During World War II, the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) established numerous airfields in Florida for antisubmarine defense in the western Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico and for training pilots and aircrews of USAAF fighters, attack planes, and light and medium bombers. After early 1944, heavy bomber crews also trained in the State. The School of Applied Tactics and the Air Proving Grounds which tested and developed new capabilities were also located in Florida.
Most of these airfields were under the command of Third Air Force, the AAF Antisubmarine Command (AAFAC), or the Army Air Forces Training Command (AAFTC). The 26th Antisubmarine Wing was headquartered in Miami. It controlled about forty percent of the AAFAC squadrons.
However the other USAAF support commands, Air Technical Service Command (ATSC) and Air Transport Command (ATC) or Troop Carrier Command, also hadd a significant number of airfields.
It is still possible to find remnants of these wartime airfields as most were converted into municipal airports, while others transitioned to the newly established United States Air Force in 1947.
Two remained as active USAF installations until 1960 and a third until 1962, at which time they, too, were converted into purely civilian airports, the latter as a commercial airport.
A fourth became a joint civil-military commercial airport hosting a Florida Air National Guard fighter-interceptor group until 1968 when the airport was permanently closed and replaced by a newly constructed international airport and concurrently constructed Air National Guard base also hosting the same Air National Guard fighter-interceptor group which today is a full fighter wing.
A fifth airfield remained as an active Strategic Air Command (SAC) bomber, tanker and reconnaissance base with a tenant Aerospace Defense Command (ADC) air command and control squadron. The base later incorporating a commercial jetport and became a joint civil-military airport in 1962 until the closure of the USAF installation in 1975 and its conversion to a civilian commercial international airport in 1976.
A sixth airfield remained as an active Tactical Air Command (TAC), then Air Combat Command (ACC), fighter base until 1995, hosting an active ACC fighter wing, a collocated Air Force Reserve (AFRES) fighter wing, a collocated AFRES rescue squadron, and a TAC-gained Florida Air National Guard (FLANG) fighter alert detachment/operating location. Having been substantially damaged by Hurricane Andrew in 1992, it was converted to air reserve base status as a fighter base for the extant Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) fighter wing and a fighter alert detachment site for the FLANG.
The remaining airfields that transitioned from USAAF to USAF continue to function as modern day active U.S. Air Force installations under the operational control of Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC), Air Combat Command (ACC) and Air Mobility Command (AMC). In addition, a former World War II-era naval air station was transferred to USAF in the 1950s and remains under the control of the Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) with a tenant ACC-gained AFRC rescue wing assigned as its sole military flying unit. An Air Education and Training Command (AETC) flying training group is also a tenant command on another active naval air station.
Hundreds of the temporary airfield buildings also survive today, with some still used for aeronautical activities and others being used for a variety of other purposes.
Major Airfields
Multiple Commands
I Bomber Command (1941)
Transferred to: Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command (1942-1943)
26th Antisubmarine Wing (Squadrons)
Transferred to: III Bomber Command
: Became sub-base of: MacDill Field (1943)
: Became sub-base of: Chatham Army Airfield, Georgia (1943-1944)
