Alachua Army Air Field
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Alachua Army Airfield | |
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Part of Army Air Forces Training Command Third Air Force | |
Located near: Gainesville, Florida | |
Coordinates | 29°41′24″N 082°16′18″W / 29.69000°N 82.27167°W |
Site history | |
In use | 1940–1945 |
Alachua Army Airfield, was a
History
Construction of the Gainesville Municipal Airport began in April 1940 as a
The site was taken over by the United States Army Air Forces, with the airport being designated as Alachua Army Airfield. It began operations within months of the December 7, 1941, Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
On 2 March 1942, the Gainesville City Council established the name of the airfield as the John R. Alison Airport. John R. Alison was a local citizen and graduate of the University of Florida who served with valor and distinction in World War II. He was selected to serve as an observer in England and later served in Russia training Russian flyers.
Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics
Initially assigned to
AAFSAT's function was to train cadres from newly formed units in combat operations under simulated field conditions as the cores around which new combat groups would be formed. AAFSAT operated several units from the airfield, including Dive Bombers, light attack bombers and observation aircraft. Later, the
Through the joint efforts of the City Commission and the Federal Government, a Service Center opened in Gainesville July 1943 for dances and other recreation for the soldiers. Civic-minded citizens formed a Girls Service Club and the Masonic Lodge provided dormitory space for servicemen.
Third Air Force
The Air University training mission ended in late June 1944, when Alachua was officially reassigned to III Fighter Command. With the transfer, Alachua was assigned to Third Air Force.
A different mission of sorts was ordered by III Fighter Command, the training of Air Commando fighter units for the
The
Closure
With the Air Commando units moving out at the end of 1944, the maintenance mission of Technical Service command was the primary mission of the base. The airfield remained open; mostly seeing transient training aircraft from various training bases in Florida and South Georgia. The number of personnel were reduced, being reassigned to other bases, and with the end of the European War, in mid-May 1945 orders were received from Third Air Force that Alachua Army Airfield would be closed.
During the summer, buildings and equipment were sold with any useful military equipment being transferred to other bases around the country. The airfield was declared surplus in September 1945 and turned over to the Army Corps of Engineers on October 1, 1946. The War Assets Administration deeded the facility to the city of Gainesville in 1948 as a civil airport. The airfield was deeded to the city of Gainesville in 1948. At that time, the field was known as the John R. Alison Airport and also as the Gainesville Municipal Airport. Currently it is operating as Gainesville Regional Airport, with scheduled airline flights and General Aviation operations. The area of the airfield that was originally for gunnery practice is currently in operation as the Gator Skeet and Trap Club.
Major units assigned
Air Forces School of Applied Tactics
- 50th Fighter Group, 20 November 1943 – 1 February 1944
- P-47 Thunderbolt)
- P-51 Mustang)
- A-20 Havoc)
- A-36 Apache)
- 3d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 3 February-6 March 1944 (L-2, L-3 Grasshopper)
III Fighter Command
- 3d Air Commando Group, 20 August-6 October 1944 (P-51 Mustang)
- 1st Fighter Squadron (Commando), 21 June-17 August 1944
- 2d Fighter Squadron (Commando), 21 June-17 August 1944
- 3d Fighter Squadron (Commando), 7 August-6 October 1944
- 4th Fighter Squadron (Commando), 21 August-6 October 1944
- C-47 Skytrain)
See also
- Florida World War II Army Airfields
- Army Air Force School of Applied Tactics
References
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Maurer, Maurer (1969), Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II, Air Force Historical Studies Office, ISBN 0-89201-097-5
- 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.
- Shaw, Frederick J. (2004), Locating Air Force Base Sites History's Legacy, Air Force History and Museums Program, United States Air Force, Washington DC, 2004.
- AFHRA search Alachua AAF
- World War II airfields database: Florida