Florida World War II Army Airfields
| Florida World War II Army Airfields |
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Part of World War II |
| Type |
Army Airfields |
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| Site history |
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| Built |
1940-1944 |
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| In use |
1940-present |
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During World War II, the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) established numerous airfields in Florida for antisubmarine defense in the western Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico and for training pilots and aircrews of USAAF fighters and bombers.
Most of these airfields were under the command of Third Air Force, the AAF Antisubmarine Command (AAFAC), or the Army Air Forces Training Command (AAFTC), the latter being the predecessor of the current-day United States Air Force's Air Education and Training Command (AETC). However the other USAAF support commands, Air Technical Service Command (ATSC) and Air Transport Command (ATC) or Troop Carrier Command, also commanded a significant number of airfields in a support roles.
It is still possible to find remnants of these wartime airfields as most were converted into municipal airports, while others transitioned to the newly established United States Air Force in 1947. Two remained as active USAF installations until 1960 and a third until 1962, at which time they, too, were converted into purely civilian airports, the latter as a commercial airport. A fourth became a joint civil-military commercial airport hosting a Florida Air National Guard fighter-interceptor group until 1968 when the airport was permanently closed and replaced by a newly constructed international airport and concurrently constructed Air National Guard base also hosting the same Air National Guard fighter unit. A fifth remained as an active Strategic Air Command bomber, tanker and reconnaissance base, later incorporating a commercial jetport and becoming a joint civil-military airport in 1962 until the closure of the USAF installation in 1975 and its conversion to a civilian commercial international airport in 1975-76. A sixth remained as an active Tactical Air Command then Air Combat Command fighter base until 1995. Having been substantially damaged by Hurricane Andrew in 1992, it was converted to air reserve base status as a fighter base for the Air Force Reserve Command and a fighter alert detachment site for the Florida Air National Guard. The remaining airfields that transitioned from USAAF to USAF continue to function as modern day active U.S. Air Force installations.
At the former USAAF and USAAF-cum-USAF airfields, hundreds of the temporary buildings that were used also survive today, with some still used for aeronautical activities and others being used for a variety of other purposes.
Major Airfields
Multiple Commands
- I Bomber Command (1941)
- Transferred to: Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command (1942-1943)
- 26th Antisubmarine Wing (Squadrons)
- Transferred to: III Bomber Command
- Became sub-base of: MacDill Field (1943)
- Became sub-base of: Chatam Army Airfield, Georgia (1943-1944)
- Transferred to: Air Service Command (1944-1945)
- Later: Imeson Field Airport (1947-1968)
- Concurrent Use:
125th Fighter-Interceptor Group, Florida Air National Guard, (1947-1968)
- Now: Imeson Industrial Park (airfield closed; flight operations relocated to Jacksonville International Airport)
Third Air Force
- HQ Third Air Force; III Fighter Command
- Also used by: Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command (1942-1943)
- 26th Antisubmarine Wing (Squadrons)
- 337th Fighter Group (Single Engine)
- 22d Bombardment Training Wing (Heavy)
- Drew Field Replacement Training Unit (Heavy Bombardment)
- Army Air Force Aircraft Warning Unit Training Center (315th AAFBU)
- 89th Combat Crew Training Wing
- Known sub-bases and auxiliaries
- Bartow Army Airfield
- Brooksville Army Airfield
- Hillsborough Army Airfield
- Now: Tampa International Airport (IATA: TPA, ICAO: KTPA, FAA LID: TPA)
- HO III Bomber Command
- 27th Air Base Group
- 55th Bombardment Training Wing (Heavy)
- 326th Army Air Force Base Unit
- Also used by: Air Transport Command
- Known sub-bases and auxiliaries
- Bonita Springs Auxiliary Field
- Brooksville Army Airfield
- Hillsborough Army Airfield
- Fort Myers Army Airfield
- Lakeland Army Airfield
- Now: MacDill Air Force Base (IATA: MCF, ICAO: KMCF, FAA LID: MCF)
- Initially Sub-Base of MacDill Field
- III Bomber Command
