Bucholz Army Airfield


Bucholz Army Airfield 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

After the defeat of the Japanese, Kwajalein was developed into a major United States Military airbase and staging area for further operations by Seabees of the 109th Naval Construction Battalions.
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 at the Marshalls' atolls of Bikini and Enewetak.
On Memorial Day 1967, Kwajalein Airfield was renamed Bucholz Army Airfield after PFC Fred Henry Bucholz, posthumous recipient of the Distinguished [Service Cross (United States)|Distinguished Service Cross] for extraordinary heroism in the Battle of Kwajalein.
Passengers may disembark and reboard at each stop or remain on the Island Hopper with the exception of Kwajalein, where passengers are prohibited from leaving the aircraft unless they have prior authorization from the U.S. government, as the atoll is an active military installation served via Bucholz Army Airfield. Photography and videography there are also restricted.