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Georgia World War II Army Airfields Type Army Airfields Built 1940–1944 In use 1940--present
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.
Most of these airfields were under the command of
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
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
Harris Neck Army Airfield, 32.7 miles (52.6 km) south-southwest of
Savannah
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
Statesboro Army Airfield, 3.6 miles (5.8 km) northeast of
Statesboro
Sub-base of: William Northern Field
, Tennessee
4157 Army Air Force Base Unit: 1 May 1945 – 26 January 1946
Now: : TBR )
Thomasville Army Airfield, 7.4 miles (11.9 km) northeast of
Thomasville
339th Army Air Force Base Unit: 1 May 1944 – 6 February 1946
Now: Thomasville Regional Airport (IATA : TVI , ICAO : KTVI , FAA LID : TVI )
Hunter Field, 5.7 miles (9.2 km) south-southwest of
Savannah
Air Base Squadron, 35th Air Base Group/36th Air Base Squadron/36th Base Headquarters & Air Base Squadron: 5 October 1940 – 1 May 1944
302nd Army Air Force Base Unit: 1 May 1944 – 15 December 1946
Also used by: Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command (1942–1943)
Was: Hunter Air Force Base
(1950–1967)
Now: Hunter Army Airfield (United States Army) (IATA : SVN , ICAO : KSVN , FAA LID : SVN )
And: Coast Guard Air Station Savannah
Waycross Army Airfield, 3.5 miles (5.6 km) northwest of
Waycross
531st Base Headquarters & Air Base Squadron: 10 May 1943 – 1 May 1944
345th Army Air Force Base Unit: 1 May 1944 – 10 October 1945
Sub-base of: Drew Field
, Florida
Now: : AYS )
AAF Training Command
Eastern Flying Training Command
Bainbridge Army Air Field, 6.0 miles (9.7 km) northwest of
Bainbridge
AAF Basic Flying Training School/AAF Pilot School (Basic): 15 Jun 1942 – 1 May 1945
322nd Base Headquarters & Air Base Squadron: 25 July 1942 – 30 April 1944
2127th Army Air Force Base Unit (AAF Eastern Flying Training Command): 30 April 1944 – 1 May 1945
4164th Army Air Force Base Unit:(Air Technical Service Command): 1 May 1945 – 9 March 1946
Known sub-bases and auxiliaries
Donalsonville Auxiliary Field
Reynoldville Auxiliary Field
Faceville Auxiliary Field
Vada Auxiliary Field
Babcock Auxiliary Field
Commodore Decatur Auxiliary Field
Later: Bainbridge Air Base (1951–1961)
3306th Pilot Training Group (Contract Flying)
Now: Decatur County Industrial Air Park (IATA : BGE , ICAO : KBGE , FAA LID : BGE )
Cochran Army Airfield, 10.3 miles (16.6 km) south of
Macon
Air Corps Basic Flying School/AAF Basic Flying Sch/AAF Pilot School (Basic): 15 May 1941 – 15 April 1945
Hq, 27th Flying Training Wing: 26 December 1942-1 May 1945
61st Air Base Squadron/61st Base Headquarters & Air Base Squadron: 28 May 1941 – 30 April 1944
2128th Army Air Force Base Unit: 1 May 1944 – 15 April 1945
Known sub-bases and auxiliaries
Gunn Auxiliary Field
Perry Auxiliary Field
Harris Auxiliary Field
Byron Auxiliary Field
Myrtle Auxiliary Field
Now: Middle Georgia Regional Airport (IATA : MCN , ICAO : KMCN , FAA LID : MCN )
Air Corps Advanced Flying School (Two Engine)/AAF Advanced Flying School (Two Engine)/AAF Pilot School (Advanced, Two Engine): 26 June 1941 – 30 April 1945
Hq, 29th Flying Training Wing: 26 December 1942-1 April 1945
78th Air Base Squadron/78th Base Headquarters & Air Base Squadron: 25 November 1941 – 30 April 1944
2144th Army Air Force Base Unit: 1 May 1944 – 30 April 1945
Known sub-bases and auxiliaries
Rock Ford Auxiliary Field
Lake Park Auxiliary Field
Bemiss Auxiliary Field
New River Auxiliary Field
Valdosta Auxiliary Field
Now: Moody Air Force Base (IATA : VAD , ICAO : KVAD , FAA LID : VAD )
Spence Field, 5.8 miles (9.3 km) east-southeast of Moultrie
