- Albrook Air Force Base
Albrook Air Force Base was one of two main
United States Air Force bases located insidePanama , in the area of thePanama Canal Zone (the other wasHoward AFB ). It was located on the east side of the Panama Canal just south ofFort Clayton and north of the township ofBalboa, Panama .AAFES operated an "Albrook Mall" in various buildings that was one of the primary shopping areas available to US troops stationed there (not just Air Force).In 1966, elements of the famed 4080th SRW, home of the Lockheed U2 aircraft performed atmospheric sampling as the French detonated a nuclear device in the South Pacific. The base saw action again during the 1989
United States invasion of Panama , including an extendedfirefight at its front gate.After the base was turned over to the Republic of Panama in October 1997, it was converted to a civilian airport (effectively replacing the old
Paitilla Airport ). A number of shops and markets operate out of some of the old buildings and hangars, and most of the officers quarters are now private homes.
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