Arkansas World War II Army Airfields

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Arkansas World War II Army Airfields

Part of World War II

Locations of major World War II USAAF Airfields in Arkansas
Type Army Airfields
Built 1940-1944
In use 1940-Present
Controlled by United States Army Air Forces
Garrison Army Air Force Training Command

During World War II, Arkansas was a major United States Army Air Force (USAAF) training center for pilots and aircrews of USAAF fighters and bombers.

The USAAF established Five major airfields under the command of Third Air Force, headquartered at MacDill Army Airfield, Florida between 1942 and 1945, along with several minor auxiliary fields and airstrips.

The mission of these bases primarily was wartime training of aircrews by Army Air Forces Training Command (A precursor to the current-day USAF Air Education and Training Command).

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.

Contents

[edit] Major Airfields

Now: Little Rock National Airport (IATA: LIT, ICAO: KLIT, FAA LID: LIT)
Became Blytheville/Eaker Air Force Base (1951-1992)
Now: Arkansas International Airport (IATA: BYH, ICAO: KBYH, FAA LID: BYH) (1992-Present)
  • Newport AAF, 6 miles northeast of Newport
Now: Newport Municipal Airport (M19)
Now: Stuttgart Municipal Airport (SGT)
Now: Walnut Ridge Regional Airport (ARG)

[edit] Known Secondary Facilities

Carlisle (26 mi. NW Stuttgart)  · Cooter (10 mi. NE Blytheville)  · Hazen (19 mi. NNW Stuttgart)  · Hope Army Air Field (3 mi. NE Hope)  · Manila (13 mi. W Blytheville)  · Praireville (8 mi. SE Stuttgart)  · Steele (12 mi. N Blytheville)  · Ridge Army Air Base (4 mi. NE Walnut Ridge)

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  • Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0892010924.
  • Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0912799129.
  • Thole, Lou (1999), Forgotten Fields of America : World War II Bases and Training, Then and Now - Vol. 2. Pictorial Histories Pub . ISBN 1575100517

[edit] External links