Connecticut World War II Army Airfields
Encyclopedia
During World War II
, Connecticut
was a major United States Army Air Force (USAAF) training center for pilots and aircrews.
The USAAF established Six major airfields under the command of First Air Force
, headquartered at Mitchel Army Airfield
, New York
between 1942 and 1945.
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
).
It is still possible to find remnants of these wartime airfields as most were converted into municipal airports. Hundreds of the temporary buildings that were used survive today, and are being used for other purposes.
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...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
was a major United States Army Air Force (USAAF) training center for pilots and aircrews.
The USAAF established Six major airfields under the command of First Air Force
First Air Force
The First Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida....
, headquartered at Mitchel Army Airfield
Mitchel Air Force Base
Decommissioned in 1961, Mitchel Field became a multi-use complex currently home to the Cradle of Aviation Museum, Nassau Coliseum, Mitchel Athletic Complex, Nassau Community College and Hofstra University.-Origins:...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
between 1942 and 1945.
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
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....
).
It is still possible to find remnants of these wartime airfields as most were converted into municipal airports. Hundreds of the temporary buildings that were used survive today, and are being used for other purposes.
Airfields
- Bradley Field, 2 miles west of Windsor LocksWindsor Locks, ConnecticutWindsor Locks is a town located in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. As of the 2000 census, its population was 12,043. It is the site of Bradley International Airport, which serves the Greater Hartford-Springfield region. It is also the site of the New England Air Museum...
- Now: Bradley International AirportBradley International AirportBradley International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located in Windsor Locks on the border with East Granby and Suffield, in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is owned by the State of Connecticut....
(BDL)- Brainard Field, 2 miles south-southeast of HartfordHartford, ConnecticutHartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
- Brainard Field, 2 miles south-southeast of Hartford
- Now: Hartford-Brainard AirportHartford-Brainard Airport- See also :* Bradley International Airport * Connecticut World War II Army Airfields- External links :* at Connecticut DOT website...
(HFD)- Bridgeport AAF, 3 miles southeast of StratfordStratford, ConnecticutStratford is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States, located on Long Island Sound at the mouth of the Housatonic River. It was founded by Puritans in 1639....
- Bridgeport AAF, 3 miles southeast of Stratford
- Now: Sikorsky Memorial AirportSikorsky Memorial AirportIgor I. Sikorsky Memorial Airport , formerly known as Bridgeport Municipal Airport, is a public airport located in Stratford, three miles southeast of the central business district of Bridgeport, in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States...
(BDR)- Groton AAF, 3 miles southeast of GrotonGroton, ConnecticutGroton is a town located on the Thames River in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 39,907 at the 2000 census....
- Groton AAF, 3 miles southeast of Groton
- Now: Groton-New London AirportGroton-New London AirportGroton-New London Airport is a state-owned public-use airport located three miles southeast of the central business district of Groton, a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States...
(GON)- New Haven AAF, 3 miles southeast of New HavenNew Haven, ConnecticutNew Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
- New Haven AAF, 3 miles southeast of New Haven
- Now: Tweed New Haven Regional Airport (HVN)
- Rentschler Field, 3 miles east-southeast of HartfordHartford, ConnecticutHartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
- Rentschler Field, 3 miles east-southeast of Hartford
- Was: Rentschler Field (airport)Rentschler Field (airport)Rentschler Field was an airport in East Hartford, Connecticut in use from 1933 to 1999. Originally a military facility, later a private corporate airport, it was decommissioned in 1999, after which the football stadium of the same name was built on the site....
(1933-1997) - Now: Rentschler HeliportRentschler HeliportRentschler Heliport is a private heliport for the exclusive use of United Technologies Corporation, located 2 miles southeast of East Hartford, Connecticut....
(CT88) and Rentschler Field (football stadium)
See also
- First Air ForceFirst Air ForceThe First Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida....
- United States Army Air Force