Arkansas World War II Army Airfields

Last updated
U.S. Army Air Forces airfields in Arkansas
Us army air corps shield.svg
USA Arkansas location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Blytheville
Red pog.svg
Walnut Ridge
Red pog.svg
Newport
Red pog.svg
Stuttgart
Location of U.S. Army Air Forces airfields in Arkansas
TypeArmy airfields
Site information
Owner U.S. Army Air Forces
Controlled by Third Air Force
Training Command
Site history
Built1940 1944
Built by Corps of Engineers
In use1940 present
Battles/wars

During World War II, the U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) established numerous airfields in Arkansas for training fighter and bomber pilots and aircrews.

Contents

Most of the airfields were under the command of Third Air Force or the Army Air Forces Training Command (USAAFTC). However the other USAAF support commands (Air Technical Service Command (ATSC); Air Transport Command (ATC) or Troop Carrier Command) commanded a significant number of airfields in a support roles.

It is still possible to find remnants of these wartime airfields. Many were converted into municipal airports, some were returned to agriculture and several were retained as United States Air Force installations and were front-line bases during the Cold War. Hundreds of the temporary buildings that were used survive today, and are being used for other purposes.

Major Airfields

Army Air Force Training Command
Southeast Training Center/AAF Eastern Flying Training Command

Army Air Forces Advanced Flying School (Two Engine) / Army Air Forces Pilot School (Advanced, Two Engine); 3 May 1942-31 May 1945
326th Base Headquarters and Air Base Squadron; 21 July 1942-30 April 1944
2111th Army Air Forces Base Unit; 1 May 1944-16 June 1945
Became Blytheville Air Force Base / Eaker Air Force Base (1951-1992)
Now: Arkansas International Airport ( IATA : BYH, ICAO : KBYH, FAA LID : BYH) (1992-Present)
Army Air Forces Basic Flying School/Army Air Forces Pilot School (Basic); 1 November 1942-30 April 1944
337th Base Headquarters and Air Base Squadron; 24 November 1942-30 April 1944
Later: Marine Corps Air Facility Newport
Now: Newport Municipal Airport (M19)
Army Air Forces Advanced Flying School (Two Engine)/Army Air Forces Pilot School (Advanced, Two Engine); 20 September 1942-7 February 1945
426th Base Headquarters and Air Base Squadron; 20 September 1942-30 April 1944
2141st Army Air Forces Base Unit (AAFEFTC); 1 May 1944-7 February 1945
314th Army Air Forces Base Unit (Third AF); 7 February 1945-8 December 1945
Now: Stuttgart Municipal Airport (SGT)
Army Air Forces Basic Flying School/Army Air Forces Pilot School (Basic); 15 August 1942-1 September 1944
323th Base Headquarters and Air Base Squadron; 25 August 1942-30 April 1944
Later: Marine Corps Air Facility Walnut Ridge
Now: Walnut Ridge Regional Airport (ARG)
(Joint use USAAF/Civil Airport)
12th Ferrying Service Detachment/12th Ferrying Service Station; 1 December 1943-31 March 1944
581st Army Air Forces Base Unit (12th Ferrying Service Station); 31 March 1944-20 September 1945
Now: Clinton National Airport ( IATA : LIT, ICAO : KLIT, FAA LID : LIT)
Pine Bluff School of Aviation
312th Flying Training Detachment
Now: Pine Bluff Regional Airport ( IATA : PBF, ICAO : KPBF, FAA LID : PBF)

Known Secondary Facilities

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vance Air Force Base</span> US Air Force base in Garfield County, Oklahoma

Vance Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located in southern Enid, Oklahoma, about 65 mi (105 km) north northwest of Oklahoma City. The base is named after local World War II hero and Medal of Honor recipient, Lieutenant Colonel Leon Robert Vance Jr.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Twentynine Palms Airport</span> Airport in San Bernardino County, California

Twentynine Palms Airport is a public use airport located six nautical miles (11 km) east of the central business district of Twentynine Palms, a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States. It is owned by the County of San Bernardino.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sharpe Field</span> Airport in Tuskegee, Alabama

Sharpe Field is a closed private use airport located six nautical miles northwest of the central business district of Tuskegee, a city in Macon County, Alabama, United States. This airport is privately owned by the Bradbury Family Partnership.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Corps Air Facility Walnut Ridge</span>

Marine Corps Air Facility Walnut Ridge is a former United States Army and United States Marine Corps airfield in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas. After it was closed, it was turned into Walnut Ridge Regional Airport.

During World War II, the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) established numerous airfields in California for training pilots and aircrews of USAAF fighters and bombers.

During World War II, the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) established numerous airfields in Florida for antisubmarine defense in the western Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico and for training pilots and aircrews of USAAF fighters, attack planes, and light and medium bombers. After early 1944, heavy bomber crews also trained in the State. The School of Applied Tactics and the Air Proving Grounds which tested and developed new capabilities were also located in Florida.

During World War II, the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) established numerous airfields in Georgia for antisubmarine defense in the Gulf of Mexico and for training pilots and aircrews of USAAF fighters and bombers.

