Alabama World War II Army Airfields
Encyclopedia
During World War II
, the United States Army Air Force (USAAF) established numerous airfields in Alabama
for antisubmarine defense in the Gulf of Mexico
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) (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); Air Transport Command (ATC) or Troop Carrier Command) commanded a significant number of airfields in a support roles.
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.
Air Technical Service Command
Third Air Force
) Autaugaville Field (20 mi (32.2 km) west of Selma
) Camp Sibert (3 mi (4.8 km) south of Attala) Dannelly Field (8 miles (12.9 km) southeast of Montgomery
) Dothan Field (2 miles (3.2 km) west-northwest of Dothan
) Elmore Field (10 miles (16.1 km) north of Montgomery
) Furniss Field (10 miles (16.1 km) south-southwest of Selma
) Henderson Field (29 miles (46.7 km) southwest of Selma
) Huntsville Arsenal Field (7 miles (11.3 km) southwest of Huntsville
) Mollette Field (16 miles (25.7 km) south-southwest of Selma
) Muscle Shoals Field (1 miles (1.6 km) east of Muscle Shoals
) Roberts Field (gliders only, 8 miles (12.9 km) north-northwest of Birmingham
) Selfield Field (4 miles (6.4 km) east-northeast of Selma
) St. Elmo Municipal Airport (St Elmo
) Tuskegee Aux Field #1 (4 miles (6.4 km) south-southeast of Tuskegee
) Tuskegee Aux Field #2 (3 miles (4.8 km) north of Tuskegee
)
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the United States Army Air Force (USAAF) established numerous airfields in Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
for antisubmarine defense in the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
and for training pilots and aircrews of USAAF fighters and bombers.
Most of these airfields were under the command of Third Air Force
Third Air Force
The Third Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Forces in Europe . It is headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany....
or the Army Air Forces Training Command
Air Training Command
Air Training Command is a former major command of the United States Army Air Forces and United States Air Force. ATC came into being as a redesignation of the Army Air Forces Training Command on July 1, 1946...
(AAFTC) (A predecessor of the current-day United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
Air Education and Training Command
Air Education and Training Command
Air Education and Training Command was established July 1, 1993, with the realignment of Air Training Command and Air University. It is one of the U.S. Air Force's ten major commands and reports to Headquarters, United States Air Force....
). However the other USAAF support commands (Air Technical Service Command (ATSC); Air Transport Command (ATC) or Troop Carrier Command) commanded a significant number of airfields in a support roles.
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
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
installations and were front-line bases during the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
. Hundreds of the temporary buildings that were used survive today, and are being used for other purposes.
Major Airfields
Army Air Force Training Command- Courtland AAF, 1 miles (1.6 km) southwest of CourtlandCourtland, AlabamaCourtland is a town in Lawrence County, Alabama, and is included in the Decatur Metropolitan Area, as well as the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the population of the town is 769.-Geography:...
- 446th Army Air Force Base Unit
- Now: Lawrence County Airport FAA: 9A4
- Anniston Army Airfield, 15 miles (24.1 km) southwest of AnnistonAnniston, AlabamaAnniston is a city in Calhoun County in the state of Alabama, United States.As of the 2000 census, the population of the city is 24,276. According to the 2005 U.S. Census estimates, the city had a population of 23,741...
- Auxiliary to Courtland AAF
- Now: Talladega SuperspeedwayTalladega SuperspeedwayTalladega Superspeedway is a motorsports complex located north of Talladega, Alabama, United States. It is located on the former Anniston Air Force Base just outside the small city of Lincoln. It was constructed by International Speedway Corporation, a business controlled by the France Family, in...
- Craig Field, 5 miles (8 km) southeast of SelmaSelma, AlabamaSelma is a city in and the county seat of Dallas County, Alabama, United States, located on the banks of the Alabama River. The population was 20,512 at the 2000 census....
- Craig Field, 5 miles (8 km) southeast of Selma
- Anniston Army Airfield, 15 miles (24.1 km) southwest of Anniston
- Eastern Flight Training Center
- 57th Army Air Force Base Unit
- Was: Craig Air Force BaseCraig Air Force BaseCraig Air Force Base near Selma, Alabama, was a U.S. Air Force Undergraduate Pilot Training base that closed in 1977. As an active air force base, Craig had two parallel runways, a large aircraft parking ramp and several large maintenance hangars....
(1947-1977) - Now: Craig FieldCraig Field (Alabama)Craig Field is a public-use airport located four nautical miles southeast of the central business district of Selma, a city in Dallas County, Alabama, United States. The airport is owned by Craig Field Airport & Industrial Authority...
