Naval Air Station Livermore has nearby airfield landing strips to support the training of US Navy pilots during World War 2. The airfield are called Naval Outlying Landing Field (NOLFs). For the war many new trained pilots were needed. The Naval Outlying Landing Fields provided a place for pilots to practice landing and take off without other air traffic. The remotes sites offered flight training without distractions. Most of the new pilots departed to the Pacific War after training. The Outlying Landing Fields had little or no support facilities. Naval Air Station Livermore opened in 1942 and closed in 1951. The Outlying field closed in 1945, having completed the role of training over 4000 new pilots. To open the needed Outlying Landing Fields quickly, the Navy took over local crop dusting and barnstorming airfields. [1]
The Naval Air Station Livermore Outlying Fields were:
Abel NOLF, Abel Naval Naval Auxiliary Landing Field, was a World War 2 training airstrip. The Navy took over the Warm Springs Airport built in 1933 and built a new runway nearby. The Airport became a satellite for Livermore NAS in 1943. The runway was located 1 mile north of the City of Milpitas, California at 37°27′22″N121°54′22″W / 37.456°N 121.906°W . The Navy ended the use of the runway in 1945. In 1946 Warm Springs Airport, also called Milpitas Airport and Warm Springs Gliderport, became a public airport for airplanes and gliders. The Airport offered training, charters, repairs and model airplane flying. The airport had a single unpaved north/south 3,800-foot runway. In the Spring of 1952 the airport closed and became a housing tract. [2]
Brown-Fabian NOLF, Brown-Fabian Naval Outlying Landing Field was a World War 2 training airstrip used from 1943 to 1945. The Navy took over the Brown-Fabian Airport for training. Brown-Fabian NOLF was located 3.5 miles west of the city of Tracy, California at 37°46′48″N121°33′36″W / 37.780°N 121.560°W . The satellite airfield had a 6,300-foot sod runway. The site closed after the war and is now farmland. [3] [4] [5]
Cope Field NOLF, Cope Field Naval Outlying Landing Field was a satellite runway for Livermore NAS, it had a single 3200' sod runway. The Naval Outlying Landing Field was used from 1943 to 1945. The runway was located 2 miles northeast of the City of Pleasanton, California at 37°41′N121°50′W / 37.68°N 121.84°W . The site is now a gravel pit. [6]
Gelderman NOLF, Gelderman Naval Outlying Landing Field was a World War 2 training airstrip used from 1943 to 1945. The Navy took over the Gelderman Airport for training. Gelderman was located 4 miles north of Dublin, California at 37°45′N121°57′W / 37.75°N 121.95°W . The satellite airfield was a 2,200-foot sod runway. The site is now houses in San Ramon, California [7]
Heath NOLF, Heath Naval Outlying Landing Field was a World War 2 training airstrip used from 1943 to 1945. The Navy leased 160 acres from the Heath family in Fremont, California, south of the city center at 37°30′N121°58′W / 37.5°N 121.96°W . Heath NOLF had a northwest/southeast 3,100-foot concrete runway. In 1950 the runway became a civil airport, Skyways Airport, later in 1959 renamed Sky Sailing sailplane field, Sky Sailing Airport in 1959. The Sky Sailing Airport was a very active glider airport with a glider school, paid glider rides, and private gliders parked there. The Fremont Dragstrip also operated at the airport from 1959 until the end of 1988. The I-880 freeway was built on part of the old Heath NOLF in 1984. The airport closed in June of 1989 and is now commercial property. [8]
Lindeman NOLF, Lindeman Naval Outlying Landing Field was a World War 2 training airstrip used from 1943 to 1945. The Navy took over the Lindeman Airport for training. Lindeman NOLF was located 9 miles northwest of the city of Tracy, California at 37°05′N121°34′W / 37.08°N 121.57°W at a 2,000-foot elevation. The satellite airfield was a 3,900-foot sod runway, now houses. [3] [9]
Livermore NOLF, Livermore Naval Outlying Landing Field was a World War 2 training airstrip used from 1943 to 1945. The Navy took over the Livermore Sky Ranch built in 1929 for training. Livermore Airport is located 2 miles northwest of the city of Livermore, California at 37°41′36.2″N121°49′13.3″W / 37.693389°N 121.820361°W . The satellite airfield was just North of Naval Air Station Livermore and has a 4,000-foot sod runway, now the `. In the 1930s, the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) classified the Airport as a civil emergency airfield known as Livermore Intermediate Airport. [3] [10] [11]
May's School NOLF, May's School Naval Outlying Landing Field, Mays auxiliary airfield was a World War 2 training airstrip used from 1943 to 1945 on 200 acres. The Navy built May's School Field for training pilots. May's School Field was located 4.5 miles northeast of the City of Livermore, California at 37°43′39″N121°45′13″W / 37.72750°N 121.753611°W , at May School Road & Dagningo Road. The satellite airfield was also called Silva Barthe Field, had four unpaved runways. In the 1990s the site became a Federal Communications Commission antenna farm, called the Livermore Monitoring Station, the site is now just outside the city. [3] [12] [13]
