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Tennessee World War II Army Airfields

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Tennessee World War II Army Airfields
Part of World War II
TypeArmy Airfields
Site history
Built1940-1944
In use1940-present

During World War II, the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) established numerous airfields in Tennessee for training pilots and aircrews of USAAF fighters and bombers.

Most of these airfields were under the command of Third 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

Army Air Force Training Command
AAF Southeast Training Center

  • Nashville AAC, Nashville (Non-Flying Facility)
Aviation Cadet Classification Center
526th Army Air Force Base Unit

Eastern Flying Training Command

313th Army Air Force Base Unit
Was: Sewart AAF until 1947, then Sewart Air Force Base (1947-1971)
Now: Smyrna Airport and Army Aviation Support Facility #1, Tennessee Army National Guard
William Northern Field, Tullahoma
Sub-base of Smyrna AAF
343d Army Air Force Base Unit
Now: Tullahoma Regional Airport

Air Transport Command

4th Ferrying Group
Joint use USAAF/Civil Airport/US Navy
346th Army Air Force Base Unit
Now: Memphis International Airport and Memphis Air National Guard Base
20th Ferrying Group
Joint use USAAF/Civil Airport
508th Army Air Force Base Unit
Now Nashville International Airport and Berry Field Air National Guard Base

Third Air Force

B-17/B-24 Pilot training facility
346th Bombardment Group, Very Heavy
419th Army Air Force Base Unit
451st Bombardment Group, Heavy
Reopened as Arnold Field (Tennessee)

References

  • 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 - Tennessee
Army Air Forces Training Command
Flying training
Flying schools
Specialized schools
Technical training
United States Army Air Forces Third Air Force in World War II
Units
Commands
Divisions
Wings
Groups
Air Commando
Bombardment
Fighter
Fighter-Bomber
Reconnaissance
  • United States Army Air Forces
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