South Carolina World War II Army Airfields

Summary

During World War II, the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) established numerous airfields in South Carolina for antisubmarine defense in the Gulf of Mexico and for training pilots and aircrews of USAAF fighters and bombers.

South Carolina World War II Army Airfields
Part of World War II
South Carolina World War II Army Airfields is located in South Carolina
South Carolina World War II Army Airfields
South Carolina World War II Army Airfields
South Carolina World War II Army Airfields
South Carolina World War II Army Airfields
South Carolina World War II Army Airfields
South Carolina World War II Army Airfields
South Carolina World War II Army Airfields
South Carolina World War II Army Airfields
South Carolina World War II Army Airfields
South Carolina World War II Army Airfields
South Carolina World War II Army Airfields
South Carolina World War II Army Airfields
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Map Of Major South Carolina World War II Army Airfields

  Third Air Force     AAF Training Command
  AAF Contract Flying Schools
 Multiple Commands
TypeArmy Airfields
Site history
Built1940-1944
In use1940-present

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) and Air Transport Command (ATC) maintained a large base in Charleston.

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 edit

Multiple Commands edit

421st Base HQ and Air Base Squadron
Initially: Air Technical Service Command (29th Air Base Group, Distribution Point #2)
Also used by: Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command (16th Antisubmarine Squadron)
Later: Transferred to: First Air Force (113th AAF Base Unit)
Later: Transferred to: Air Transport Command (593d AAF Base Unit)
Later: Charleston Air Force Base (1952-2010)
Now:   Joint Base Charleston (2010-Present) (IATA: CHS, ICAO: KCHS, FAA LID: CHS)

Third Air Force edit

AAF Training Command edit

Eastern Flight Training Center

Army Air Force Flying School (Basic)
Known sub-bases and auxiliaries
Burt Gin Auxiliary Field
Rembert Auxiliary Field
Monaghan Auxiliary Field
Sumter Municipal Airport
Now:   Shaw Air Force Base (IATA: SSC, ICAO: KSSC, FAA LID: SSC)

AAF Contract Flying Schools edit

Minor Airfields edit

References edit

  This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

  • 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 - South Carolina

External links edit