{{Short description|US Air Force facility in Panama}} {{more citations needed|date=January 2013}} {{Infobox military installation | name=Albrook Air Force Station | ensign=ACC Shield.svg | ensign_size=70px | partof = [[Air Combat Command]] | location=Located near [[Balboa, Panama]] | image= | caption= | pushpin_map = Panama | pushpin_label= Albrook AFS | pushpin_mapsize=300 | coordinates={{Coord|08|58|33.24|N|079|33|19.91|W|region:PA_type:airport|display=inline,title}} | type=Military Air Force Station | code= | height= | ownership= | controlledby=[[United States Air Force]] | condition= | built= 1928 | builder= | used= 1932-1997 | materials= | demolished= | battles= | events= | past_commanders= | garrison= | occupants= }} '''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]].
==Major commands to which assigned== * Panama Canal Department, 1932- 19 October 1940 * Panama Canal Air Force, 19 October 1940 - 5 August 1941 * Caribbean Air Force, 5 August 1941 - 18 September 1942 * [[Sixth Air Force]], 18 September 1942 - 31 July 1946 * Caribbean Air Command, 31 July 1946 - 8 July 1963 * [[United States Air Forces Southern Command]], 8 July 1963 - 1 January 1976 * [[Tactical Air Command]] : 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 * [[Tactical Air Command]], 11 February - 31 May 1992 * [[Air Combat Command]], 31 May 1992 - 30 September 1997
==Major units assigned== {{Col-begin}} {{Col-break|width=50%}} * 16th Pursuit (later Fighter) Group : [[24th Fighter Squadron|24th Pursuit (later Fighter) Squadron]], 26 October 1932-10 January 1943; 28 May-9 June 1943 : [[28th Test Squadron|28th Pursuit Squadron]], 1 February-5 October 1940 : 29th Pursuit (later Fighter) Squadron, 1 October 1933-17 May 1942 : [[43d Fighter Squadron|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 * 19th Composite Wing, 25 January 1933 : Redesignated 19th Wing, 1937 : Redesignated 19th Bombardment Wing, 1940 - 25 October 1941<ref name=conway/> * [[37th Training Wing|37th Pursuit (later Fighter) Group]] : [[30th Fighter-Bomber Squadron|30th Pursuit Squadron]], 13 November 1940-24 November 1941 : [[31st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron|31st Pursuit (later Fighter) Squadron]], 13 November 1940-9 November 1941; 31 December 1941-3 February 1942; 19 May-30 September 1942 * Headquarters, Panama Canal Air Force, 20 November 1940 : 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 {{Col-break|width=50%}} * [[12th Air Division|12 Pursuit Wing]], 10 November 1940 – 6 March 1942 * 32d Pursuit (later Fighter) Group : [[51st Fighter Squadron|51st Pursuit Squadron]], 1 January-21 August 1941 : [[52nd Fighter-Interceptor Squadron|52d Pursuit Squadron]], 1 January-21 August 1941 : [[53d Fighter Squadron|53d Pursuit Squadron]], 1 January-21 August 1941 * [[VI Bomber Command]], 25 October 1941 – 1 November 1946<ref name=conway>{{cite web|first=William |last= Conaway |url= http://www.planesandpilotsofww2.totalh.net/panama/vibchistorytem.htm |title=VI Bombardment Command History |work=Planes and Pilots Of World War Two}}</ref> * [[XXVI Fighter Command]], 6 March 1942 - 25 August 1946 * 1st Communications Squadron, Air Support, 23 April 1942-April 1943 * [[40th Air Expeditionary Wing|40th Bombardment Group]], 16 September 1942 - 3 June 1943<ref>{{cite web|first=William |last= Conaway |url= http://www.planesandpilotsofww2.totalh.net/panama/40thbgphistorytem.htm |title=40th Bombardment Group (Heavy) |work=VI Bomber Command In Defense Of The Panama Canal 1941 - 45}}</ref> * [[6th Operations Group|6th Bombardment Group]], 14 January - 1 November 1943<ref>{{cite web|first=William |last= Conaway |url= http://www.planesandpilotsofww2.totalh.net/panama/6thbgphistorytem.htm |title=6th Bombardment Group (Heavy) |work=VI Bomber Command In Defense Of The Panama Canal 1941 - 45}}</ref> : 3rd Bombardment Squadron<ref>{{cite