- 88th Bombardment Group (Heavy)
- Avon Park Replacement Training Unit (Heavy Bombardment)
- Later: Avon Park Air Force Base (1949-1956)
- Now: Avon Park Air Force Range (ICAO: KAGR, FAA LID: AGR)
- Initially Sub-Base of MacDill Field (Drane Field)
- III Bomber Command
- 60th Flying Training Detachment (Medium Bombardment)
- Transferred to: III Fighter Command (1943)
- Commando Squadron Fighter Training School
- Now: Lakeland Linder Regional Airport (1960-Present) (IATA: LAL, ICAO: KLAL, FAA LID: LAL)
- III Fighter Command
- Initially Sub Base of Sarasota Army Airfield
- Pinellas Replacement Training Unit (Fighter, Single Engine)
- Now: St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport (IATA: PIE, ICAO: KPIE, FAA LID: PIE)
- Concurrent Use: Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater and Army Reserve Army Aviation Support Facility
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- III Fighter Command
- 338th Fighter Group (Single Engine)
- Dale Mabry Replacement Depot
- 335th Army Air Force Base Unit (Replacement, Fighter)
- Known sub-bases and auxiliaries
- Thomasville Army Airfield (Georgia)
- Harris Neck Army Airfield (Georgia)
- Perry Army Airfield
- Carrabelle Flight Strip#2
- Later: Dale Mabry Field (commercial airport) (1946-1961)
- Now: Campus of Tallahassee Community College (airfield closed)
- III Fighter Command
- 54th Fighter Group (Single Engine)
- Bartow Replacement Unit (Fighter, Single-Engine)
- Later: Bartow Air Base (1950-1961)
- Now: Bartow Municipal Airport (IATA: BOW, ICAO: KBOW, FAA LID: BOW)
- III Bomber Command
- Later: III Fighter Command
- 337th Fighter Group (Single Engine)
- Sarasota Replacement Training Unit (Fighter, Single Engine)
- Known sub-bases and auxiliaries
- Fort Myers Army Airfield
- Lake Wales Army Airfield
- Pinellas Army Airfield
- Punta Gorda Army Airfield
- Immokalee Army Airfield
- Now: Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (IATA: SRQ, ICAO: KSRQ, FAA LID: SRQ)
- III Fighter Command
- Also used by 27th Service Group (Air Service Command)
- 53d Fighter Group (Single Engine)
- Venice Replacement Training Unit (Fighter, Single Engine)
- 422d Army Air Force Base Unit
- Now: Venice Municipal Airport (IATA: VNC, ICAO: KVNC, FAA LID: VNC)
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AAF Training Command
Eastern Flying Training Command
Eastern Technical Training Command'
- 3501st Army Air Force Base Unit (Technical School, Radar)
- Airfield became: Boca Raton Airport (IATA: BCT, ICAO: KBCT, FAA LID: BCT)
- Station became: Florida Atlantic University
AAF Contract Flying Schools
- Lodwick Aviation Military Academy
- 61st Army Air Force Fight Training Detachment (Contract Flying)
- Known sub-bases and auxiliaries
- Avon Park Auxiliary Field#1
- Avon Park Auxiliary Field#2
- Avon Park Auxiliary Field#3
- Avon Park Auxiliary Field#4
- Now: Avon Park Executive Airport (IATA: AVO, ICAO: KAVO, FAA LID: AVO)
- Lodwick Aviation Military Academy
- 60th Flying Training Detachment (Contract Pilot School)
- Also: Royal Air Force training
- Known sub-bases and auxiliaries
- Coronet Auxiliary Field
- Haldeman-Elder Auxiliary Field
- Hampton Auxiliary Field
- Lodwick Auxiliary Field
- Northeast Auxiliary Field#1
- Northwest Auxiliary Field#3
- Gilbert Auxiliary Field
- Now: Closed 1957, currently recreation area
- Riddle-McKay Aero College
- 75th Flying Training Detachment (Contract Pilot School)
- Also: Royal Air Force training
- Now: Airglades Airport (FAA LID: 2IS)
- Greenville Aviation School
- Also operated: AAFSAT Ocala Bombing Range
- Now: Closed 1962, currently industrial park
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- Riddle Aeronautical Institute
- 53d Flying Training Detachment (Contract Pilot School)
- 2148th Army Air Force Base Unit (Contract Pilot School)
- Also: Royal Air Force training
- Known sub-bases and auxiliaries
- Arcadia Airport
- Myrtle Auxiliary Field
- Southwest Auxiliary Field
- Sparkman Auxiliary Field
- Wells Auxiliary Field
- Now: Closed 1945, currently Desoto County Juvenile Correctional Complex
- Riddle Aeronautical Institute
- 54th Flying Training Detachment]] (Contract Pilot School)
- 2148th Army Air Force Base Unit]] (Contract Pilot School)
- Also: Royal Air Force training
- Known sub-bases and auxiliaries
- Dorr Auxiliary Field#1
- Dorr Auxiliary Field#2
- Dorr Auxiliary Field#3
- Dorr Auxiliary Field#4
- Now: Closed 1945, currently Desoto County Correctional Institution
- Chapman Field, 11.1 miles (17.9 km) south-southwest of Miami
- Civil, AAF, Navy training usage
- Riddle Aeronautical Institute
- Now: Closed 1947, partly Chapman Field Subtropical Horticulture Research Station