Transferred to: Air Service Command (1944-1945)
Later: Imeson Field Airport (1947-1968)
Concurrent Use: 125th Fighter-Interceptor Group, Florida Air National Guard, (1947-1968)
Now: Imeson Industrial Park (airfield closed; flight operations relocated to Jacksonville International Airport)
Third Air Force
HQ Third Air Force; III Fighter Command
Also used by: Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command (1942-1943)
26th Antisubmarine Wing (Squadrons)
337th Fighter Group (Single Engine)
22d Bombardment Training Wing (Heavy)
Drew Field Replacement Training Unit (Heavy Bombardment)
Army Air Force Aircraft Warning Unit Training Center (315th AAFBU)
89th Combat Crew Training Wing
Known sub-bases and auxiliaries
: Bartow Army Airfield
: Brooksville Army Airfield
: Hillsborough Army Airfield
Now: Tampa International Airport
HO III Bomber Command
27th Air Base Group
55th Bombardment Training Wing (Heavy)
326th Army Air Force Base Unit
Also used by: Air Transport Command
Known sub-bases and auxiliaries
: Bonita Springs Auxiliary Field
: Brooksville Army Airfield
: Hillsborough Army Airfield
: Fort Myers Army Airfield
: Lakeland Army Airfield
Now: MacDill Air Force Base
Initially Sub-Base of MacDill Field
III Bomber Command
88th Bombardment Group (Heavy)
Avon Park Replacement Training Unit (Heavy Bombardment)
Later: Avon Park Air Force Base (1949-1956)
Now: Avon Park Air Force Range and MacDill AFB Auxiliary Field
Initially Sub-Base of MacDill Field (Drane Field)
III Bomber Command
60th Flying Training Detachment (Medium Bombardment)
Transferred to: III Fighter Command (1943)
Commando Squadron Fighter Training School
Now: Lakeland Linder International Airport (1960-Present)
III Fighter Command
Initially Sub Base of Sarasota Army Airfield
Pinellas Replacement Training Unit (Fighter, Single Engine)
Now: St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport
Concurrent Use: Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater and Army Reserve Army Aviation Support Facility
III Fighter Command
338th Fighter Group (Single Engine)
Dale Mabry Replacement Depot
335th Army Air Force Base Unit (Replacement, Fighter)
Known sub-bases and auxiliaries
: Thomasville Army Airfield (Georgia)
: Harris Neck Army Airfield (Georgia)
: Perry Army Airfield
: Carrabelle Flight Strip#2
Later: Dale Mabry Field (commercial airport) (1946-1961)
Now: Campus of Tallahassee Community College (airfield closed)
III Fighter Command
54th Fighter Group (Single Engine)
Bartow Replacement Unit (Fighter, Single-Engine)
Later: Bartow Air Base (1950-1961)
Now: Bartow Municipal Airport
- Sarasota Army Airfield, north-northwest of Sarasota
III Bomber Command
Later: III Fighter Command
337th Fighter Group (Single Engine)
Sarasota Replacement Training Unit (Fighter, Single Engine)
Known sub-bases and auxiliaries
: Fort Myers Army Airfield
: Lake Wales Army Airfield
: Pinellas Army Airfield
: Punta Gorda Army Airfield
: Immokalee Army Airfield
Now: Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport
III Fighter Command
Also used by 27th Service Group (Air Service Command)
53d Fighter Group (Single Engine)
Venice Replacement Training Unit (Fighter, Single Engine)
422d Army Air Force Base Unit
Now: Venice Municipal Airport
AAF Training Command
Eastern Flying Training Command
17th Single Engine Flying Training Group (Advanced-Single Engine)
325th Army Air Force Base Unit
Known sub-bases and auxiliaries
: Ellis Auxiliary Field
: Malone Auxiliary Field
: Bascom Auxiliary Field
: Alliance Auxiliary Field
Later: Graham Air Base (1951-1960)
Now: Marianna Municipal Airport
Specialized Pilot Training School (Four Engine)
76th Army Air Force Base Unit
Known sub-bases and auxiliaries
: Conners Auxiliary Field
: Immokalee Army Airfield
Now: Sebring Regional Airport
Army Air Forces Flexible Gunnery School
38th Flexible Gunnery Training Group
328th Army Air Force Base Unit
