Kissimmee Army Airfield
Kissimmee Army Airfield | |
---|---|
Part of Army Air Force Training Command | |
Located near: Kissimmee, Florida | |
Coordinates | 28°17′23″N 081°26′14″W / 28.28972°N 81.43722°W |
Site history | |
In use | 1940–1945 |
Kissimmee Army Airfield, was a United States Army Air Forces airfield during World War II, located 1.8 miles (2.9 km) west of Kissimmee, Florida.
History
The airport opened in April 1940 as the Kissimmee Municipal Airport. By 1941, it was taken over by the
Operationally, once enough construction was completed, the first operational mission assigned to the new base was to conduct reconnaissance over the Atlantic coast and
Beginning in late 1942, the major mission of Orlando AAB became a training center for pilots and fighter and bomber groups of the
As part of the school, the
Beginning in January 1943, the mission of the airfield was changed to Night Fighter pilot training, the station coming under the jurisdiction of the AAFSAT Night Fighter Department (Dark). On 26 January 1943, the first American Night Fighter Squadron, the 414th was organized at Kissimmee AAF and equipped with Douglas
During 1943, newly formed night fighter squadrons at Orlando AAB were transferred to Kissimmee AAF, where the received instruction in the P-70. The operational training unit was the 349th Night Fighter Squadron, which was reassigned to the airfield from Orlando AAB.
In September 1943, the P-70s were replaced by the purpose-built
With the night fighter training mission being moved to southern California in January 1944, the military use of the field was phased down. On 6 September 1944, the 904th Army Air Forces Base Unit (Fighter), was assigned to Kissimmee AAF with a mission of testing tactics, techniques and equipment. Numerous aircraft types were sent to the field, including
Closure
With the end of the European War in May 1945, the pace of flying slowed down and in June 1945, orders were received from Orlando AAB that Kissimmee AAF would be closed. The airfield was closed on 7 July 1945 and jurisdiction of the airfield was transferred to
Major units assigned
- 99th Bombardment Squadron, 14 November 1942 – 5 January 1943.
- 414th Night Fighter Squadron, 26 January-21 April 1943 (P-70/A-20 Havoc)
- 415th Night Fighter Squadron, 8 February-21 April 1943 (P-70/A-20 Havoc)
- These two squadrons received only about two months of training in Florida before being assigned to Twelfth Air Force in North Africa, where they were equipped with British Bristol Beaufighters for operations.
- 418th Night Fighter Squadron, 5 March-26 April 1943 (P-70/A-20 Havoc)
- 419th Night Fighter Squadron, 22 April-15 October 1943 (P-70/A-20 Havoc)
- Moved to England in late May 1943 to complete training under the Royal Air Force, where they were equipped with British Bristol Beaufighters for operations.
- 420th Night Fighter Squadron, 1 June-20 August 1943 (P-70/A-20 Havoc)
- Formed at Orlando AAF in June 1943, moved to Kissimmee as an Operational Training Unit (OTU). Part of the 481st Night Fighter Operational Training Group (NFOTG), under the Army Air Forces Tactical Center (AAFSAT), headquartered at Orlando B.
- 349th Night Fighter Squadron, 1 January 1943 – 15 January 1944 (DB-7/P-70 (A-20) Havoc), (B-25 Mitchell)
- 422d Night Fighter Squadronwas the last squadron to be trained at Kissimmee AAF, 3 November 1943 – 6 January 1944 (P-70/A-20 Havoc) It then was moved back to Orlando for final training before being deployed to England
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 (ed.). Combat Squadrons of the Air Force: World War II. ISBN 0-405-12194-6.
- Maurer, Maurer (ed.), Air Force Combat Units of World War II, History and Insignia, USAF Historical Division, Washington, DC, 1961 (reprint 1983) ISBN 0-89201-092-4
- 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.
- World War II airfields database: Florida
- AFHRA search Kissimmee Army Airfield