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Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics
Air Transport Command
- Station 8, Caribbean Wing, ATC
- 563d Army Air Force Base Unit
- Was: Dade County Airport (1945-1955)
- Was: Homestead Air Force Base (1955-1994)
- Now: Homestead Air Reserve Base (1994-Present) (IATA: HST, ICAO: KHST, FAA LID: HST)
- Joint Civil/Army Airfield use
- Also used by: Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command
- HQ 45th Bombardment Group (I Bomber Command) (1942)
- HQ 26th Antisubmarine Wing (1942-1943)
- Army Air Forces Pilot School (Miscellaneous Fields)
- Operated by Pan American Airways
- Later: : 408th Army Air Force Base Unit (Contract pilot training)
- 1595th Army Air Force Base Unit (First Foreign Transport Group)
- 1105th Army Air Force Base Unit (ATC Caribbean Wing)
- Now: Miami International Airport (IATA: MIA, ICAO: KMIA, FAA LID: MIA)
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- Initially used by: 8th Pursuit Wing, III Interceptor Command
- Also used by: Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command
- 26th Antisubmarine Wing (Squadrons)
- HQ Caribbean Wing, ATC
- 427th Army Air Force Base Unit
- Also used by: United States Navy
- Later: Palm Beach Air Force Base (1951-1962)
- Now: Palm Beach International Airport (IATA: PBI, ICAO: KPBI, FAA LID: PBI)
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Proving Ground Command
- HQ Army Air Forces Proving Ground Command
- Known sub-bases and auxiliaries
- Now: Eglin Air Force Base (IATA: VPS, ICAO: KVPS, FAA LID: VPS)
Minor Airfields
- Naval Auxiliary Air Station (NAAS) Boca Chica, 6.1 miles (9.8 km) east-northeast of Key West
- Used by: Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command (1942-1943)
- 26th Antisubmarine Wing (Squadrons)
- Now: Naval Air Station Key West (IATA: NQX, ICAO: KNQX, FAA LID: NQX)
- Naval Outlying Field (OLF) Marathon, 2.6 miles (4.2 km) east-northeast of Marathon
- Used by: Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command (1942-1943)
- 26th Antisubmarine Wing (Squadrons)
- Now: Florida Keys Marathon Airport (IATA: MTH, ICAO: KMTH, FAA LID: MTH)
- Naval Outlying Field Meacham, 1.5 miles (2.4 km) east of Key West
- Used by: Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command (1942-1943)
- 26th Antisubmarine Wing (Squadrons)
- Now: Key West International Airport (IATA: EYW, ICAO: KEYW, FAA LID: EYW)
- Used by: Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command (1942-1943)
- 26th Antisubmarine Wing (Squadrons)
- Now: Palm Beach County Park Airport (IATA: LNA, ICAO: KLNA, FAA LID: LNA)
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- Civil Air Patrol Use
- Used by: Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command (1942-1943)
- 26th Antisubmarine Wing (Squadrons)
- Closed appx. 1945, now abandoned
- Likely Emergency landing airfield
- Closed appx. 1950, now farmland
- Likely Emergency landing airfield
- Now: Pomona Landing Airport (FAA LID: 78FL)
- Quincy Municipal Airport, 1.7 miles (2.7 km) east-northeast of Quincy
- Likely Emergency landing airfield
- Now: Quincy Municipal Airport (FAA LID: 2J9)
- Used by the Dugway Proving Ground Mobile Chemical Warfare Testing Unit
- Now: Closed appx. 1945, now abandoned
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References
 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.
- 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 - Florida
External links
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| | Airfields |
- Group Training Stations
- Replacement Training Stations
- Tactical Airfields
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| | Units | | Commands | |
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| | Divisions | |
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| | Wings | |
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| | Groups | | Air Commando | |
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| | Bombardment | |
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| | Fighter | |
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| | Fighter-Bomber | |
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| | Reconnaissance | |
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- United States Army Air Forces
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| | Flying Training | | Flying Schools | |
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| | Specialized Schools | |
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| | Technical Training | |
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