SCROLLBASES/SITES Outside Canal Zone [p14 of 14]
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BASES/SITES Outside Canal Zone [p14 of 14] |
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(UNDER CONSTRUCTION) TEMPORARY BASES/SITES IN PANAMA OUTSIDE CANAL ZONE DURING WORLD WAR II
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1939, the Canal defenses were confined almost entirely to the 10-mile wide
Canal Zone. Almost overnight on the eve of World War II, Panama
Canal defenses were converted into a modern fortress and deepened to
include installations in the Republic of Panama and in some countries in
Central and South America (such as air bases at Galapagos Islands/Ecuador, Talara,
Peru; Salinas, Ecuador; and Guatemala City; XAD at San Jose,
Guatemala; Managua, Nicaragua; Puerto Barrios, Guatemala; and Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua).
In all, twenty-two such air bases were used during World War II. In addition, several small landing and refueling points were established at Puerto Barrios, Guatemala; Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua; and San José, Costa Rica. A total of 134 sites in the Republic of Panama outside the Canal Zone were negotiated by the United States and Panamanian Governments for outlying defense sites. (These sites ranged from the air base constructed at Rio Hato to temporary camps for troops, aircraft warning stations, searchlight and antiaircraft gun positions, plus miscellaneous tactical and logistical installations.) The Defense Sites Agreement signed on May 18, 1942, gave the United States the right to use the 134 bases and other sites throughout the Republic of Panama, with agreed upon compensation, for the duration of the war. [Cited by Charles Morris in Panama Canal Security and Defense 1903-2000, 1994] Following the conclusion of World War II, 98 of the installations were returned to the Republic of Panama. The U.S. negotiated for extended lease arrangements for the remaining 36 sites, with special interest in the Rio Hato air base (built by the United States). The resulting Defense Sites Agreement (known also as the Hines-Filos Treaty) of July 1947 was rejected by the Panamanian National Assembly in December 1947. By January 1948, all of those remaining defense sites were returned them to Panama. [An American Legacy in Panama: A brief history of the Department of Defense Installations and Properties in the former Canal Zone, Republic of Panama, Headquarters U.S. Army Garrison Panama] As part of the 1955 Eisenhower-Remón Treaty, Panama granted the United States use of the Rio Hato base for training and major exercises for 15 years ending in 1970. Listed below were some of the principal sites that were included in the proposed Defense Sites Agreement of 1947 that was rejected by Panama in December 1947. |
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| Rio
Hato Air Base
Aguadulce (XAD) David (Air Base) Jaque (XAD) La Joya #1 (XAD) La Joya #2 (XAD) La Joya #3 (ELF) Pacora (Infantry camp) Chame #1 (XAD) Chame #2 (XAD) Chorrera (Infantry camp) |
Madden
Mandinga (XAD) Anton (XAD) Penonomé (XAD) Pocri (XAD) Pito (XAD) Coiba Island (AWS & ELF) Rey Island (XAD) San Jose Island (CWS) Taboga (CAC) Paitilla Point (in Panama City) |
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More extensive discussion on bases and sites outside Panama during World War II discussed in History of the U.S. Military in the Region <<preceding page Next page>> (Bases-list-maps) OR Next page>> (Bases Transferred to Panama) Site developed, owned and maintained by William H. Ormsbee, Jr. 2005-2007
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