Florida World War II Army Airfields

Florida World War II Army Airfields
Part of World War II
Type	Army Airfields
Site history
Built	1940-1944
In use	1940-present

During World War II, the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) established numerous airfields in Florida for antisubmarine defense in the western Atlantic and 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), the latter being the predecessor of the current-day United States Air Force's Air Education and Training Command (AETC). However the other USAAF support commands, Air Technical Service Command (ATSC) and Air Transport Command (ATC) or Troop Carrier Command, also commanded a significant number of airfields in a support roles.

It is still possible to find remnants of these wartime airfields as most were converted into municipal airports. Two remained as active USAF installations until 1960, while a third was a joint civil-military airport hosting a Florida Air National Guard fighter-interceptor group until 1968. A fourth remained an active Strategic Air Command bomber and tanker base prior to its closure and conversion to a commercial international airport in 1975-76, while a fifth remained as an active Tactical Air Command then Air Combat Command fighter base until 1995, when it was converted to air reserve base status as a fighter base for the Air Force Reserve Command and the Florida Air National Guard. The others remain as modern day active U.S. Air Force installations. Hundreds of the temporary buildings that were used also survive today, with many being used for other purposes.

Major Airfields

Multiple Commands

• Jacksonville Army Airfield, 6.2 miles (10.0 km) north of Jacksonville

I Bomber Command (1941)

Transferred to: Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command (1942-1943)

26th Antisubmarine Wing (Squadrons)

Transferred to: III Bomber Command

Became sub-base of: MacDill Field (1943)

Became sub-base of: Chatam Army Airfield, Georgia (1943-1944)

Transferred to: Air Service Command (1944-1945)

Later: Imeson Field Airport (1947-1968)

Used by: 125th Fighter-Interceptor Group, Florida Air National Guard, (1947-1968)

Now: Imeson Industrial Park (airfield closed)

Third Air Force

• Drew Field, 5.0 miles (8.0 km) west-northwest of Tampa

HQ Third Air Force; III Fighter Command

Also used by: Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command (1942-1943)

26th Antisubmarine Wing (Squadrons)

337th Fighter Group (Single Engine)

22d Bombardment Training Wing (Heavy)

Drew Field Replacement Training Unit (Heavy Bombardment)

Army Air Force Aircraft Warning Unit Training Center (315th AAFBU)

89th Combat Crew Training Wing

Known sub-bases and auxiliaries

Bartow Army Airfield

Brooksville Army Airfield

Hillsborough Army Airfield

Now: Tampa International Airport (IATA: TPA, ICAO: KTPA, FAA Location identifier: TPA)

• MacDill Field, 7.8 miles (12.6 km) south-southwest of Tampa

HO III Bomber Command

27th Air Base Group

55th Bombardment Training Wing (Heavy)

326th Army Air Force Base Unit

Also used by: Air Transport Command

Known sub-bases and auxiliaries

Bonita Springs Auxiliary Field

Brooksville Army Airfield

Hillsborough Army Airfield

Fort Myers Army Airfield

Lakeland Army Airfield

Now: MacDill Air Force Base (IATA: MCF, ICAO: KMCF, FAA Location identifier: MCF)

• Avon Park Army Airfield, 10.7 miles (17.2 km) east-northeast of Avon Park

Initially Sub-Base of MacDill Field

III Bomber Command

88th Bombardment Group (Heavy)

Avon Park Replacement Training Unit (Heavy Bombardment)

Later: Avon Park Air Force Base (1949-1956)

Now: Avon Park Air Force Range (ICAO: KAGR, FAA Location identifier: AGR)

• Lakeland Army Airfield / Drane Field, 5.3 miles (8.5 km) southwest of Lakeland

Initially Sub-Base of MacDill Field (Drane Field)

III Bomber Command

60th Flying Training Detachment (Medium Bombardment)

Transferred to: III Fighter Command (1943)

Commando Squadron Fighter Training School

Now: Lakeland Linder Regional Airport (1960-Present) (IATA: LAL, ICAO: KLAL, FAA Location identifier: LAL)

• Pinellas Army Airfield, 9.9 miles (15.9 km) north-northwest of St. Petersburg

III Fighter Command

Initially Sub Base of Sarasota Army Airfield

Pinellas Replacement Training Unit (Fighter, Single Engine)

Now: St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport (IATA: PIE, ICAO: KPIE, FAA Location identifier: PIE)

Now: Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater and Army Reserve Army Aviation Support Facility

• Dale Mabry Army Airfield, 3.4 miles (5.5 km) west of Tallahassee

III Fighter Command

338th Fighter Group (Single Engine)

Dale Mabury Replacement Depot

335th Army Air Force Base Unit (Replacement, Fighter)

Known sub-bases and auxiliaries

Thomasville Army Airfield (Georgia)

Harris Neck Army Airfield (Georgia)

Perry Army Airfield

Carrabelle Flight Strip#2

Later: Dale Mabry Field (commercial airport) (1946-1961)