Known sub-bases and auxiliaries
: Naples Army Airfield
Now: Buckingham Field Airport
Army Air Forces Flexible Gunnery School
38th Flexible Gunnery Training Group
69th Army Air Force Base Unit
Known sub-bases and auxiliaries
: Apalachicola Army Airfield
Now: Tyndall Air Force Base
Eastern Technical Training Command'
3501st Army Air Force Base Unit (Technical School, Radar)
Airfield became: Boca Raton Airport
Station became: Florida Atlantic University
AAF Contract Flying Schools
Lodwick Aviation Military Academy
61st Army Air Force Fight Training Detachment (Contract Flying)
Known sub-bases and auxiliaries
: Avon Park Auxiliary Field#1
: Avon Park Auxiliary Field#2
: Avon Park Auxiliary Field#3
: Avon Park Auxiliary Field#4
Now: Avon Park Executive Airport
Lodwick Aviation Military Academy
60th Flying Training Detachment (Contract Pilot School)
Also: Royal Air Force training
Known sub-bases and auxiliaries
: Coronet Auxiliary Field
: Haldeman-Elder Auxiliary Field
: Hampton Auxiliary Field
: Lodwick Auxiliary Field
: Northeast Auxiliary Field#1
: Northwest Auxiliary Field#3
: Gilbert Auxiliary Field
Now: Closed 1957, currently recreation area
Riddle-McKay Aero College
75th Flying Training Detachment (Contract Pilot School)
Also: Royal Air Force training
Now: Airglades Airport
Greenville Aviation School
Also operated: AAFSAT Ocala Bombing Range
Now: Closed 1962, currently industrial park
Riddle Aeronautical Institute
53d Flying Training Detachment (Contract Pilot School)
2148th Army Air Force Base Unit (Contract Pilot School)
Also: Royal Air Force training
Known sub-bases and auxiliaries
: Arcadia Airport
: Myrtle Auxiliary Field
: Southwest Auxiliary Field
: Sparkman Auxiliary Field
: Wells Auxiliary Field
Now: Closed 1945, currently Desoto County Juvenile Correctional Complex
Riddle Aeronautical Institute
54th Flying Training Detachment (Contract Pilot School)
2148th Army Air Force Base Unit (Contract Pilot School)
Also: Royal Air Force training
Known sub-bases and auxiliaries
: Dorr Auxiliary Field#1
: Dorr Auxiliary Field#2
: Dorr Auxiliary Field#3
: Dorr Auxiliary Field#4
Now: Closed 1945, currently Desoto County Correctional Institution
Civil, AAF, Navy training usage
Riddle Aeronautical Institute
Now: Closed 1947, partly Chapman Field Subtropical Horticulture Research Station
Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics
Initially used by: I Bomber Command (1941-1942)
Initially used by: Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command
13th Bombardment Group (1942-1943)
HQ Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics (1942)
9th Bombardment Group (Heavy)
50th Fighter Group (Special)
HQ Army Air Force Interceptor Command School (1943)
481st Night Fighter Operational Training Group
Known sub-bases and auxiliaries
: Brooksville Army Airfield
: Bushnell Army Airfield
: Kissimmee Army Airfield
: Cross City Army Airfield (1942-1946); Cross City Air Force Station (1958-1970)
: Zephyrhills Army Airfield
Airfield became: Orlando Municipal Airport (1946)
Now: Orlando Executive Airport
Ground Station became: Orlando Air Force Base (1947-1968)
Ground Station transferred to: United States Navy as <br/>Naval Training Center Orlando (1968-1999)
Now: Baldwin Park neighborhood of Orlando
sub-base of Orlando Army Airbase (1942-1945)
AAFSAT Technical Center
Transferred to: Air Proving Ground Command (1945)
Later: Pinecastle Air Force Base (1951-1958);<br/> McCoy Air Force Base (1958-1975)
Now: Orlando International Airport
sub-base of Orlando Army Airbase (1942-1943)
AAFSAT Medium Bombardment training unit
415th Bombardment Group (Medium)
Transferred to: III Fighter Command (1943)
Commando Squadron Fighter Training School
Known sub-bases and auxiliaries
: Cross City Army Airfield
: Keystone Army Airfield
: Leesburg Army Airfield
: Montbrook Army Airfield
Now: Gainesville Regional Airport
sub-base of Orlando Army Airbase (1942-1944)
