Alabama World War II Army Airfields

Alabama World War II Army Airfields
Part of World War II
Locations of major World War II USAAF Airfields in Alabama
Type	Army Airfields
Site information
Controlled by	United States Army Air Forces
Site history
Built	1940-1944
In use	1940-Present
Garrison information
Garrison	Army Air Force Training Command

During World War II, Alabama was a major United States Army Air Force (USAAF) training center for pilots and aircrews of USAAF fighters and bombers.

The USAAF established Twelve major airfields under the command of Third Air Force, headquartered at MacDill Army Airfield, Florida between 1942 and 1945, along with several minor auxillary fields and airsrips.

The mission of these bases primarily was wartime training of aircrews by Army Air Forces Training Command (A precursor to the current-day USAF Air Education and Training Command). However a significant number of them had operational squadrons which were used for air defense of the Gulf coastline and anti-submarine patrols.

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

• Anniston Army Airfield, 15 miles southwest of Anniston.

Now: Talladega Municipal Airport (IATA: ASN, ICAO: KASN, FAA LID: ASN)

• Bates Field, 10 miles west of Mobile

Now: Mobile Regional Airport (IATA: MOB, ICAO: KMOB, FAA LID: MOB)

• Birmingham Army Airfield, 5 miles northeast of Birmingham.

Now: Birmingham International Airport (IATA: BHM, ICAO: KBHM, FAA LID: BHM)

• Brookley Field, 4 miles south of Mobile.

Was: Brookley Air Force Base (1948-1969)

Now: Mobile Downtown Airport (IATA: BFM, ICAO: KBFM, FAA LID: BFM)

• Courtland Army Airfield, 1 mile southwest of Courtland.

Now: Lawrence County Airport FAA: 9A4

• Craig Field, 5 miles southeast of Selma.

Was: Craig Air Force Base (1947-1977)

Now: Craig Field (IATA: SEM, ICAO: KSEM)

• Gunter Field, 2 miles northeast of Montgomery.

Now: Gunter Annex (Non flying United States Air Force facility)

• Maxwell Field, 2 miles west of Montgomery

Now: Maxwell Air Force Base (IATA: MXF, ICAO: KMXF, FAA LID: MXF)

• Moton Field, 3 miles north of Tuskegee.

Now: Moton Field Municipal Airport (FAA LID: 06A)

• Naiper Field, 7 miles northwest of Dothan.

Now: Dothan Regional Airport (IATA: DHN, ICAO: KDHN, FAA LID: DHN)

• Ozark/Cairns Army Airfield (IATA: OZR, ICAO: KOZR)

Part of: Fort Rucker

• Tuskee Army Airfield 7 miles northwest of Tuskegee.

Now: Sharpe Field (IATA: TGE, FAA LID: AL73)

Known Secondary Facilities

Auburn-Opelika Field (3 mi east of Auburn)  · Autaugaville Field (20 mi west of Selma)  · Camp Sibert (3 mi south of Attala)  · Dannelly Field (8 miles southest of Montgomery)  · Demopolis Field (8 miles west-southwest of Demoplis)  · Dothan Field (2 miles west-northwest of Dothan)  · Elmore Field (10 miles north of Montgomery)  · Furniss Field (10 miles south-southwest of Selma)  · Henderson Field (29 miles southwest of Selma)  · Huntsville Arsenal Field (7 miles southwest of Huntsville)  · Mollette Field (16 miles south-southwest of Selma)  · Muscle Shoals Field (1 mile east of Muscle Shoals)  · Ozark Army Airfield (12 miles south-southwest of Ozark)  · Roberts Field (gliders only, 8 miles north-northwest of Birmingham)  · Selfield Field (4 miles east-northeast of Selma)  · St. Elmo Municipal Airport (St Elmo)  · Tuskegee Aux Field #1 (4 miles south-southeast of Tuskegee)  · Tuskegee Aux Field #2 (3 miles north of Tuskegee)

See also

• Third Air Force
• United States Army Air Force

References

• Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0892010924.
• Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0912799129.
• Thole, Lou (1999), Forgotten Fields of America : World War II Bases and Training, Then and Now - Vol. 2. Pictorial Histories Pub . ISBN 1575100517