Georgia World War II Army Airfields

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.

Georgia World War II Army Airfields
Part of World War II
Map of Major Georgia World War II Army Airfields
  •   First Air Force
  •   Third Air Force
  •   AAF Training Command
  •   AAF Contract Flying Schools
  •   Air Technical Service Command
TypeArmy Airfields
Site history
Built1940-1944
In use1940--present

Most of these airfields were under the command of Third Air Force or the Army Air Forces Training Command (AAFTC) 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

First Air Force, later Third Air Force

  • Chatham Army Airfield, 6.7 miles (10.8 km) west-northwest of Savannah
425th Base Headquarters & Air Base Squadron: 22 January 1943-10 April 1944
114th Army Air Force Base Unit (First AF): 10 April 1944-28 March 1945
323rd Army Air Force Base Unit (Third AF): 1 May 1945-8 Jun 1947
Also used by: Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command (1942-1943)
Transferred to: Third Air Force (1945)
Was: Chatham Air Force Base (1947-1950)
Now: Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (IATA: SAV, ICAO: KSAV, FAA LID: SAV)
And Savannah Air National Guard Base
And Georgia ANG Combat Readiness Training Center
Sub-base of: Dale Mabry Field, Florida
346th Army Air Force Base Unit (Third AF): 1 May 1944-1945
Transferred to: United States Navy (1945)
Now: Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge

Third Air Force

AAF Training Command

Eastern Flying Training Command

AAF Contract Flying Schools

Air Technical Service Command

Minor Airfields

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

    • Manning, Thomas A. (2005), History of Air Education and Training Command, 1942-2002. Office of History and Research, Headquarters, AETC, Randolph AFB, Texas ASIN: B000NYX3PC
    • 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 - Georgia
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