This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (May 2016) |
During World War II, the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) established numerous airfields in Iowa for training pilots and aircrews of USAAF fighters and bombers.
Iowa World War II Army Airfields | |
|---|---|
| Part of World War II | |
  Des Moines AAF Sioux City AAB Spencer AAF Map Of Iowa World War II Army Airfields | |
| Type | Army Airfields |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1940-1944 |
| In use | 1940-present |
Most of these airfields were under the command of First 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 edit
| USAAF Name Current Name |
Mission | Host Unit | Location | Coordinates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines International Airport Des Moines Air National Guard Base |
Joint Use USAAF/Civil Airport Air Technical Services Command 1st Concentration Command |
842d Army Air Forces Specialized Depot | Des Moines | 41°32′18″N 093°39′34″W / 41.53833°N 93.65944°W | Used by ATSC as an Aircraft/Crew processing center for heavy bomber crews. Remained in use by Iowa Air National Guard after war ended and now a joint civil-military airport. |
| Sioux City Army Air Base Sioux Gateway Airport Sioux City Air National Guard Base |
II Bomber Command B-17/B-24 Bomber Training |
354th Army Air Force Base Unit | Sioux City | 42°23′54″N 096°22′19″W / 42.39833°N 96.37194°W | Closed 1945. Used by Air Defense Command as an Interceptor base, 1946-1968; Ground Control Radar station, 1959-1970. Now joint-use civilian airport and Iowa ANG base for KC-135 air refueling aircraft. |
| Spencer Field Spencer Municipal Airport |
Army Air Forces Training Command Contract Flying Instruction |
Hunter Flying Service School, Primary Flight Instruction | Spencer | 43°09′56″N 095°12′10″W / 43.16556°N 95.20278°W | The mission of the school was to train glider pilot students in proficiency in operation of gliders in various types of towed and soaring flight, both day and night, and in servicing of gliders in the field. Inanctivated 1944 |
References edit
- 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 - Iowa