web|first=William |last= Conaway |url= http://www.planesandpilotsofww2.totalh.net/panama/3rdbshistorytem.htm |title=3rd Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) |work=VI Bomber Command In Defense Of The Panama Canal 1941 - 45}}</ref> : 74th Bombardment Squadron<ref>{{cite web|first=William |last= Conaway |url= http://www.planesandpilotsofww2.totalh.net/panama/74thbshistorytem.htm |title=74th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) |work=VI Bomber Command In Defense Of The Panama Canal 1941 - 45}}</ref> * Sixth Air Force Base Command : [[20th Tactical Air Support Squadron|20th Troop Carrier Squadron]], 9 June 1943-September 1948 * [[1st Special Operations Component Maintenance Squadron|1st Depot Repair Squadron]], 6 May 1943 – 7 December 1944 * 314th Troop Carrier Group, 1 October 1946 - 10 March 1948 * 5700th Composite Wing : 18th Troop Carrier Squadron, 1 August 1948-1 March 1949 * 24th Composite Wing, 8 November 1967 - 3 January 1968 * [[Air Forces Panama|830th Air Division]], 1 January 1976 – 15 August 1977; 1 March 1989 – 15 February 1991 {{Col-end}}
==Post USAF use== 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). The 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 (Panama)|Civil Aviation Authority]] has its headquarters in Building 805.<ref>"[http://www.aeronautica.gob.pa/recursos/index.php?c=contactenos Contáctenos]." [[Civil Aviation Authority (Panama)|Civil Aviation Authority]]. Retrieved on April 18, 2012. "Oficinas Administrativas: Albrook Edificio 805 - Panamá"</ref>
==Notes== {{reflist}}
==References== {{Commons category}} *{{Cite book |last=Maurer |first=Maurer |date=1983 |title=Air Force Combat Units Of World War II |location=Maxwell AFB, Alabama |publisher=Office of Air Force History |isbn=0-89201-092-4}} *{{Cite book |editor-last=Maurer |editor-first=Maurer |title=Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II |orig-year=1969 |url= http://media.defense.gov/2010/Dec/02/2001329899/-1/-1/0/AFD-101202-002.pdf |archive-url= https://archive.today/20230820144531/https://media.defense.gov/2010/Dec/02/2001329899/-1/-1/0/AFD-101202-002.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-date= August 20, 2023 |edition=reprint |date=1982 |publisher=Office of Air Force History |location=Washington, DC |isbn=0-405-12194-6 |oclc=72556 |lccn=70605402}}
==External links== *[[Historic American Buildings Survey]] (HABS) documentation, filed under Balboa, Former Panama Canal Zone, CZ: **{{HABS |survey=CZ-10 |id=cz0017 |title=Albrook Air Force Station |data=63 |link=no}} **{{HABS |survey=CZ-10-A |id=cz0022 |title=Albrook Air Force Station, Field Officer's Quarters |photos=17 |data=21 |cap=4 |link=no}} **{{HABS |survey=CZ-10-B |id=cz0023 |title=Albrook Air Force Station, Company Officer's Quarters |photos=19 |data=16 |cap=4 |link=no}} **{{HABS |survey=CZ-10-C |id=cz0024 |title=Albrook Air Force Station, Non-Commissioned Officers' Duplex |photos=16 |data=19 |cap=5 |link=no}} **{{HABS |survey=CZ-10-D |id=cz0025 |title=Albrook Air Force Station, Parachute & Armament Building |photos=13 |data=20 |cap=3 |link=no}} **{{HABS |survey=CZ-10-E |id=cz0026 |title=Albrook Air Force Station, Dispensary |photos=21 |data=26 |cap=3 |link=no}}
{{Air Force Historical Research Agency}}
{{USAF Air Combat Command}} {{Aerospace Defense Command}} {{Tactical Air Command}} {{USAAF 6th Air Force World War II}} {{Panama Canal}} {{authority control}}
[[Category:1932 establishments in Panama]] [[Category:1997 disestablishments in Panama]] [[Category:Airports in Panama]] [[Category:Buildings and structures in Panamá Province]] [[Category:Historic American Buildings Survey in the former Panama Canal Zone]] [[Category:Installations of the United States Air Force in Panama]] [[Category:Military airbases closed in 1997]] [[Category:Panama Canal Zone]] [[Category:Military airbases established in 1932]]