Naval Base Manila

Starting in 1938 civilian contractors were used to build new facilities in Manila to prepare for World War II.

The new 1941 projects were building at Sangley Point a Seaplane base and an ammunition depot at Mariveles on the tip of Bataan Peninsula.

[1][5] Some staff at the Naval Hospital did not evacuate, including some nurses, who became POWs with the Troops in the Battle of Bataan.

[8][9] The nurses became known as the Angels of Bataan for their care of the Troop till liberated in February 1945.

[10][11][12] With the taking of Manila in 1945, in March 1945 the US Navy's Seabee, Naval Construction Battalions, began repairing the battle damage at the two bases.

United States Seventh Fleet headquarters moved into the 40-acre (16 ha) Manila Polo Club.

At Sangley Point Seabees built a new 5,000-foot runway for Naval Air Transport Service airfield.

Sangley Point seaplane base was repaired and improved, including adding a pontoon dock.

US Navy map 1941, with Naval Station Sangley Point , Cavite shipyard , Naval Base Subic Bay , an ammunition depot in Mariveles on the Bataan Peninsula , the city of Manila and Corregidor Island in Manila Bay shown
Map of Manila, Naval Base Manila is at Cavite in Manila Bay
USS Rigel (AD-13) , a repair ship, at anchor in Manila Bay in 1945
Sangley Point 1941, with USS Langley AV-3 docked
US Naval Station Sangley Point in 1966, seaplane base was to the right of the Varadero de Manila Shipyard
Zablan Auxiliary Airfield in 1936
Overhead view of the Sangley Point facilities in the 1960s.