Washington World War II Army Airfields

During World War II, the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) established numerous airfields in Washington for training pilots and aircrews of USAAF fighters and bombers.

Washington World War II Army Airfields
Part of World War II
Bellingham AAF
Ephrata AAF
Geiger AAF
Felts Field
McChord AAF
Olympia AAF
Paine AAF
Walla Walla AAF
Port Townsend AAF
Boeing Field
Ellensburg AAF
Moses Lake AAF
Spokane AAF
Yakima AB
Gray AAF
Port Angeles AAF
Map Of Washington 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 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

Army Air Force Training Command

Joint use USAAF/Civil Airport
Contract Flying School
Now: Yakima Air Terminal (IATA: YKM, ICAO: KYKM)

Air Transport Command

302d Army Air Force Base Unit
Now: Gray Army Airfield, active Army Airfield which supports Fort Lewis.

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 - Washington airfieldsdatabase.com
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