, if not harder.
The Last Day November 26, 1991, the final US Air Force day at Clark.	Ghost Town Stars&Stripes report from April 2001 about Clark and what remains.	Clark 2000 A man who was there in the 1950s returns. His pictures show the new face of Clark & Angeles.
Clark 2000 -- More A USAFer recent pictures with comments on what's happened since the pullout.	Clark 2004 A retired USAF SP's photos of Cark Field and Balibago.	Clark 2008 My trip back to see what is happening at Clark and the area around the base 19 years after Pinatubo.

1902-1946
Fort Stotsenberg Years,
U.S. Army's Horse Soldiers
and Clark Field.

1945 --Triumph
Picking up the pieces and rebuilding.
Arial photo unit documents Clark
and Manila after WWII ends.

29th RSM
The story of the 29th Radio Squadron Mobil
in the days after WWII as the former
Army post becomes Clark Air Base.

Early 1950s
Around Clark in the
early 1950s, those long gone
black&white days.

1955-1960
The Korean War ended, Ike
was president and America
entered a Golden Era.

50s/60s Extras
On base diversions included AFRTS
radio & TV. Or the best Airmen's
Club in PACAF. With Bob!

50s Flightline
Early Jets make an appearance,
but still lots of propellors
on the big ones.

Downtown In 50s
Angeles City was the place.
Balibago was just a Jeepney
ride past open field.

1960s
Lost innocence -- a president
killed, war defines the decade,
Clark still a great assignment.

Clark Cops
In the 50s they were Air Police,
the 60s, Security Police, by any
name Clark cops saw lots of action.

Support for Vietnam
Clark troops vital to Vietnam
as illustrated by one young
man's career.

Early 70s
Pictures from 1970-1971, from
an aircraft maintenance crew chief
who worked on the crowded flightline.

Into the 1970s
POW go home through Clark,
long war ends. America has Vietnam
hangover, but life is good at Clark.

13th PAO
13th Air Force Public Affairs
Office in early 70s. Your
webmaster's duty shack.

Ville in the 70s
Balibago is just outside
the gates -- and the action
never stops.

A BIG WET ONE
In July 1972 it started to rain
. . . and rain . . . and rain
some more. . .

1980s
Bases returned to Philippines in
79, US is tenant. Marcos out in 86.
Terrorist violence starts in 87.

Flightline 80s &90
The flightline is never still with the
roar of F-4s, C-130s, Jolly Greens,
and MAC flights.

Ville in the 80s
The decade starts out pleasant,
but grows increasing radical
and violent.

Cops: 70s/90s
Never ending battle to safeguard
life and property is an
on going struggle.

Late 80s
Great Wall of Clark goes up,
the Thunderbirds visit, Crow Valley Cops
in action, and some Holy Week Doings.

Into the 90s -- On Base
Shootings, increasing mission
demands, earthquake in Baguio,
but there was also Billy Joel.

Ville in the 90s
When the gate wasn't locked
Cope Thunder TDY troops
help keep Balibago green.

Fire In The Mountain
1991 -- First a little steam, then
the ground started moving.
14,000 hit the road to Subic.

Evacuation to Subic
The 2,000 that stayed behind didn't
have to wait long. The first eruptions
weren't bad, until the big one hit.

Pinatubo's Wrath
More photos and stories about
Clark after the eruption, from
editor of last Philippine Flyer.

Angeles' Misery
The communities around
Clark was hit just as hard,
if not harder.

The Last Day
November 26, 1991,
the final US Air Force
day at Clark.

Ghost Town
Stars&Stripes report from
April 2001 about Clark
and what remains.

Clark 2000
A man who was there in the 1950s
returns. His pictures show
the new face of Clark & Angeles.

Clark 2000 -- More
A USAFer recent pictures
with comments on what's
happened since the pullout.

Clark 2004
A retired USAF SP's
photos of Cark Field
and Balibago.

Clark 2008
My trip back to see what is happening
at Clark and the area around the base
19 years after Pinatubo.

Angeles At Night Okay, actually Balibago, some night lights and night sights.	Luzon Tripping Off base to Manila, Pagsunana Falls, Tagaytay and Taal Volcano.	Holy Week '72 Come see the Holy Week festivities. You won't believe it.
Remembering Howie This is for one of the most remarkable Clark characters.	Homecoming 2 More pictures of the return of the American prisoners in 1973.	*2012--THE FINAL PAGE* In the 20 years since the USAF left Clark, there have been many chages. Some of that is reflected here.

Angeles At Night
Okay, actually Balibago, some
night lights and night sights.

Luzon Tripping
Off base to Manila, Pagsunana Falls,
Tagaytay and Taal Volcano.

Holy Week '72
Come see the Holy Week
festivities. You won't believe it.

Remembering Howie
This is for one of the most
remarkable Clark characters.

Homecoming 2
More pictures of the return
of the American prisoners in 1973.

***2012--THE FINAL PAGE***
In the 20 years since the USAF left Clark, there have
been many chages. Some of that is reflected here.

****NEWS ON THE CLARK HISTORY****
For all those who submitted their stories for the written history, and
for anyone interested in the history of Clark, the good news is:
"GI Joe Doesn't Live Here Anymore"
is now available.

Wagner High Online Alumni (WHOA) Pages:
WHOA's CAB Page: Wagner High tribute

       Present Day at Clark, Balibago, Philippines:
   Margarita Station: What's Happening at Clark and Angeles City today
     Balibago: Believe It Or Don't -- Balibago has a page promoting business and tourism
     Guide: to the Philippines by former Wallace AS NCO
     Subic Bay PI: Jim Holub, USMC, salutes Subic and other favorite bases including Clark
     Recent Photos: Gary Wiley, a former dependent, pictures from a 1998 visit

       Air Force Associations:
   AFPAAA: Air Force Public Affairs Alumni Association, for all former USAF flacks & hacks
     AFSPA: Air Force Security Police Association Page

       General Interest USAF And Other Military Sites:
   Greg Johnson's Air Force Stories: A former pilot recalls his days in the cockpit
     Loadmaster: Former Clark C-130 Loadmaster Sam McGowan's tribute to airlifters
     Unofficial USAF Locator: An excellent place to find former Air Force buddies
     Kadena & Osan: Site by Bill Bayless, he was with me on the USS Pueblo fandango in 1968.

           Your host's other pages:
   Home Page:   Z'Cap's Lair: "A little intro music, please"
     KOREA BLUE:   My Vietnam novel takes place in Korea -- how to find a copy
     Bother Bill's Place:   Bill isn't here anymore, his name is on The Wall
    My Glorious Military Career:   A Omaha lad wanders into the Marines and retires a USAF Captain.

Clark Air Base Scrapbook

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