T h e T R I N I D A D B a s e s
o f t h e
A i r T r a n s p o r t C o m m a n d
Pan American Airways had been flying to Trinidad since 1929 first with Mail Contract and then passenger Seaplane service as part of its daisy chain of bases to Brazil, linking civilian commercial Air service there via its Subsidiary: PanAm do Brasil. Trinidad afforded the best launch point for these flights putting through nonstop to Belem that bypassed the forbidding and mountainous coast of the South American mainland. (see map)
(Click on image to enlarge)
WALLER FIELD was begun in the fall of 1941 to support AAF Trinidad Wing, Antilles Air Command antisubmarine search and destroy bombardment squadrons flying B-24 Liberators converted to Patrol Bombardment. These units successfully suppressed the U-boat menace in Caribbean waters. Meanwhile, the rapid expansion of A.T.C. aircraft ferrying and cargo operations via the Natal route came to dominate traffic at Waller as a major refueling point for all flights, so it became early on the number-one busiest and largest base of the
Air Transport Command.
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WALLER FIELD was begun in the fall of 1941 to support AAF Trinidad Wing, Antilles Air Command antisubmarine search and destroy bombardment squadrons flying B-24 Liberators converted to Patrol Bombardment. These units successfully suppressed the U-boat menace in Caribbean waters. Meanwhile, the rapid expansion of A.T.C. aircraft ferrying and cargo operations via the Natal route came to dominate traffic at Waller as a major refueling point for all flights, so it became early on the number-one busiest and largest base of the
Air Transport Command.
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CARLSEN FIELD began just a few months later as an overflow field for Waller which also grew in response to this Ferry and Transport traffic demand to become even bigger and busier than Waller with over 90% of that traffic being Air Ferry or
Air Transport Command.
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PIARCO BAY Naval Air Station was being built concurrently to support Navy Antisubmarine squadrons flying PBY Catalina and other Types. This mission expanded to include supply depot and land-side maintenance facilities serving the carrier-based air fleet. The demands of that expanded mission led to development of a terminal and supply depot attached to Carlsen Field and operated by the
Naval Air Transport Service.
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Air Transport Command.
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PIARCO BAY Naval Air Station was being built concurrently to support Navy Antisubmarine squadrons flying PBY Catalina and other Types. This mission expanded to include supply depot and land-side maintenance facilities serving the carrier-based air fleet. The demands of that expanded mission led to development of a terminal and supply depot attached to Carlsen Field and operated by the
Naval Air Transport Service.
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Pictures From Waller, Carlsen, and Piarco Fields , Trinidad 1941-45
This modern day aerial image shows the lingering presence of the Tower Roundabout at Waller Field. Main Runway is at lower edge. Aircraft landing from the right traverse this loop to take off from the right in the same direction. Tower Complex area is seen at center alongside main tarmac area.
CAPTIONS:1a) First arriving Company of Combat Engineers tasked to build Waller Field shown in bivouac in pre-existing jungle-like environment. 1b) Swampy marshland such as this "lake" made construction problematic. The reason Carlsen field outgrew Waller was that ground issues curtailed Waller expansion. 1c) First barracks built for Construction Detail.
2a) First barracks for airfield operations personnel. 2b) Classified aerial Photo of Waller Field circa 1944. 2c) Classified Aerial photo of Piarco NAS circa 1944.
3a) Jetty Construction at NAS Piarco ca. 1942. 3b) NAS Admin Bldg ca 1943. 3c) Supply depot at NAS Piarco ca 1944.
2a) First barracks for airfield operations personnel. 2b) Classified aerial Photo of Waller Field circa 1944. 2c) Classified Aerial photo of Piarco NAS circa 1944.
3a) Jetty Construction at NAS Piarco ca. 1942. 3b) NAS Admin Bldg ca 1943. 3c) Supply depot at NAS Piarco ca 1944.
1943 Compound Recon photos of Edinburgh/Carlsen Field overlay modern map to show historical location. Carlsen AFB was decommissioned in 1949 and disassembled leaving only the tarmac.
CAPTIONS: 1a-c: Three views of 1st Bombardment squadron based at Waller and Carlsen fields. These guardians primary mission was to protect the over-water air routes of the Air Transport Command. 2a) Map of Trinidad showing location (from top) of Waller, Piarco, and Carlsen Fields. 2b)South Atlantic Division Air Route Map (click to enlarge) 2c) Modern satellite image of Carlsen field area without overlay as above. 3a) Refuelling a Navy LTA at Carlsen Field ca 1944. Airships were used extensively in the South Atlantic for shipping-convoy escorts. (See Story below) Later Staff Quarters at Piarco NAS 3c) Recon Adapted B-25G Mitchell (see below).
4th Reconnaissance Squadron B-25G Mitchell 1943, Borinquen Field, Puerto Rico.
This is the type flown by the makers of the Edinburgh Field image above.
This is the type flown by the makers of the Edinburgh Field image above.
LTA Steel Hangar, Built by the 80th Seabees, at Carlson Field, Trinidad 1943.
Navy Airships (Lighter Than Air) were deployed from here for submarine hunting and ship convoy escort.
Navy Airships (Lighter Than Air) were deployed from here for submarine hunting and ship convoy escort.