Rita Butterworth NOLF, Rita Butterworth Naval Outlying Landing Field was a World War 2 training airstrip used from 1943 to 1945. The Navy took over the Rita Butterworth Airportt for training. Rita Butterworth NOLF was located 3 miles northeast of the City of Pleasanton, California at 37°42′11″N121°51′21″W / 37.703124°N 121.855718°W . The satellite airfield had a 3,000-foot sod runway, now a vacant lot and commercial property in Dublin, California just north of the I-580 freeway and west of Fallon Road. [3] [4] [14]
Spring Valley NOLF, Spring Valley Naval Outlying Landing Field was a World War 2 training airstrip used from 1943 to 1945. The Navy took over the Spring Valley Airport for training. Spring Valley NOLF was located 2.5 miles northwest of the City of Pleasanton, California at 37°40′N121°47′W / 37.66°N 121.79°W . The satellite airfield was a 3,500-foot sod runway, now houses. [3] [15]
Wagoner NOLF, Wagoner Naval Outlying Landing Field was a World War 2 training airstrip used from 1943 to 1945. The Navy took over the Wagoner Airport for training. Wagoner Airport was located 1.5 miles southwest of City of Livermore, California at 37°41′24″N121°47′24″W / 37.690°N 121.79°W . The Wagoner Airport had a 3,000-foot sod runway, in 1943 the Navy built a 2,700-foot x 3,000-foot paved landing pad on the site. After the war the site was closed and turned over to the county, the site is now houses. [3] [16]
Naval Air Station Alameda was a United States Navy Naval Air Station in Alameda, California, on San Francisco Bay.
Lost Hills Airport, also known as Lost Hills-Kern County Airport, was a public airport located one mile (1.6 km) northeast of the central business district (CBD) of Lost Hills, in Kern County, California, United States. It was mostly used for general aviation. It was closed in March 2019.
Naval Outlying Landing Field Spencer is a military airport located two miles (3 km) northeast of Pace, Florida, United States, in Santa Rosa County. It is owned by the United States Navy. NOLF Spencer is one mile north of U.S. Highway 90, 3.5 miles (6 km) west of the City of Milton, just over 6 miles (10 km) east of the Escambia River and about 7 miles (11 km) southwest of NAS Whiting Field.
Naval Outlying Landing Field (NOLF) Imperial Beach is a United States Navy facility for helicopters, situated on 1,204 acres (5 km2) approximately 14 miles (23 km) south of San Diego and within the city limits of Imperial Beach, California. It is known as "The Helicopter Capital of the World".
Saufley Field is a military airport and support facility located in unincorporated Escambia County, Florida, United States, five nautical miles (9 km) west of the central business district of Pensacola.
Naval Air Station Livermore was a United States Navy military facility located in Livermore, California.
Naval Outlying Landing Field Barin is a United States Navy airfield located in Foley, a city in Baldwin County, Alabama, United States.
Naval Auxiliary Air Station Vernalis was a United States Navy facility located in the small town of Vernalis, California during World War II. It opened on June 8, 1943, and closed on October 15, 1945.
California during World War II was a major contributor to the World War II effort. California's long Pacific Ocean coastline provided the support needed for the Pacific War. California also supported the war in Europe. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, most of California's manufacturing was shifted to the war effort. California became a major ship builder and aircraft manufacturer. Existing military installations were enlarged and many new ones were built. California trained many of the troops before their oversea deployment. Over 800,000 Californians served in the United States Armed Forces. California agriculture, ranches and farms were used to feed the troops around the world. California's long coastline also put the state in fear, as an attack on California seemed likely. California was used for the temporary and permanent internment camps for Japanese Americans. The population grew significantly, largely due to servicemen who were stationed at the new military bases/training facilities and the mass influx of workers from around the U.S. in the growing defense industries. With all the new economy activity, California was lifted out of the Great Depression. Over 500,000 people moved to California from other states to work in the growing economy. California expanded its oil and mineral production to keep up with the war demand.
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.
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.
Minter Army Airfield auxiliary fields were a number of airfields used during World War II to support the Minter Army Airfield near Shafter, California. Minter Army Airfield was also called Lerdo Field, after the nearby road. Minter Army Airfield also housed the Shafter Gap Filler Annex P-59A and Shafter Army Aviation Test Activity and opened in June 1941. An Army depot open on the base in October 1941, the Minter Sub-Depot, a division of the Sacramento Air Depot. Minter Army Airfield had 7,000 troops and civilians working at the base.
