Marine Corps Air Station Ewa HI revetments, then & now ...

[Mark Allen M]

Wiki: Marine Corps Air Station Ewa (MCAS Ewa) was a United States Marine Corps air station that was located 7 miles (11 km) west of Pearl Harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. The base was hit during the attack on Pearl Harbor, and later served as the hub for all Marine aviation units heading into combat in the Pacific Theater during World War II. The base was closed in 1952 because its runways were too short for jet aircraft, and expansion was impossible due to the proximity of Naval Air Station Barbers Point. Ewa has been abandoned since 1952; however, two of its runways are still visible from the air and many of the revetments still remain in good condition.


Naval Air Station, Barbers Point, Ewa, Oahu, Territory of Hawaii. Photograph released December 10, 1942


Naval Air Station, Barbers Point, Ewa, Oahu, Territory of Hawaii. Photograph released December 10, 1942 (Ewa upper left)


Ewa Ramp


Ewa Ramp


Ewa Marine Corp Air Station. Marine guards surround damaged TBD Devastator Torpedo Bomber.


MCAS-EWA-WWII showing location of revetments lower middle of map.


Grumman Avengers using Ewa revetments.


Revetments used for filming of movie 'Tora Tora Tora'


Revetments used for filming of movie 'Tora Tora Tora'



Revetments used for filming of movie 'Tora Tora Tora'


Below a few relatively recent photos of how the revetments look today and how some are being used.



















Recent Google Maps showing Ewa Field today with revenments and runways still visible.



Barbers Point & Ewa in proximity to Pearl Harbor




Revetments located lower center


Revetments just in view scattered about in thick trees and brush coverage



A few photos of the condition of the Ewa runways, hardstands etc. (if you look at the second map you'll see this area just above the 'Ewa Field' caption)











This photo perhaps shows Dec 7th attack damage.






I won't state this is an old bomb crater below, but it sure does look like one doesn't it?

[JimH]

Historic property...add that to "places to visit" column. Thanks Mark

[Warbird Kid]

Was Ewa used as the Halewia Airstrip where Taylor and Welch took off? Thanks for the report!

[Scooby]

No, they took off from Haleiwa Field.

I have visited both Ewa and Haleiwa, there is much more left of Ewa, not much of Haleiwa is left.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haleiwa_Fighter_Strip

[ALOHADAVE]

"I won't state this is an old bomb crater below, but it sure does look like one doesn't it?"
I took that picture, it is runway #3, its OK to post photo
for much more about Ewa see this link:
http://ewafield.blogspot.com/
the Ewa Plain Battlefield (Ewa Mooring Mast Field)
was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on May 23, 2016.
National level-Criterion A and D

still waiting to dig up buried Japanese plane and Airmen buried there.

[Warbird Kid]

No, they took off from Haleiwa Field.

I have visited both Ewa and Haleiwa, there is much more left of Ewa, not much of Haleiwa is left.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haleiwa_Fighter_Strip

Sorry, I don't think I was clear enough. For the filming of Tora, Tora, Tora the film crew used a different airstrip for Haleiwa then the actual Haleiwa. Does anyone know where they filmed the takeoff scene?

[Mark Allen M]

Thx kindly Dave. Great blog.

[p51]

Revetments used for filming of movie 'Tora Tora Tora'

I always though those scenes were cool yet oddly funny as nobody in that pre-war military would have let trees grow that close to an open taxi area.