During World War II, the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) established numerous airfields in North Carolina for antisubmarine defense in the Atlantic Ocean and 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). However Troop Carrier Command and Air Technical Service Command (ATSC) commanded several other airfields in a support role.
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
Troop Carrier Command
92d Army Air Force Base Unit (I TCC)
Was: Pope Air Force Base
Now: Pope Field
392d Army Air Force Base Unit
Glider training facility
Third Air Force
30th Army Air Force Base Unit
Now: Charlotte Douglas International Airport and
Now: Charlotte Air National Guard Base
333d Army Air Force Base Unit
Now: Seymour Johnson Air Force Base
423d Army Air Force Base Unit
Now: Wilmington International Airport
Army Air Force Training Command<br />AAF Southeast Training Center
Joint Use USAAF/Contract Flying School
Also used by United States Navy
Joint Use Civil Airport/USAAF/United States Navy
Joint Use Civil Airport/USAAF/United States Navy
Air Technical Service Command
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 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 - North Carolina
External links