Montana World War II Army Airfields

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.

Montana World War II Army Airfields
Part of World War II
Cut Bank AAF
Glasgow AAF
Great Falls AAF
Lewistown AAF
Gore AAF
Helena AAF
Map Of Montana World War II Army Airfields
TypeArmy Airfields
Site history
Built1940-1944
In use1940-present

Most of these airfields were under the command of Second 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 support roles.

It is still possible to find remnants of these wartime airfields. Many were converted into municipal airports, returned to agriculture, or retained as United States Air Force installations that served as 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

Second Air Force

II Fighter Command
Now: Cut Bank Municipal Airport (IATA: CTB, ICAO: KCTB)
II Fighter Command
Now: Glasgow International Airport (IATA: GGW, ICAO: KGGW)
Note: Glasgow Air Force Base (1957-1976) is NOT the World War II Airfield.
352d Army Air Force Base Unit
Was: Great Falls Air Force Base (1947-1955)
Now: Malmstrom Air Force Base (1955-Present; runway inactive since 1997, limited to rotary-wing ops)
II Bomber Command
Now: Lewistown Municipal Airport (IATA: LWT, ICAO: KLWT)

Air Transport Command

Joint use USAAF/Civil Airport
7th Ferrying Group
385th Army Air Force Base Unit
Now: Great Falls International Airport (IATA: GTF, ICAO: KGTF)
And: Great Falls Air National Guard Base
Joint use USAAF/Civil Airport
Now: Helena Regional Airport (IATA: HLN, ICAO: KHLN)

References

  • 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 - Montana
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