AAFSAT Night Fighter Department (Dark)
420th Night Fighter Squadron
Transferred to: III Fighter Command (1944)
Commando Troop Carrier Training School
Known sub-bases and auxiliaries
: Canal Auxiliary Field
Now: Dunnellon/Marion County Airport
Air Transport Command
Station 8, Caribbean Wing, ATC
563d Army Air Force Base Unit
Was: Dade County Airport (1945-1955)
Was: Homestead Air Force Base (1955-1994)
Now: Homestead Air Reserve Base (1994-Present)
Joint Civil/Army Airfield use
Also used by: Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command
HQ 45th Bombardment Group (I Bomber Command) (1942)
HQ 26th Antisubmarine Wing (1942-1943)
Army Air Forces Pilot School (Miscellaneous Fields)
Operated by Pan American Airways
Later: : 408th Army Air Force Base Unit (Contract pilot training)
1595th Army Air Force Base Unit (First Foreign Transport Group)
1105th Army Air Force Base Unit (ATC Caribbean Wing)
Now: Miami International Airport
Initially used by: 8th Pursuit Wing, III Interceptor Command
Also used by: Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command
26th Antisubmarine Wing (Squadrons)
HQ Caribbean Wing, ATC
427th Army Air Force Base Unit
Also used by: United States Navy
Later: Palm Beach Air Force Base (1951-1962)
Now: Palm Beach International Airport
Proving Ground Command
HQ Army Air Forces Proving Ground Command
Known sub-bases and auxiliaries
Eglin Air Force Auxiliary Field #1
: Now Eglin AFB Aux Fld #1, Wagner Field
Eglin Air Force Auxiliary Field #2
: Now: Eglin AFB Aux Fld #2 Pierce Field
Eglin Air Force Auxiliary Field #3
: Now: Eglin AFB Aux Fld #3, Duke Field
Eglin Air Force Auxiliary Field #4
: Now: Eglin AFB Aux Fld #4, Peel Field
Eglin Air Force Auxiliary Field #5
: Now: Eglin AFB Aux Fld #5, Piccolo Field
Eglin Air Force Auxiliary Field #6
: Now: Eglin AFB Aux Fld #6 Biancur Field and Camp Rudder (1 October 1958-Present)
Eglin Air Force Auxiliary Field #7
: Now: Eglin AFB Aux Fld #7, Epler Field
Eglin Air Force Auxiliary Field #8
: Now: Eglin AFB Auf Fld #8, Baldsiefen Field
Eglin Air Force Auxiliary Field #9
: Previously Eglin AFB Aux Fld #9, Hurlburt Field (1947-1955)
: Now: Hurlburt Field
Eglin Air Force Auxiliary Field #10 (Dillon Field) (1943)
: Now: Naval Outlying Landing Field Choctaw (United States Navy)
Santa Rosa Island Range Complex
: Now: Santa Rosa Island Range Complex
Now: Eglin Air Force Base
Minor Airfields
- Naval Auxiliary Air Station (NAAS) Boca Chica, east-northeast of Key West
Used by: Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command (1942-1943)
26th Antisubmarine Wing (Squadrons)
Now: Naval Air Station Key West
- Naval Outlying Field (OLF) Marathon, east-northeast of Marathon
Used by: Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command (1942-1943)
26th Antisubmarine Wing (Squadrons)
Now: Florida Keys Marathon Airport
- Naval Outlying Field Meacham, east of Key West
Used by: Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command (1942-1943)
26th Antisubmarine Wing (Squadrons)
Now: Key West International Airport
Used by: Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command (1942-1943)
26th Antisubmarine Wing (Squadrons)
Now: Palm Beach County Park Airport
Civil Air Patrol Use
Used by: Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command (1942-1943)
26th Antisubmarine Wing (Squadrons)
Closed appx. 1945, now abandoned
- Jasper CAA Site#43, south-southeast of Jasper
Likely Emergency landing airfield
Closed appx. 1950, now farmland
Likely Emergency landing airfield
Now: Pomona Landing Airport
- Quincy Municipal Airport, east-northeast of Quincy
Likely Emergency landing airfield
Now: Quincy Municipal Airport
Used by the Dugway Proving Ground Mobile Chemical Warfare Testing Unit
Now: Closed appx. 1945, now abandoned
References
- 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 1947âÂÂ1977. 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 - Florida
External links