During World War II, the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) established numerous airfields in South Carolina for antisubmarine defense in the Gulf of Mexico and for training pilots and aircrews of USAAF fighters and bombers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dalhart Army Air Base</span> Airport

Dalhart Army Air Base is a former World War II military airfield complex near the city of Dalhart, Texas. It operated three training sites for the United States Army Air Forces from 1943 until 1945.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lakeland Army Air Field</span> United States Army Airfield

Lakeland Army Airfield, was a World War II United States Army Air Force located 5.3 miles southwest of Lakeland, Florida. From 1960 to 2017 it was Lakeland Linder Regional Airport. In 2017 it was renamed Lakeland Linder International Airport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stuttgart Army Air Field (Arkansas)</span> Former airfield in Arkansas, United States

Stuttgart Army Airfield is a former World War II military airfield, located 7 miles north of Stuttgart, Arkansas. It operated as an advanced pilot training school for the United States Army Air Forces from 1942 until 1945.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Field, Illinois</span> Airport

George Field is a former World War II military airfield, located 5 miles east-northeast of Lawrenceville, Illinois. It operated as an advanced pilot training school for the United States Army Air Forces from 1942 until 1945.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Curtis Field</span> Airport in McCulloch County, Texas

Curtis Field is a city-owned airport three miles northeast of Brady, in McCulloch County, Texas. The airport is named for Mayor Harry L. Curtis of Brady, who proposed the site as an auxiliary field for the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF). The FAA's National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2009–2013 calls it a general aviation facility.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taylor Field (Florida)</span> Airport in Marion County, Florida

Taylor Field, now an industrial park, was an airport and military airfield located near Ocala, Florida. It was closed in 1962 and replaced by Ocala International Airport-Jim Taylor Field.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arledge Field</span> Airport in Jones County, Texas

Arledge Field is a public general aviation airport located approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) east of Stamford, Texas. Owned by the city of Stamford, it provides general aviation service. Approximately 80 aircraft use the airport on a weekly basis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manila Municipal Airport</span> Airport

Manila Municipal Airport is a public-use airport located two nautical miles northeast of the central business district of Manila, in Mississippi County, Arkansas, United States. It is owned by the City of Manila.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blytheville Air Force Base</span> US Air Force base near Blytheville, Arkansas

Blytheville Air Force Base was a United States Air Force base that operated under the Tactical Air Command and Strategic Air Command from 1954 until its closure in 1992. The facility originally served as a B-25 pilot training school during WW2. For the majority of its operation, the base served as a home for SAC's B-52 ground alert program. In 1988, the facility was renamed Eaker Air Force Base in honor of World War II General of the Eighth Air Force, Ira C. Eaker. It was located 3 miles (4.8 km) northwest of Blytheville, Arkansas. The facility now operates as the Arkansas Aeroplex and Arkansas International Airport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Helm Field</span> US Army training airfield in Fresno County, California

Helm Field also called Lemoore Auxiliary Army Airfield A-7 is a former US Army Airfield use for training during World War II. Helm Field was location in the town of Coalinga, California, 70 miles south of Fresno. Helm Field had two 3,000 foot runways, one oriented east/west and one oriented northwest–southeast. The Airfield was on a 773 acres site of form farm land. The US Army purchased the land on January 11, 1943 for training pilots. The Airfield was used by the Lemoore Basic Flying School, based at the Lemoore Army Air Field. Helm Field was 15 miles northwest of Lemoore Army Air Field. The Army built at Helm Field to support training stage house, control tower, motor pool building, crash truck shelter and latrines. Helm Field was used by Air Corps Basic Flying School, the AAF Basic Flying School, the AAF Pilot School, the 88th Air Base Squadron, the 3023rd Army Air Force Pilot School and the 461st Army Air Force Base Unit. The army closed Helm Field on October 15, 1844 and the Airfield was sold by the War Assets Administration. Helm Field was used as a farm labor camp in the 1950s. The east–west runway was returned to farmland. The northwest–southeast runway was still intact and was used as a civilian airfield till 1971.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chico Army Airfield auxiliary fields</span> US WWII airfields

Chico Army Airfield auxiliary fields were a number of airfields used during World War II to support the Chico Army Airfield. On September 11, 1941, the US Army rented from the City of Chico a small 1930's airport that sat on 160 acres (0.65 km2) of land. The Airfield was five miles (8.0 km) north of the city center. The Army built up the small airport into the Chico Army Airfield. From the Chico Army Airfield operated the: United States Army Air Corps's Army Air Forces Basic Flying School, the Army Air Force Pilot School, the 10th Base Headquarters an Air Base Squadron and the 433rd Army Air Force Base Unit or Combat Crew Training Station of Fighter. To support the training of the many pilots, Chico Army Airfield operated a number of auxiliary airfields. Some auxiliary fields were no more than a landing strip runway, others were other operation airfield that supported the training at the Chico Army Airfield.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Merced Army Airfield auxiliary fields</span> US WWII airfield

Merced Army Air Field auxiliary fields were built to support pilot training at the Merced Army Air Field. In 1940 the US Army wanted to build near Merced, California a 30,000 per year basic pilot training base. The former city of Cuba, Merced County, California near the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway rail line was chosen at 37°22′50″N120°34′05″W at an elevation of 181 feet (55 m) for the main base, in Atwater, California. United States Army Air Corps leased the land from the City of Merced on 16 June 1941. Building the airbase school started on 8 July 1941 and opened on 20 September 1941 as a sub-base of Army Air Forces Western Flying Training Command at Moffett Field. First called Air Corps Basic Flying School, Merced. The US Army moved part of the: 98th Bombardment Group, 539th School Squadrons, 540th School Squadrons, 541st School Squadrons, the 90th Air Base Squadron, and the 340th Material Squadron at Moffett Field to the new base in November 1941. The Air Corps Basic Flying School was renamed the Merced Army Flying School on 7 April 1942. To support the training auxiliary fields near the Merced Army Flying School were to be built for the flight training program. Merced Army Flying School was renamed the Merced Army Air Field in May 1943 and became part of the Western Flying Training Command.

References