Alabama World War II Army airfields
This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (January 2013) |
Alabama World War II Army Airfields | |
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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 Alabama for antisubmarine defense in the Gulf of Mexico and for training pilots and aircrews of AAF fighters and bombers.
Most of these airfields were under the command of Third 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.
Major Airfields
[edit]Third Air Force
[edit]- Demopolis Army Air Field, 8 miles (13 km) west-southwest of Demopolis
- Detachment, 39th Base Headquarters and Air Base Squadron
- Auxiliary of Key Field, Mississippi
- Now: Demopolis Municipal Airport (ICAO: KDYA, FAA LID: DYA, formerly 7A2)
- Camp Sibert Army Air Field, 5 miles (8.0 km) west-southwest of Gadsden
- Support of The Chemical Warfare Service, Camp Sibert
- Now: Northeast Alabama Regional Airport (IATA: GAD, ICAO: KGAD, FAA LID: GAD)
AAF Training Command
[edit]AAF Eastern Flying Training Command
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Contract Flying Schools
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Air Technical Service Command
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Minor Airfields
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References
[edit]This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-89201-092-4.
- Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.
- Thole, Lou (1999), Forgotten Fields of America : World War II Bases and Training, Then and Now - Vol. 2. Pictorial Histories Pub . ISBN 1-57510-051-7
- Military Airfields in World War II - Alabama