Air Corps Advanced Flying School (Single Engine)/AAF Advanced Flying School (Single Engine)/AAF Pilot School (Advanced, Single Engine): 12 July 1941 – 1 August 1945
75th Air Base Squadron/75th Base Headquarters & Air Base Squadron: 26 December 1941 – 30 April 1944
2133rd Army Air Force Base Unit: 1 May 1944 – 15 December 1945
Known sub-bases and auxiliaries
Berlin Auxiliary Field
Norman Park Auxiliary Field
Moultrie Municipal Airport
Tifton Municipal Airport
Later: Spence Air Base (1951–1961)
3302d Flying Training Squadron (Contract Flying)
Now: Spence Airport (IATA : MUL , ICAO : KMUL , FAA LID : MUL )
Air Corps Advanced Flying School (Two Engine)/AAF Advanced Flying School (Two Engine)/AAF Pilot School (Advanced, Two Engine): 1 August 1941-15 August 1946
Hq, 74th Flying Training Wing: 25 Aug 43-Unknown
68th Air Base Squadron/68th Base Headquarters & Air Base Squadron: 25 June 1941 – 30 April 1944
2109th Army Air Force Base Unit: 1 May 1944 – 15 August 1946
Known sub-bases and auxiliaries
Leesburg Auxiliary Field
West Smithville Auxiliary Field
West Leesburg Auxiliary Field
North Smithville Auxiliary Field
Cordele Municipal Airport
Vidalia-Lyons Auxiliary Field
Tifton Municipal Airport
Albany Army Airfield
Later: Turner Air Force Base
(1947–1967)
Later: Naval Air Station Albany (1967–1976)
Now: Non-Aviation Use (Industrial Area); runway removed
AAF Contract Flying Schools
Air Technical Service Command
Base Detachment/303rd Air Base Squadron/303rd Base Headquarters & Air Base Squadron: 15 January 1941 – 1 April 1944
4204th Army Air Force Base Unit: 1 April 1944-26 May 1946
Warner Robins Air Service Command (WRASC)
USAAF/Civil Airfield Joint Use
Also used by: United States Navy
Now: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (
IATA :
ATL ,
ICAO :
KATL ,
FAA LID : ATL )
21st Air Base Squadron/21st Base Headquarters & Air Base Squadron: 8 August 1941 – 1 April 1944
4050th Army Air Force Base Unit: 1 April 1944 – 4 March 1946
Warner Robins Air Service Command (WRASC)
Also used by Third Air Force (1941-1942)
Joint use USAAF/Civil Airfield
Also used by: Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command (1942–1943)
Now: Daniel Field (IATA : DNL , ICAO : KDNL , FAA LID : DNL )
37th Air Depot Group
469th Army Air Force Base Unit
Warner Robins Air Service Command (WRASC)
USAAF/Civil Airfield Joint Use
Now: Macon Downtown Airport (IATA : MAC , ICAO : KMAC , FAA LID : MAC )
292d Army Air Force Base Unit: 25 March 194 – 13 April 1944
B-29 Superfortress
Manufacturing/Delivery
Also used by: Second Air Force
Now: : MGE )
Robins Field, 1.4 miles (2.3 km) north-northeast of
Warner Robins
4117th Army Air Force Base Unit
Warner Robins Air Service Command
(WRASC)
Warner Robins Air Depot
Now: Robins Air Force Base (IATA : WRB , ICAO : KWRB )
And: Warner Robins Air Logistics Center
(WRALC)
Minor airfields
References
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
Manning, Thomas A. (2005), History of Air Education and Training Command, 1942–2002 . Office of History and Research, Headquarters, AETC, Randolph AFB, Texas
Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II . Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. .
Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947–1977 . Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. .
Thole, Lou (1999), Forgotten Fields of America : World War II Bases and Training, Then and Now – Vol. 2. Pictorial Histories Pub .
Military Airfields in World War II – Georgia
Airfields Units
Commands Wings Groups
Bombardment Combat Cargo Fighter Reconnaissance Troop Carrier Other Incidents
United States Army Air Forces
Units
Commands Divisions Wings Groups
Air Commando
2nd Air Commando
3rd Air Commando
Bombardment Fighter Fighter-Bomber Reconnaissance
United States Army Air Forces
Flying training
Flying schools Specialized schools
Technical training