Camp O'Donnell
Encyclopedia
Camp O'Donnell was a facility of the United States Air Force
in Capas, Tarlac
, The Philippines. Before the facility was transferred to the Air Force, it was first a Philippine Constabulary
post then a United States Army
facility.
During the Japanese occupation of the Philippines in World War II
, Camp O'Donnell was the final stop of the Bataan Death March
and was used as an internment camp for American and Filipino prisoners of war. About 2,200 Americans and 27,000 Filipinos died at Camp O'Donnell. The former internment camp is the location for the Capas National Shrine
which was built and is maintained by the Philippine government as a memorial to the Filipino and American soldiers who died there.
When it was transferred to the Air Force, it became home to the 3d Tactical Electronic Warfare
Training Squadron, the Pacific Air Forces Electronic Warfare Range, and the Crow Valley Range Complex
.
Operating Location Delta (OL-D) of the 1961st Communications Group was also located at Camp O'Donnell. OL-D provided communications support to Camp O'Donnell, the Crow Valley Range Complex, worldwide High Frequency military transmitter facilities and microwave relay support to the Voice of America broadcasting out of the Philippines.
Filipino and American soldiers were said to have been beheaded in front of open graves, a huge Obelisk now stands as a grave marker on the original site of the camp in which people can enter with a fee less than 20 pesos per head, the former location is now known as the Capas National Shrine.
It was liberated by the US Army on January 30, 1945. Camp O'Donnell is now a camp of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
(AFP).
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
in Capas, Tarlac
Capas, Tarlac
Capas is a first class municipality in the province of Tarlac, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 122,084 people in 18,333 households. It is a part of the Third Municipal district of Tarlac with Mayor Antonio "TJ" Capitulo Rodriguez, Jr. as its incumbent Mayor and...
, The Philippines. Before the facility was transferred to the Air Force, it was first a Philippine Constabulary
Philippine Constabulary
The Philippine Constabulary ' was the oldest of four service commands of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. It was a gendarmerie type para-military police force of the Philippines established in 1901 by the United States-appointed administrative authority replacing the Guardia Civil...
post then a United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
facility.
During the Japanese occupation of the Philippines in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Camp O'Donnell was the final stop of the Bataan Death March
Bataan Death March
The Bataan Death March was the forcible transfer, by the Imperial Japanese Army, of 75,000 American and Filipino prisoners of war after the three-month Battle of Bataan in the Philippines during World War II, which resulted in the deaths of thousands of prisoners.The march was characterized by...
and was used as an internment camp for American and Filipino prisoners of war. About 2,200 Americans and 27,000 Filipinos died at Camp O'Donnell. The former internment camp is the location for the Capas National Shrine
Capas National Shrine
The Capas National Shrine in Barangay Navy Capas, Tarlac, The Philippines was built by the Philippine government as a memorial to the Filipino and American soldiers who died in Camp O'Donnell at the end of the Bataan Death March...
which was built and is maintained by the Philippine government as a memorial to the Filipino and American soldiers who died there.
When it was transferred to the Air Force, it became home to the 3d Tactical Electronic Warfare
Electronic warfare
Electronic warfare refers to any action involving the use of the electromagnetic spectrum or directed energy to control the spectrum, attack an enemy, or impede enemy assaults via the spectrum. The purpose of electronic warfare is to deny the opponent the advantage of, and ensure friendly...
Training Squadron, the Pacific Air Forces Electronic Warfare Range, and the Crow Valley Range Complex
Crow Valley Range Complex
The Crow Valley Bombing and Gunnery Range or Crow Valley Gunnery Range, and presently Tarlac Military Testing Ground, was the main bombing range of the United States Armed Forces in the western Pacific, and currently by the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Crow Valley is located in Camp O'Donnell...
.
Operating Location Delta (OL-D) of the 1961st Communications Group was also located at Camp O'Donnell. OL-D provided communications support to Camp O'Donnell, the Crow Valley Range Complex, worldwide High Frequency military transmitter facilities and microwave relay support to the Voice of America broadcasting out of the Philippines.
Filipino and American soldiers were said to have been beheaded in front of open graves, a huge Obelisk now stands as a grave marker on the original site of the camp in which people can enter with a fee less than 20 pesos per head, the former location is now known as the Capas National Shrine.
It was liberated by the US Army on January 30, 1945. Camp O'Donnell is now a camp of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
Armed Forces of the Philippines
The Armed Forces of the Philippines is composed of the Philippine Army, Philippine Navy and Philippine Air Force...
(AFP).