- Gunter Field, 2 miles (3.2 km) northeast of MontgomeryMontgomery, AlabamaMontgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
- Gunter Field, 2 miles (3.2 km) northeast of Montgomery
- Eastern Flight Training Center
- 58th Army Air Force Base Unit
- Now:
Gunter Annex
(Non flying United States Air Force facility)- Maxwell Field, 2 miles (3.2 km) west of MontgomeryMontgomery, AlabamaMontgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
- Maxwell Field, 2 miles (3.2 km) west of Montgomery
- Eastern Flight Training Center
- 14th Army Air Force Base Unit
- Now: Maxwell Air Force BaseMaxwell Air Force BaseMaxwell Air Force Base , officially known as Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, is a United States Air Force installation under the Air Education and Training Command . The installation is located in Montgomery, Alabama, US. It was named in honor of Second Lieutenant William C...
; currently home of Air UniversityAir UniversityThe United States Air Force Air University is a component of the United States Air Force's Air Education and Training Command, headquartered at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. Air University is the U.S. Air Force's primary center for professional military education.-Organization:Air Force...
(AU), 42d Air Base Wing42d Air Base WingThe 42nd Air Base Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Education and Training Command Air University. It is stationed at Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, Alabama...
(42 ABW) and the Air Force Reserve CommandAir Force Reserve CommandThe Air Force Reserve Command is a major command of the U.S. Air Force with its headquarters at Robins AFB, Georgia.It stood up as a major command of the Air Force on 17 February 1997....
's 908th Airlift Wing908th Airlift WingThe 908th Airlift Wing is a C-130 theater airlift unit assigned to Air Force Reserve Command. The wing is stationed at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama....
(908 AW)
- Napier Field, 7 miles (11.3 km) northwest of DothanDothan, AlabamaDothan is a city located in the southeastern corner of the US state of Alabama, situated approximately west of the Georgia state line and north of Florida. It is the seat of Houston County, with portions extending into nearby Dale County and Henry County...
- Southeast Training Center, 1941
- 73d Army Air Force Base Unit
- Now: Dothan Regional AirportDothan Regional AirportDothan Regional Airport is a public use airport in the Dale County portion of Dothan, Alabama, located five nautical miles northwest of the central business district of Dothan, a city primarily in Houston County, Alabama, United States...
- Ozark/Cairns Army AirfieldCairns Army AirfieldCairns Army Airfield is a military airport forming a part of Fort Rucker, in Dale County, Alabama, USA. It is owned by the United States Army. The airfield is south of the town of Daleville, which sits between it and the main post.-History:...
- Auxiliary to Naiper Field
- Part of: Fort RuckerFort RuckerFort Rucker is a U.S. Army post located mostly in Dale County, Alabama, United States. It was named for a Civil War officer, Confederate General Edmund Rucker. The post is the primary flight training base for Army Aviation and is home to the United States Army Aviation Center of Excellence and...
- Tuskegee Army Airfield 7 miles (11.3 km) northwest of TuskegeeTuskegee, AlabamaTuskegee is a city in Macon County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 11,846 and is designated a Micropolitan Statistical Area. Tuskegee has been an important site in various stages of African American history....
- Southeast Training Center, 1941
- 318th Army Air Force Base Unit
- Now: Sharpe FieldSharpe FieldSharpe Field is a private use airport located six nautical miles northwest of the central business district of Tuskegee, a city in Macon County, Alabama, United States. This airport is privately owned by the Bradbury Family Partnership....
- Moton Field, 3 miles (4.8 km) north of TuskegeeTuskegee, AlabamaTuskegee is a city in Macon County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 11,846 and is designated a Micropolitan Statistical Area. Tuskegee has been an important site in various stages of African American history....
.
- Auxiliary to Tuskegee Army Airfield
- Now: Moton Field Municipal AirportMoton Field Municipal AirportMoton Field Municipal Airport is a public-use airport located three nautical miles north of the central business district of Tuskegee, a city in Macon County, Alabama, United States. The airport is owned by the City of Tuskegee...
Air Technical Service Command
- Birmingham AAF, 5 miles (8 km) northeast of BirminghamBirmingham, AlabamaBirmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
- 310th Army Air Force Base Unit
- Joint USAAF/Civil Use
- Now: Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport ; Birmingham Air National GuardAir National GuardThe Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
Base and the 117th Air Refueling Wing117th Air Refueling WingThe United States Air Force's 117th Air Refueling Wing is an Air National Guard air refueling unit located at Birmingham International Airport, Alabama.-Mission:...
(117 ARW) of the Alabama Air National GuardAlabama Air National GuardThe Alabama Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Alabama. It is, along with the Alabama Army National Guard, an element of the Alabama National Guard...
currently located at the airport- Brookley AAF, 4 miles (6.4 km) south of MobileMobile, AlabamaMobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
.
- Brookley AAF, 4 miles (6.4 km) south of Mobile
- Was: Brookley Air Force Base (1948-1969)
- 480th Army Air Force Base Unit
- Now: Mobile Downtown AirportMobile Downtown AirportMobile Downtown Airport is a public use airport located three nautical miles south of the central business district of Mobile, a city in Mobile County, Alabama, United States. It is also known as Brookley Field. The airport is part of the Brookley Complex, an industrial complex which lies on the...
