Illinois World War II Army Airfields
Encyclopedia
During World War II
, the United States Army Air Force (USAAF) established numerous airfields in Illinois
for training pilots and aircrews of USAAF fighters and bombers.
Most of these airfields were under the command of First 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 Transport Command
Air Technical Service Command
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 Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
for training pilots and aircrews of USAAF fighters and bombers.
Most of these airfields were 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....
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- Chanute Field AAF, RantoulRantoul, IllinoisRantoul is a village in Champaign County, Illinois, United States. The population was 13,674 at the 2010 census. The present mayor is Neal Williams, who was re-elected in 2009...
- Eastern Technical Training Center (Metrological School; adv. Specialities)
- 9th Army Air Force Base Unit
- Was: Chanute Air Force BaseChanute Air Force BaseChanute Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base located south of and adjacent to Rantoul, Illinois, about south of Chicago. Its primary mission throughout its existence was Air Force technical training....
(1917-1993) - Now: Rantoul National Aviation CenterRantoul National Aviation CenterRantoul National Aviation Center , also known as Frank Elliott Field, is a public-use airport located in Rantoul, a village in Champaign County, Illinois, United States. It is owned by the Village of Rantoul.Although most U.S...
- Curtis-Parks AAF, East St. LouisEast St. Louis, IllinoisEast St. Louis is a city located in St. Clair County, Illinois, USA, directly across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, Missouri in the Metro-East region of Southern Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 27,006, less than one-third of its peak of 82,366 in 1950...
- Contract Pilot School
- Now: Agricultural area
- George Field AAF, LawrencevilleLawrenceville, IllinoisLawrenceville is a city in Lawrence County, Illinois, along the Embarras River. The population was 4,745 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Lawrence County...
- AAF Southeast Training Center
- 327th Army Air Force Base Unit
- Now: Lawrenceville-Vincennes International AirportLawrenceville-Vincennes International AirportLawrenceville-Vincennes International Airport is a public-use airport located three nautical miles northeast of the central business district of Lawrenceville, a city in Lawrence County, Illinois, United States...
- Attenbury AAF, Columbus, IndianaColumbus, IndianaColumbus is a city in and the county seat of Bartholomew County, Indiana, United States. The population was 44,061 at the 2010 census, and the current mayor is Fred Armstrong. Located approximately 40 miles south of Indianapolis, on the east fork of the White River, it is the state's 20th largest...
- Sub-base of George AAF
- Now: Columbus Municipal Airport
- Sturgis AAF, Sturgis, KentuckySturgis, KentuckySturgis is a city in Union County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 2,030 at the 2000 census. The city was founded in 1886 and named for Samuel Sturgis, who owned the land now occupied by the city.-Geography:...
- Sturgis AAF, Sturgis, Kentucky
- Sub-base of George AAF
- Now: Sturgis Municipal AirportSturgis Municipal Airport (Kentucky)Sturgis Municipal Airport is a public use airport located two nautical miles east of the central business district of Sturgis, a city in Union County, Kentucky, United States. It is owned by the Union County Air Board. The airport was built in 1941 by the U.S. Army to provide pilot training...
- Attenbury AAF, Columbus, Indiana
Air Transport Command
- Scott Field, AAF, BellevilleBelleville, IllinoisBelleville is a city in St. Clair County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city has a population of 44,478. It is the eighth-most populated city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area and the most populated city south of Springfield in the state of Illinois. It is the county...
- 8th Army Air Force Base Unit
- Now:
Scott Air Force BaseScott Air Force BaseScott Air Force Base is a base of the United States Air Force in St. Clair County, Illinois, near Belleville.-Overview:The base is named after Corporal Frank S. Scott, the first enlisted person to be killed in an aviation crash...
Air Technical Service Command
- Chicago MAP, Chicago
- 395th Army Air Force Base Unit
- Joint use USAAF/Civil Airport
- Now: Chicago Midway International Airport
- Orchard Place APT/Douglas AAF, Chicago
- Joint use USAAF/Civil Airport
- Now: O'Hare International AirportO'Hare International AirportChicago O'Hare International Airport , also known as O'Hare Airport, O'Hare Field, Chicago Airport, Chicago International Airport, or simply O'Hare, is a major airport located in the northwestern-most corner of Chicago, Illinois, United States, northwest of the Chicago Loop...