June 2018 FLYPAST 107Known as ‘America’s Bridge Across the Pacifi c’, throughout its history Hickam has been a transit
base for transports heading across the ocean or returning to the Continental USA. The base
provided terminal facilities for the Pacifi c Division of the Military Air Transport Service – note the
C-97 Stratofreighter awaiting its passengers. In the background is a Boeing B-50 Superfortress.
Hickam became operational in 1938 and was co-located with the Pearl Harbor naval facility. Today
the base forms the northwest edge of the sprawling Honolulu International Airport. Lines of
Grumman F6F Hellcats to the left, Curtiss SBC Helldivers centre and Grumman TBM Avengers to
the right.A Stinson L-5 Sentinel to the far left and P-47 Thunderbolts on the ramp against a dramatic
mountain range to the east of Hickam.A pair of camoufl aged Curtiss C-46 Commandos can be seen in the background at Hickam, and
there is what is thought to be a staff transport Boeing VB-17 Fortress on the ramp. Behind the
Fortress is another example, this time an airborne lifeboat and radar-equipped SB-17G or SB-17H.