Henry Post Army Airfield
Encyclopedia
Henry Post Army Airfield is a military use airport
located at Fort Sill
in Comanche County
, Oklahoma
, United States
. This military airport is owned by United States Army
. It is the oldest continually operating airfield in the U.S. Army inventory. Established in 1917, it is named in honor of pioneer aviator Henry Post
(1885-1914).
, and officially established as an Airfield on 10-Sept-1917. Although the Signal corps had been supplying Observation aircraft for the United States Army Field Artillery School
since 1915. In the early days of aviation Observation balloons were considered a little more reliable than Airplanes for artillery spotting. Company A 1st Balloon Squadron was assigned to the post on 24-Sept 1917. but was split up into the 25th, and 26th Balloon Companies. along with the new field designation the 4th Aero Squadron was assigned to start training, and remained there until disbanded after the war. After the war the field was all but abandoned except for a balloon school/company. the tarpaper buildings rotting and turning into fire hazards. finally in the early 1930s the Army along with the WPA
was able to build permanent buildings the oldest of which, Bldg. 4908 the aircraft maintenance hangar (c.1932), still stands. In 1934 the famous balloon hangar was built to house Dirigibles.
s, and Bird dogs.
The Air Corps then turned over Post Field to the Army, which established the Department of Air Training there. Temporary mobilization buildings, including mainly barracks and troop support buildings like a recreation hall and post exchanges, were built in connection with the school. What was originally a five-week course was soon expanded, and special primary flight schools for prospective Field Artillery pilots were set up at Pittsburg, Kansas
, and Denton, Texas
. After attending one of these primary schools, pilots went to Post Field for their advanced training, which included shortfield procedures, and observer training. The United States Army Aviation School
was added in 1945 but was transferred to Fort Rucker
in 1954. The runway was not paved until after WWII had ended.
designated 17/35 with a concrete
surface measuring 5,001 by 200 feet (1,524 x 61 m).
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
located at Fort Sill
Fort Sill
Fort Sill is a United States Army post near Lawton, Oklahoma, about 85 miles southwest of Oklahoma City.Today, Fort Sill remains the only active Army installation of all the forts on the South Plains built during the Indian Wars...
in Comanche County
Comanche County, Oklahoma
Comanche County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Built on former reservation lands of the Comanche, Kiowa, and Apache in Indian Territory, Comanche County was open for settlement on August 16, 1901 by lottery. The region has three cities and seven towns as well as the Fort Sill...
, Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. This military airport is owned by United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. It is the oldest continually operating airfield in the U.S. Army inventory. Established in 1917, it is named in honor of pioneer aviator Henry Post
Henry Post
Henry Burnet Post was a Lieutenant in the US Army and a pioneer aviator who was killed in a crash. He set the altitude record of 12,120 feet....
(1885-1914).
History
In July of 1915 the 1st Aero Squadron arrived at Ft. Sill and stayed there while its permanent field in California was being finished. it was followed by the 3d Aero Squadron. Post Field was named after Henry PostHenry Post
Henry Burnet Post was a Lieutenant in the US Army and a pioneer aviator who was killed in a crash. He set the altitude record of 12,120 feet....
, and officially established as an Airfield on 10-Sept-1917. Although the Signal corps had been supplying Observation aircraft for the United States Army Field Artillery School
United States Army Field Artillery School
The United States Army Field Artillery School trains Field Artillery Soldiers and Marines in tactics, techniques, and procedures for the employment of fire support systems in support of the maneuver commander...
since 1915. In the early days of aviation Observation balloons were considered a little more reliable than Airplanes for artillery spotting. Company A 1st Balloon Squadron was assigned to the post on 24-Sept 1917. but was split up into the 25th, and 26th Balloon Companies. along with the new field designation the 4th Aero Squadron was assigned to start training, and remained there until disbanded after the war. After the war the field was all but abandoned except for a balloon school/company. the tarpaper buildings rotting and turning into fire hazards. finally in the early 1930s the Army along with the WPA
Works Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...
was able to build permanent buildings the oldest of which, Bldg. 4908 the aircraft maintenance hangar (c.1932), still stands. In 1934 the famous balloon hangar was built to house Dirigibles.
World War II
In 1940 the Artillery decided that the Air Corps had outgrown such mundane chores as spotting, and it was decided that it would take care of itself with its own spotter aircraft. ushering in the era of the now famous grasshopperTaylorcraft L-2
-External links:***-See also:...
s, and Bird dogs.
