Luke Field (1)

 (1917-1939) - A United States Army Airfield first established in 1917 during World War I as Luke Field on Ford Island, Honolulu County, Hawaii. Named Luke Field in 1919 for 2nd Lt. Frank Luke, World War I fighter ace, who was killed in action on 29 Sep 1918, posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. Airfield transferred to the U.S. Navy in 1939.

World War I
The War Department purchased the land for Luke Field in 1917 and moved the 6th Aero Squadron there in October 1917. The island was effectively divided in two, with the U.S. Army controlling the western side of the island and the U.S. Navy controlling the eastern side.

The U.S. Army had previously purchased two small plots of land on the island and by 1917 had constructed and armed two 6" casemated coastal gun batteries. Battery Henry Adair and Battery Boyd were as designated as land side defenses. The Army had also constructed four emplacements for 3" anti-aircraft guns on the island and armed two of them by 1920.

Luke Field remained under Army control through the 1920s and 1930s until Hickam Field was established in 1939. All of the Army Air Corps activities formerly at Luke were moved to Hickam Field by 31 Oct 1939 except for the Hawaiian Air Depot which remained on Ford Island until late in 1940.

With the Hawaiian Air Depot transfer, the airfield and facilities on Ford Island came under the control of the U.S. Navy and Naval Air Station Pearl Harbor, which had already been established on the opposite side of Ford Island in 1923. With the onset of World War II the island saw a massive buildup and the airstrip, formerly known as Luke Field became a central hub for U.S. Navy’s Pacific air operations.

Current Status
Ford Island Naval Auxiliary Landing Field.

See Also:
 * Hickam Field
 * Battery Henry Adair
 * Battery Boyd
 * World War I Army Airfields

Sources:

Links:
 * Navy History Hawaii
 * Wikipedia - Ford Island