Page Field Army Airfield: Difference between revisions
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==History== |
==History== |
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In 1924, the city of [[Fort Myers, Florida]], purchased a plot of land south of the city with the intention of developing it into a municipal golf course. It was never used for that purpose, but over time, it became a [[United States Army Air Forces]] military airfield during [[World War II]], and later, the site evolved into a civilian airport. |
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Initially, becoming "Palmetto Field", for the large amount of palmetto brush growing in and around the airport in the 1920s, [[National Airlines]] began making regular flights into the airfield in 1937, but those were soon discontinued due to the poor landing conditions. Efforts to upgrade the airfield were boosted by a January 1940 [[Works Projects Administration]] (WPA) project constructed three concrete runways. In addition, other improvements were made and by the time of the [[Pearl Harbor Attack]], "Lee County Airport" had grown to about 600 acres in size. |
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===World War II=== |
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With the United States at war, the War Department decided to lease the airport from Lee County, and the initial lease for its military use was signed in February 1942, and later renewed in June 1944. The airport was turned over to the jurisdiction of the United States Army Air Forces, who assigned it to [[Third Air Force]]. At first, the USAAF called the airport '''Fort Myers Army Air Base'''; eventually the field would be named '''Page Field Army Airfield''' to honor Captain Richard Page, a [[World War I]] aviator killed in a seaplane accident near [[Everglades, Florida]] in 1920. Captain Page was the first person from Florida to join the [[Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps]]. During World War I, he was credited with three German aircraft destroyed in combat and was the recipient of the [[Distinguished Service Cross]] along with the [[French Croix de Guerre]] and other awards. |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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Revision as of 19:38, 20 September 2011
Page Field Army Airfield
 | |
|---|---|
| Part of III Fighter Command | |
| Fort Myers, Florida | |
 Page Field Army Airfield - 1944 | |
| Coordinates | 26°35′12″N 081°51′48″W / 26.58667°N 81.86333°W |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1927 |
| Built by | United States Air Force |
| In use | 1942-1946 |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
- For the civilian airport use, see Page Field
Page Field Army Airfield is an inactive United States Air Force base, approximately 4 miles south of Fort Myers, Florida. It was active during World War II as a III Fighter Command training airfield. It was closed on 30 September 1945
History
In 1924, the city of Fort Myers, Florida, purchased a plot of land south of the city with the intention of developing it into a municipal golf course. It was never used for that purpose, but over time, it became a United States Army Air Forces military airfield during World War II, and later, the site evolved into a civilian airport.
Initially, becoming "Palmetto Field", for the large amount of palmetto brush growing in and around the airport in the 1920s, National Airlines began making regular flights into the airfield in 1937, but those were soon discontinued due to the poor landing conditions. Efforts to upgrade the airfield were boosted by a January 1940 Works Projects Administration (WPA) project constructed three concrete runways. In addition, other improvements were made and by the time of the Pearl Harbor Attack, "Lee County Airport" had grown to about 600 acres in size.
World War II
With the United States at war, the War Department decided to lease the airport from Lee County, and the initial lease for its military use was signed in February 1942, and later renewed in June 1944. The airport was turned over to the jurisdiction of the United States Army Air Forces, who assigned it to Third Air Force. At first, the USAAF called the airport Fort Myers Army Air Base; eventually the field would be named Page Field Army Airfield to honor Captain Richard Page, a World War I aviator killed in a seaplane accident near Everglades, Florida in 1920. Captain Page was the first person from Florida to join the Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps. During World War I, he was credited with three German aircraft destroyed in combat and was the recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross along with the French Croix de Guerre and other awards.
See also
References
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Shaw, Frederick J. (2004), Locating Air Force Base Sites History’s Legacy, Air Force History and Museums Program, United States Air Force, Washington DC, 2004.
- Manning, Thomas A. (2005), History of Air Education and Training Command, 1942–2002. Office of History and Research, Headquarters, AETC, Randolph AFB, Texas ASIN: B000NYX3PC
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