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Iowa World War II Army Airfields | |
---|---|
Part of World War II | |
Type | Army Airfields |
Site history | |
Built | 1940-1944 |
In use | 1940-present |
During World War II, the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) established numerous airfields in Iowa for training pilots and aircrews of USAAF fighters and bombers.
Most of these airfields were under the command of First Air Force or the Army Air Forces Training Command (AAFTC) (A predecessor of the current-day United States Air Force Air Education and Training Command). 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.
USAAF Name Current Name | Mission | Host Unit | Location | Coordinates | Notes |
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Des Moines International Airport Des Moines Air National Guard Base | Joint Use USAAF/Civil Airport Air Technical Services Command 1st Concentration Command | 842d Army Air Forces Specialized Depot | Des Moines | 41°32′18″N093°39′34″W / 41.53833°N 93.65944°W | Used by ATSC as an Aircraft/Crew processing center for heavy bomber crews. Remained in use by Iowa Air National Guard after war ended and now a joint civil-military airport. |
Sioux City Army Air Base Sioux Gateway Airport Sioux City Air National Guard Base | II Bomber Command B-17/B-24 Bomber Training | 354th Army Air Force Base Unit | Sioux City | 42°23′54″N096°22′19″W / 42.39833°N 96.37194°W | Closed 1945. Used by Air Defense Command as an Interceptor base, 1946-1968; Ground Control Radar station, 1959-1970. Now joint-use civilian airport and Iowa ANG base for KC-135 air refueling aircraft. |
Spencer Field Spencer Municipal Airport | Army Air Forces Training Command Contract Flying Instruction | Hunter Flying Service School, Primary Flight Instruction | Spencer | 43°09′56″N095°12′10″W / 43.16556°N 95.20278°W | The mission of the school was to train glider pilot students in proficiency in operation of gliders in various types of towed and soaring flight, both day and night, and in servicing of gliders in the field. Inanctivated 1944 |
Nebraska World War II army airfields were major United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) training centers for pilots and aircrews of USAAF fighters and bombers during World War II. Nebraska was a favored because it has excellent, year-round flying conditions. The sparsely populated land made ideal locations for gunnery, bombing, and training ranges.
During World War II, Kansas was a major United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) training center for pilots and aircrews of USAAF fighters and bombers. Kansas was favored because it has excellent, year-round flying conditions. The sparsely populated land made ideal locations for gunnery, bombing, and training ranges.
During World War II, the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) established numerous airfields in Mississippi 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 North Carolina for antisubmarine defense in the Atlantic Ocean 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.
During World War II, the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) established numerous airfields in Tennessee 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 Montana 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 North Dakota 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 Washington 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 Maryland 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 Michigan 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 Missouri 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 New Hampshire 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 New Jersey 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 New York 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 Ohio 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 West Virginia for training pilots and aircrews of USAAF fighters and bombers.
During World War II, the United States Army Air Forces engaged in combat against the air, ground and naval forces of the Empire of Japan in the South West Pacific Theatre.
During World War II, the United States Army Air Forces engaged in combat against the Empire of Japan in the South Pacific Area. As defined by the War Department, this consisted of the Pacific Ocean areas which lay south of the Equator between longitude 159° East and 110° West. It included New Zealand, New Caledonia, New Hebrides, Fiji, and most of the Solomon Islands.
During World War II, the United States Army Air Forces fought the Empire of Japan in the Central Pacific Area. As defined by the War Department, this consisted of most of the Pacific Ocean and its islands, excluding the Philippines, Australia, the Netherlands East Indies, the Territory of New Guinea the Solomon Islands and areas to the south and east of the Solomons.