- Bates Field, 10 miles (16.1 km) west of MobileMobile, AlabamaMobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
- Sub-base of Brookley AAF
- 533d Army Air Force Base Unit
- Now: Mobile Regional AirportMobile Regional AirportMobile Regional Airport is a joint public and military use airport located 11 nautical miles west of the central business district of Mobile, a city in Mobile County, Alabama, United States. It is also near Pascagoula, Mississippi....
- Bates Field, 10 miles (16.1 km) west of Mobile
Third Air Force
- Demopolis AAF, 8 miles (12.9 km) west-southwest of DemopolisDemopolis, AlabamaDemopolis is the largest city in Marengo County, Alabama, United States. The population was 7,483 at the time of the 2010 United States Census....
-
- Now Demopolis Municipal AirportDemopolis Municipal AirportDemopolis Municipal Airport is a city-owned public-use airport located six nautical miles southwest of the central business district of Demopolis, a city in Marengo County, Alabama, United States. It is also known as Demopolis Regional Airport and Julian D...
- Now Demopolis Municipal Airport
Known secondary facilities
Auburn-Opelika Field (3 mi (4.8 km) east of AuburnAuburn, Alabama
Auburn is a city in Lee County, Alabama, United States. It is the largest city in eastern Alabama with a 2010 population of 53,380. It is a principal city of the Auburn-Opelika Metropolitan Area...
) Autaugaville Field (20 mi (32.2 km) west of Selma
Selma, Alabama
Selma is a city in and the county seat of Dallas County, Alabama, United States, located on the banks of the Alabama River. The population was 20,512 at the 2000 census....
) Camp Sibert (3 mi (4.8 km) south of Attala) Dannelly Field (8 miles (12.9 km) southeast of Montgomery
Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
) Dothan Field (2 miles (3.2 km) west-northwest of Dothan
Dothan, Alabama
Dothan is a city located in the southeastern corner of the US state of Alabama, situated approximately west of the Georgia state line and north of Florida. It is the seat of Houston County, with portions extending into nearby Dale County and Henry County...
) Elmore Field (10 miles (16.1 km) north of Montgomery
Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
) Furniss Field (10 miles (16.1 km) south-southwest of Selma
Selma, Alabama
Selma is a city in and the county seat of Dallas County, Alabama, United States, located on the banks of the Alabama River. The population was 20,512 at the 2000 census....
) Henderson Field (29 miles (46.7 km) southwest of Selma
Selma, Alabama
Selma is a city in and the county seat of Dallas County, Alabama, United States, located on the banks of the Alabama River. The population was 20,512 at the 2000 census....
) Huntsville Arsenal Field (7 miles (11.3 km) southwest of Huntsville
Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville is a city located primarily in Madison County in the central part of the far northern region of the U.S. state of Alabama. Huntsville is the county seat of Madison County. The city extends west into neighboring Limestone County. Huntsville's population was 180,105 as of the 2010 Census....
) Mollette Field (16 miles (25.7 km) south-southwest of Selma
Selma, Alabama
Selma is a city in and the county seat of Dallas County, Alabama, United States, located on the banks of the Alabama River. The population was 20,512 at the 2000 census....
) Muscle Shoals Field (1 miles (1.6 km) east of Muscle Shoals
Muscle Shoals, Alabama
Muscle Shoals is a city in Colbert County, Alabama, United States. As of 2007, the United States Census Bureau estimated the population of the city to be 12,846. The city is included in The Shoals MSA. It is famous for its contributions to American popular music.-Geography:Muscle Shoals is located...
) Roberts Field (gliders only, 8 miles (12.9 km) north-northwest of Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
) Selfield Field (4 miles (6.4 km) east-northeast of Selma
Selma, Alabama
Selma is a city in and the county seat of Dallas County, Alabama, United States, located on the banks of the Alabama River. The population was 20,512 at the 2000 census....
) St. Elmo Municipal Airport (St Elmo
St. Elmo, Alabama
St. Elmo is an unincorporated community in Mobile County, Alabama, United States located approximately 7 miles due north of Bayou La Batre and the Mississippi Sound and approximately 10 miles east of Grand Bay, Alabama.-Geography:...
) Tuskegee Aux Field #1 (4 miles (6.4 km) south-southeast of Tuskegee
Tuskegee, Alabama
Tuskegee is a city in Macon County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 11,846 and is designated a Micropolitan Statistical Area. Tuskegee has been an important site in various stages of African American history....
) Tuskegee Aux Field #2 (3 miles (4.8 km) north of Tuskegee
Tuskegee, Alabama
Tuskegee is a city in Macon County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 11,846 and is designated a Micropolitan Statistical Area. Tuskegee has been an important site in various stages of African American history....
)