Bucholz Army Airfield

Bucholz Army Airfield
Summary
Airport typeMilitary
OperatorUnited States Army
LocationKwajalein
Elevation AMSL9 ft (2.7 m)
Coordinates08°43′12″N 167°43′54″E / 8.72000°N 167.73167°E / 8.72000; 167.73167
Map
KWA is located in Marshall Islands
KWA
KWA
Location within Marshall Islands
KWA is located in North Pacific
KWA
KWA
Location within North Pacific
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
06/24 6,668 2,032 Asphalt

Bucholz Army Airfield (IATA: KWA, ICAO: PKWA, FAA LID: KWA) is a United States Army airfield located on Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands. Its position is ideal for refueling during trans-Pacific flights, and the airport is available to civilians through Air Marshall Islands and United Airlines, mostly for the Island Hopper.

Since the entirety of Kwajalein Atoll is a military base, non-military passengers on commercial flights are transported to and from the neighboring island of Ebeye, the civilian population center of Kwajalein Atoll.

History

30th Bombardment Group B-24 Liberators at Kwajalein Airfield, 1944

After the defeat of the Japanese, Kwajalein was developed into a United States military airbase and staging area for further operations by Seabees of the 109th Naval Construction Battalion.[1]

After the war, the United States used Kwajalein as a main command center and preparation base for Operation Crossroads and an extensive series of nuclear tests (comprising a total of 67 blasts) at the Marshalls' atolls of Bikini and Enewetak.

On Memorial Day 1967, Kwajalein Airfield was renamed Bucholz Army Airfield after PFC Fred Henry Bucholz (1907–1944), posthumous recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in the Battle of Kwajalein.[2]

Passengers on United's Island Hopper service may not disembark the aircraft at Kwajalein unless they have prior authorization from the U.S. government. Photography and videography while at the airport are also restricted.[3]

Airlines and destinations

AirlinesDestinationsRefs.
Air Marshall Islands Ailuk, Elenak, Lae, Majkin, Majuro, Woja, Wotho[4]
United AirlinesChuuk, Guam, Honolulu, Kosrae, Majuro, Pohnpei[3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Building the Navy's Bases Online, Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands".
  2. ↑ Thompson, Erwin N. (2 May 1984). "Kwajalein Island Battlefield". National Register of Historic Places. United States National Park Service. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
  3. 1 2 Dwyer, Chris (4 December 2018). "Pacific Island Hopper: The world's most scenic flight?". CNN Travel.
  4. ↑ "Flights to Kwajalein Island (KWA)". Flight Connections. 3 June 2026. Retrieved 27 June 2026.

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

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