Capture of Torrijos Airport

The Capture of Torrijos Airport was a U.S military operation during the invasion of Panama. The goal of this operation was to capture the Panamanian air force, headquartered at the airport, and to close the airport to traffic coming into Panama.[1]

Capture of Torrijos Airport
Part of the United States invasion of Panama
Torrijos Airport
Capture of Torrijos Airport (Panama)
Date20 December 1989
Location
Torrijos Airport, Panama
Result

American victory

  • Capture of Panamanian Air Force.
Belligerents
 United States  Panama
Commanders and leaders
Robert W. Wagner Unknown
Units involved

75th Ranger Regiment

Panama Defense Force

  • 2nd PDF Company
Strength
unknown
4 C-130
1 AC-130 gunship		 200
1 ZPU-4
Casualties and losses
2 wounded 5 killed
50 captured
398 civilians detained

The capture of Torrijos Airport was executed by the US Army rangers of 75th Ranger Regiment.

Background

The US had developed a three-stage plan to capture Torrijos Airport to the mission: to isolate Objective Bear (the main terminal), to eliminate enemy resistance, and to prevent the Panama Defense Force (PDF) from interfering with Operation Just Cause.

The Company C could rely on fire support consisted of an AC-130 "Spectre" gunship and AH-6 attack helicopters. The American plan called for the AC-130 was to clear three .50-caliber machine gun positions and a ZPU-4 anti-aircraft position at the airport, while the AH-6s neutralised the PDF guard tower.

Initially, U.S. intelligence indicated that there were very few people in the main terminal at H-Hour. However, two international flights had just landed at the airport, which was still fully operational. As a result of this, there were actually 398 civilians in the airport rather than the few dozen that the Americans had expected to find. In addition, to this intelligence failure the PDF's 2nd Company was on alert and was patrolling in and around the airport terminal buildings.

Aftermath

On the morning of 20 December 1989, at approximately 7am, the Ranger company was able to linked up with units from the 82nd Airborne Division. The prisoners, detainees, and confiscated documents and weapons were turned over to the military police company commander of the 82nd Airborne Division.

During the course of the operation to capture the airport only 2 rangers were wounded. Where as 5 PDF soldiers were killed and 21 were captured.[2]

References
  1. "Modern Rangers | Panama". www.suasponte.com. Archived from the original on 17 January 2016. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
  2. "Full text of "Soldiers in Panama: stories of Operation Just Cause"". archive.org. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
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