Victorville Army Airfield auxiliary fields were four airfields used during World War II to support the Victorville Army Airfield pilot training near Victorville, California, and Adelanto, California. After the war the Victorville Army Airfield was renamed George Air Force Base on January 13, 1948. The airfields were built in 1941 by the United States Army Air Corps just before the war. Victorville Army Airfield covered 2,200-acre in the Mojave Desert. The US Army held a groundbreaking ceremony on 12 July 1941. The base, called Victorville Army Flying School, was ready to use before the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The Army built four runways in a triangle configuration, with one runway down the middle of the triangle. Seven hangars were built to support operation. On April 23, 1943, the base was renamed Victorville Army 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.
Borrego Valley Maneuver Area also called the Borrego Springs Naval Maneuver Area was a US Army Anti-Aircraft Training Center (AARTC) and a subcamp of Camp Callan. Located near Borrego Springs, California in San Diego County in the Imperial Valley. Opened in March 1942 and in use until August 1944, it was operated by the Western Defense Command. Marine Corps also used the site to train troops in driving army vehicles. The site was picked as it was 400 square miles, 255,840 acres, of barren desert, barren mountains, and badlands. When closed the land returned to the State of California. Built at the site were bombing stations, strafing stations, and rocket targets. Also installed was Anti-Aircraft Artillery for training. First week troop did dry run training and the second week live-fire training. Ammo fired was from .33cal to 90mm. The US Navy trained in the bombing, gunnery, and rocketry ranges. California Institute of Technology help with the rocket training. The air support for the base was Naval Outlying Landing Field Clark's Dry Lake, Naval Outlying Field, Ocotillo Dry Lake and Borrego Hotel Naval Outlying Landing Field.
Condor Field was an airbase located in Twentynine Palms, California used for training both in World War II and the Korean War. From 1939 to 1942, and from 1945 to 1949, it was operated as a civil airport. The now-abandoned airfield is on the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms. In about 1939, a 3,000-foot runway was built at the southeast edge of dry lake Mesquite Lake as a civil field and named Twenty Nine Palms Airfield.
Naval Air Station Los Alamitos Naval Outlying Landing Fields were a set airfield near Naval Air Station Los Alamitos to support the training of US Navy pilots during World War 2. The support airfields are called Naval Outlying Landing Field (NOLF). For the war, many new trained pilots were needed. The Naval Outlying Landing Fields provided a place for pilots to practice landing and take off without other air traffic. The remotes sites offered flight training without distractions. Most of the new pilots departed to the Pacific War after training. The Outlying Landing Fields had little or no support facilities. Naval Air Station Los Alamitos opened in 1942 and was transferred to the US Army in 1977 as Los Alamitos Army Airfield. Most of the Outlying fields closed in 1945, having completed the role of training new pilots. To open the needed Outlying Landing Fields quickly, the Navy took over local crop dusting and barnstorming airfields. Naval Air Station Los Alamitos was also called Los Alamitos Naval Reserve Air Base. During the war Marine Corps Air Station El Toro also used the outlying Landing Field. The Timm N2T Tutor was the most common plane used for training on the outlying landing fields.
Sweetwater Dam Naval Outlying Landing Field was a airfield near Naval Auxiliary Air Station Brown Field and Naval Air Station North Island used to support the training of US Navy pilots during World War II. The runway, built in 1944, was located in what is now a neighborhood, eight miles east of San Diego, California. The Navy leased 135.45 acres of grassland from Rancho de la Nación to complete the airfield; it had a single 3,000-foot east/west asphalt runway. The airfield closed in 1946.
San Clemente Naval Auxiliary Air Station is a closed airfield located near the center of the San Clemente Island, California. Also called San Clemente Airfield, the airfield was built in 1934 with two 1,600-foot dirt runways. San Clemente Island is owned and operated by the United States Navy since November 7, 1934. The Works Progress Administration and a civilian contractor improved the airfield in 1938. The two runways were rebuilt to paved at 3,000-feet and 2,000 feet long by the WPA. The WPA also built a new hangar at the base. The airfield became a US Marines training base with the start of World War 2. A Marines squadron was station at Airfield and began air scouting training in 1942. The Marines trained in 19 Vought SB2U Vindicator carcraft and a one Grumman J2F Duck seaplane. The US Army installed two radar stations nearby and the runways were improved in 1941, the 3,000-foot runway was made into a 5,000-foot runway. In 1943 the airfield was renamed Naval Auxiliary Air Facility San Clemente Island. The Airfield supported bomb testing, radar training, Naval fighter gunnery training, and electronic countermeasures on the Island during the war. Over the years the size and scope of the airfield deduced, by 1977 the 2,000-foot runways was removed, and the east/west 5,000-foot runway was used rarely and closed at times. The deduced airfield was sometimes used for training in amphibious and air assault operational, also UAV operations. Today the runways as two helipads on the old runway. Naval Auxiliary Landing Field San Clemente Island became the main active Airfield.
Naval Outlying Landing Field Waldron or Waldron Field is a military airport in Corpus Christi, Texas. Owned and operated by the United States Navy, Waldron Field served as satellite field to support flight training in Naval Air Station Corpus Christi.