Editing Clark Air Base (section)

{{Short description|Philippine Air Force base in Luzon}}
{{For|the civilian use of this facility|Clark International Airport}}
{{redirect|Clark Field}}
{{Use Philippine English|date=September 2022}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{Tone|date=July 2017}}
{{More footnotes needed|date=February 2012}}}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox military installation
|name         = Clark Air Base
|partof       = the [[United States Air Force]] and [[Philippine Air Force]]
|location     = Located at the [[Clark Freeport Zone]], Philippines
|coordinates  = {{Coord|15|11|09|N|120|33|35|E|name=Clark Air Base}}
|image        = Clark Air Base aerial 1989.JPEG
|image_size   = 300px
|caption      = Clark Air Base in 1989 as part of [[United States Pacific Air Forces]]
|type         = Air base
|code         = 
|built        = September 1, 1903
|builder      = {{flag|United States|1896}}
|materials    = 
|height       = 
|used         = {{flag|United States|1912}}<br>1903–1942<br />{{flagcountry|Empire of Japan}}<br>1942–1945<br />{{flag|United States}}<br>1945–1991<br />{{flag|Philippines}}<br>1991–present
|demolished   = 
|condition    = [[Clark International Airport|Renovated]]
|ownership    = {{PHI}}
|controlledby = [[File:Roundel of the Philippines.svg|30px]] [[Philippine Air Force]]
|commanders   = 
|garrison     = 
<div>
* 1st Air Division
* 410th Maintenance Wing
* 420th Supply Wing
* 600th Air Base Wing
* 710th Special Operations Wing
* Air Force Logistics Command
* Air Force Reserve Command
</div>
|battles      = 
|events       = 
}}
{{Infobox airport
| name                = Airfield information
| IATA                = CRK
| ICAO                = RPLC
| elevation-f         = 484
| elevation-m         = 148
| coordinates         = {{coord|15|11|09|N|120|33|35|E|display=inline,title}}
| pushpin_map         = Philippines
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Clark Air Base in the Philippines
| pushpin_label       = CRK/RPLC
| metric-elev         = yes
| metric-rwy          = yes
| r1-number           = 02R/20L
| r1-length-f         = 10,499
| r1-length-m         = 3,200
| r1-surface          = Asphalt/concrete
| r2-number           = 02L/20R
| r2-length-f         = 10,499
| r2-length-m         = 3,200
| r2-surface          = Asphalt/concrete
}}

'''Clark Air Base''' is a [[Philippine Air Force]] base in [[Luzon]], located {{convert|3|mi}} west of [[Angeles City]], and about {{convert|40|mi}} northwest of [[Metro Manila]]. It was previously operated by the [[U.S. Air Force]] and, before that, the U.S. Army, from 1903 to 1991. The base covered {{convert|14.3|sqmi}} with a military reservation extending north that covered another {{convert|230|sqmi}}.

The base was a stronghold of combined Philippine and American forces during the final months of [[World War II]], and a backbone of logistical support during the [[Vietnam War]] until 1975. Following the departure of American forces in 1991 due to the [[1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo|eruption of Mount Pinatubo]] and rejection by the [[Senate of the Philippines|Philippine Senate]] for renewing the presence of U.S. military bases in the Philippines,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1991/09/10/us-base-rejected-in-philippines/d580e52d-5060-4cf8-9443-48e689593149/ |title=U.S. Base Rejected in Philippines |last=Oberdorfer |first=Don |date=September 10, 1991  |work=Washington Post |issn=0190-8286 |language=en-US |access-date=November 21, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/146410-look-back-senate-no-us-base-renewal-1991/ |title=LOOK BACK: When the Senate said 'no' to US bases renewal |last=Francisco |first=Katerina |date=September 16, 2016 |website=RAPPLER |language=en-US |access-date=November 21, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://adst.org/2016/05/politics-pinatubo-pentagon-closure-subic-bay-philippines/ |title=Politics, Pinatubo and the Pentagon: The Closure of Subic Bay |publisher=[[Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training]] |website=adst.org |access-date=November 21, 2023 }}</ref>  the base became the site of [[Clark International Airport]], as well as the [[Clark Freeport Zone]] and the Air Force City of the [[Philippine Air Force]].

In April 2016, an air contingent of USAF [[Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II|A-10s]] and [[Sikorsky HH-60 Pave Hawk|HH-60s]] was deployed from US air bases in [[Pyeongtaek]] and [[Okinawa (city)|Okinawa]] to Clark. The air contingent included five A-10C Thunderbolt IIs from the [[51st Fighter Wing]], [[Osan Air Base|Osan AB]], South Korea; three HH-60G Pave Hawks from the [[18th Wing]], Kadena AB, Japan; and approximately 200 personnel deployed from multiple Pacific Air Force units.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/723312/pacaf-airmen-stand-up-air-contingent-in-philippines/|title=PACAF Airmen stand up air contingent in Philippines|website=U.S. Air Force|access-date=April 30, 2016}}</ref> The primary mission of the contingent appears to be to patrol disputed [[South China Sea]] islands, "to provide greater and more transparent air and maritime domain awareness to ensure safety for military and civilian activities in international waters and airspace."<ref name=":0" /> The air contingent builds upon previous deployments by [[U.S. Navy]] [[P-8 Poseidon]] aircraft to Clark.