The Air Corps then turned over Post Field to the Army, which established the Department of Air Training there. Temporary mobilization buildings, including mainly barracks and troop support buildings like a recreation hall and post exchanges, were built in connection with the school. What was originally a five-week course was soon expanded, and special primary flight schools for prospective Field Artillery pilots were set up at Pittsburg, Kansas
Pittsburg, Kansas
Pittsburg is a city in Crawford County, in southeastern Kansas, United States. It is the most populous city in Crawford County and in southeastern Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 20,233.-History:...
, and Denton, Texas
Denton, Texas
The city of Denton is the county seat of Denton County, Texas in the United States. Its population was 119,454 according to the 2010 U.S. Census, making it the eleventh largest city in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex...
. After attending one of these primary schools, pilots went to Post Field for their advanced training, which included shortfield procedures, and observer training. The United States Army Aviation School
United States Army Aviation School
The United States Army Aviation School is located at Fort Rucker, Alabama-History:In 1912 the facility was located in College Park, Maryland.* Organic Army Aviation first entered into combat in November 1942 on the coast of North Africa...
was added in 1945 but was transferred to Fort Rucker
Fort Rucker
Fort 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...
in 1954. The runway was not paved until after WWII had ended.
Today
There are no air units currently stationed at the airfield, however air operations for transient units are provided by permanent party personnel.Past Units
- 1st Aero Squadron
- 3d Aero Squadron
- 4th Aero Squadron
- 25th Balloon Company
- 26th Balloon Company
- 43d Balloon Company 2-May-1918
- 44th Aero Squadron 26-June-1922 to 31-July-1927
- 88th Observation Squadron 1-June-1928
- 15th Observation Squadron 9-Jan-1941
- 1st Balloon Company / 1st Balloon Squadron 1929-1942
People
- Paul W. BeckPaul W. BeckPaul Ward Beck was an officer in the United States Army, an aviation pioneer, and one of the first military pilots. Although a career Infantry officer, Beck twice was part of the first air services of the U.S. Army, first as nominal head of the flying section of the Aeronautical Division, U.S...
- Kenneth WalkerKenneth WalkerBrigadier General Kenneth Newton Walker was a United States Army aviator and a United States Army Air Forces general who had a significant influence on the development of airpower doctrine. He posthumously received the Medal of Honor in World War II.Walker joined the United States Army in 1917,...
- Matthew Leander KingMatthew Leander KingMajor Matthew Leander King was an American engineer.-Early life and marriage:King was born in Panora, Iowa, the son of Anna Ross and John King. He graduated from the Mechanical Engineering Department of Iowa State College in 1906...
- Barksdale HamlettBarksdale HamlettBarksdale Hamlett, Jr. was a United States Army four-star general who served as commandant of the American sector of Berlin during the 1958 Berlin crisis and as vice chief of staff of the U.S. Army from 1962 to 1964...
- Samuel Reeves KeeslerSamuel Reeves KeeslerSamuel Reeves Keesler, Jr. was a member of the United States Army Air Service in World War I....
- Donald Wilson (general)Donald Wilson (general)Donald Wilson was a United States Army Air Forces general during World War II.Wilson enlisted in the Maryland National Guard as a private in 1916 and served with it on the Mexican border and the Western Front during World War I before transferring to the United States Army Air Service. After the...
- Milton CrenchawMilton CrenchawMilton Pitts Crenchaw is the father of black aviation in Arkansas. He was the first Arkansan to be successfully trained by the federal government as a civilian licensed pilot...
See also
- Oklahoma World War II Army AirfieldsOklahoma World War II Army AirfieldsDuring World War II, the United States Army Air Forces established numerous airfields in Oklahoma for training pilots and aircrews of AAF fighters and bombers or as major maintenance and supply centers....
- List of United States Army airfields
- Aeronautical Division, U.S. Signal CorpsAeronautical Division, U.S. Signal CorpsThe Aeronautical Division, Signal Corps was the world's first heavier-than-air military aviation organization and the progenitor of the United States Air Force. A component of the U.S...
- List of American Aero Squadrons
- Fort SillFort SillFort Sill is a United States Army post near Lawton, Oklahoma, about 85 miles southwest of Oklahoma City.Today, Fort Sill remains the only active Army installation of all the forts on the South Plains built during the Indian Wars...
Facilities
Henry Post AAF has one runwayRunway
According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
designated 17/35 with a concrete
Concrete
Concrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
surface measuring 5,001 by 200 feet (1,524 x 61 m).
External links
- http://www.footnote.com/image/#20349136 25th Balloon Company
- http://www.quad-a.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=102&Itemid=76
- http://www.worldwar1.com/dbc/balloon43.htm
- Aerial image as of 19 February 1995 from USGS The National Map