Editing Nichols Field (section)

===Battle of the Philippines===
On 8 December at about 03:30 the commercial radio station at Clark Field intercepted a message from [[Pearl Harbor]], Hawaii about the Japanese attack there.  However, the group was unable to verify this interception through official channels; no other action was taken other than notifying the Base Commander.  However, all squadrons were put on alert.<ref name="24PG"/>

At about 04:00 the radar at [[Iba Airfield]] on the north coast of Luzon reported a formation of unidentified aircraft approximately 75 miles off the West Coast of Luzon heading towards [[Corregidor]].  The [[3d Pursuit Squadron]] was dispatched to intercept the formation, but no planes were sighted and the squadron returned to Iba.  However, the radar tracks showed the interception was successful and the unidentified aircraft swung off to the west out of the range of the Radar.  It was believed that the 3d went underneath the formation.   At 04:45 notification was received of a state of war between the United States and the [[Empire of Japan]].<ref name="24PG"/> 
 
At approximately 09:30, a large formation of Japanese bombers was spotted over [[Lingayen Gulf]] reported heading towards Manila.  The [[20th Pursuit Squadron]] from Clark Field was immediately dispatched to intercept the formation over Roselas.  The 17th Pursuit Squadron was ordered from Nichols Field to cover the airspace over Clark.  The interception was not successful, as the bombers turned to the northeast and attacked Baguio and Tagagarau then headed north off the radar.   Both squadrons returned to their stations and were refueled and put back on alert.<ref name="24PG"/><ref name="AAFWWII">[http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/AAF/I/AAF-I-6.html The Army Air Forces in World War II, Chapter 6, Pearl Harbor and Clark Field]</ref>

Again at approximately 11:30 a large formation of bombers was reported over the China Sea heading towards Manila. P-40 Warhawks took off from Nichols Field to intercept enemy aircraft spotted on radar, but failed to make contact. In the afternoon, P-40s again took off from Nichols Field to patrol over Bataan and Manila.  On 9 December shortly after midnight, telephonic communications were re-established with Headquarters, FEAF. Intelligence reported that an unidentified number of enemy aircraft were approaching from the north. A flight of six P-40s from the 17th Pursuit Squadron was dispatched from [[Del Carmen Field]] to intercept. However, two of the aircraft were demolished on takeoff due to an accident. The remaining planes proceeded to Nichols Field but were unable to accomplish any interception of enemy aircraft in the dark and the night bombing of Nichols Field began at 03:15. In order to try to bring some of the units up to strength, FEAF ordered the remainder of the 3d sent to Nichols Field to bring the 34th with its P-35s up to strength.<ref name="AAFWWII"/>

At the end of the 10th, Group fighter strength had been reduced to about 30 aircraft, with 8 being P-35s. Due to the depleted strength of the Group, orders were received from FEAF Headquarters that pursuit planes were not to be dispatched other than upon orders from Headquarters. The planes would be employed mainly as reconnaissance aircraft to replace the 2d Observation Squadron, which was made inoperable after being mostly destroyed on the ground. Its remaining planes were unarmed and sitting ducks if attacked.<ref name="AAFWWII"/>

On the morning of 23 December the Japanese made a landing in [[San Miguel Bay]] along the east coast of Lingayen Gulf.  The ground combat situation on Luzon quickly became desperate when a second set of major landings occurred along the shore of [[Lamon Bay]] in southern Luzon.  With the landings, the units at Nichols and Clark field withdrew to dispersed bases on Luzon, and with [[General Douglas MacArthur]]'s proclamation of Manila as an [[open city]] on 26 December, all FEAF personnel withdrew from Nichols Field.  On the 28th Japanese forces occupied the airfield.<ref name="AAFWWII"/>