Timeline of Zanderij Field (1928–1947)

Source: Gemini

The Early Years: Civilian Origins

  • 1928: Pan American World Airways (PAA) begins using the area for mail flights from Miami to Paramaribo using Sikorsky S-38 amphibians.
  • 1934 (December 20): The first transatlantic crossing from Amsterdam to Paramaribo by KLM’s Fokker F.XVIII “Snip” lands at Zanderij.
  • 1937 (June 3): Amelia Earhart lands at Zanderij during her second attempt at a world flight, staying overnight in Paramaribo before continuing to Brazil.
  • 1939: The airfield is officially opened as a civilian facility, primarily serving as a stopover for Pan American Airways.

World War II: Expansion & Military Rule

  • November 23, 1941: The first 2,000 US soldiers arrive to protect the bauxite mines. To respect Dutch sovereignty, they are nominally placed under the command of the KNIL (Royal Netherlands East Indies Army).
  • November 30, 1941: The first official US air forces arrive in Suriname (before the attack on Pearl Harbor) following an agreement between the US and the Dutch government-in-exile.
  • December 1941: The US Army Corps of Engineers begins transforming “Airstrip Zanderij” into a major military hub, paving hard-surface runways for heavy bombers. 35th Bombardment Squadron arrives with B-18 Bolos.
  • 1942: The “Pad van Wanica” (the road from Paramaribo to Zanderij) is paved and improved to allow for the rapid transport of personnel and supplies.
  • 1942 (Operation Neuland): German U-boats strike the Caribbean “Bauxite Fleet.” Approximately 22% of shipping from Suriname is lost, leading to intense anti-submarine patrols from Zanderij.
  • 1942–1943: Zanderij becomes the largest airport in South America. It serves as a critical link in the “South Atlantic Route,” ferrying Lend-Lease aircraft from the US to Africa and Europe.
  • January 15, 1943 (The Bakkie Crash): A US transport plane crashes in the Warappakreek. All on board die, including Major Eric Knight, author of Lassie Come Home, who was carrying secret documents for the Casablanca Conference.
  • August 15, 1943: A detachment of the 23rd Antisubmarine Squadron arrives with A-29 Hudsons to intensify the hunt for German U-boats.
  • Late 1943: As the U-boat threat subsides, front-line US combat troops are replaced by Puerto Rican units (primarily the 295th and 296th Infantry Regiments) to free up mainland troops for other theaters. This transition causes some social and racial friction within the segregated military structure.

The Post-War Transition

  • 1944: Combat air patrols are largely discontinued; Zanderij shifts focus to Air Transport Command (Station #15) operations.
  • 1945: Following the end of the war, operations are scaled back to a “skeleton staff.” Most Puerto Rican units are sent home.
  • April 30, 1946: The United States officially closes Zanderij as an active American military facility.
  • October 22, 1947: The base is fully turned over to Dutch authorities. The facility is subsequently converted back into a civilian airport and eventually becomes the primary international gateway for Suriname.

Source:

Link:

Internal Link:

Date:
January 2, 2026
Categories:
World War 2
Tags:
Zanderij Airport
Boxes:
Press
Years:
Persons:
META DATA
    Scroll to Top