Now: Campus of Tallahassee Community College (airfield closed)

• Bartow Army Airfield, 4.9 miles (7.9 km) northeast of Bartow

III Fighter Command

54th Fighter Group (Single Engine)

Bartow Replacement Unit (Fighter, Single-Engine)

Later: Bartow Air Base (1950-1961)

Now: Bartow Municipal Airport (IATA: BOW, ICAO: KBOW, FAA Location identifier: BOW)

• Sarasota Army Airfield, 4.4 miles (7.1 km) north-northwest of Sarasota

III Bomber Command

Later: III Fighter Command

337th Fighter Group (Single Engine)

Sarasota Replacement Training Unit (Fighter, Single Engine)

Known sub-bases and auxiliaries

Fort Myers Army Airfield

Lake Wales Army Airfield

Pinellas Army Airfield

Punta Gorda Army Airfield

Immokalee Army Airfield

Now: Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (IATA: SRQ, ICAO: KSRQ, FAA Location identifier: SRQ)

• Venice Army Airfield, 2.1 miles (3.4 km) south-southeast of Venice

III Fighter Command

Also used by 27th Service Group (Air Service Command)

53d Fighter Group (Single Engine)

Venice Replacement Training Unit (Fighter, Single Engine)

422d Army Air Force Base Unit

Now: Venice Municipal Airport (IATA: VNC, ICAO: KVNC, FAA Location identifier: VNC)

AAF Training Command

Eastern Flying Training Command

• Marianna Army Airfield, 5.1 miles (8.2 km) north-northeast of Marianna

17th Single Engine Flying Training Group (Advanced-Single Engine)

325th Army Air Force Base Unit

Known sub-bases and auxiliaries

Ellis Auxiliary Field

Malone Auxiliary Field

Bascom Auxiliary Field

Alliance Auxiliary Field

Later: Marianna Air Base (1951-1960)

Now: Marianna Municipal Airport (ICAO: KMAI, FAA Location identifier: MAI)

• Hendricks Field, 6.6 miles (10.6 km) east-southeast of Sebring

Specialized Pilot Training School (Four Engine)

76th Army Air Force Base Unit

Known sub-bases and auxiliaries

Conners Auxiliary Field

Immokalee Army Airfield

Now: Sebring Regional Airport (IATA: SEF, ICAO: KSEF, FAA Location identifier: SEF)

• Buckingham Army Airfield, 10 miles (16 km) east of Fort Myers

Army Air Forces Flexible Gunnery School

38th Flexible Gunnery Training Group

328th Army Air Force Base Unit

Known sub-bases and auxiliaries

Naples Army Airfield

Now: Buckingham Field Airport (FAA Location identifier: FL59)

• Tyndall Field, 7.5 miles (12.1 km) southeast of Panama City

Army Air Forces Flexible Gunnery School

38th Flexible Gunnery Training Group

69th Army Air Force Base Unit

Known sub-bases and auxiliaries

Apalachicola Army Airfield

Now: Tyndall Air Force Base (IATA: PAM, ICAO: KPAM, FAA Location identifier: PAM)

Eastern Technical Training Command'

• Boca Raton Army Airfield, 2.1 miles (3.4 km) northeast of Boca Raton

3501st Army Air Force Base Unit (Technical School, Radar)

Airfield became: Boca Raton Airport (IATA: BCT, ICAO: KBCT, FAA Location identifier: BCT)

Station became: Florida Atlantic University

AAF Contract Flying Schools

• Avon Park Municipal Airport, 1.4 miles (2.3 km) west-southwest of Avon Park

Lodwick Aviation Military Academy

61st Army Air Force Fight Training Detachment (Contract Flying)

Known sub-bases and auxiliaries

Avon Park Auxiliary Field#1

Avon Park Auxiliary Field#2

Avon Park Auxiliary Field#3

Avon Park Auxiliary Field#4

Now: Avon Park Executive Airport (IATA: AVO, ICAO: KAVO, FAA Location identifier: AVO)

• Lodwick Field, 2.1 miles (3.4 km) north-northeast of Lakeland

Lodwick Aviation Military Academy

60th Flying Training Detachment (Contract Pilot School)

Also: Royal Air Force training

Known sub-bases and auxiliaries

Coronet Auxiliary Field

Haldeman-Elder Auxiliary Field

Hampton Auxiliary Field

Lodwick Auxiliary Field

Northeast Auxiliary Field#1

Northwest Auxiliary Field#3

Gilbert Auxiliary Field

Now: Closed 1957, currently recreation area

• Riddle Field, 7.4 miles (11.9 km) west-southwest of Clewiston

Riddle-McKay Aero College

75th Flying Training Detachment (Contract Pilot School)

Also: Royal Air Force training

Now: Airglades Airport (FAA Location identifier: 2IS)

• Taylor Field Airport, 2.1 miles (3.4 km) southwest of Ocala

Greenville Aviation School

Also operated: AAFSAT Ocala Bombing Range

Now: Closed 1962, currently industrial park

• Carlstrom Field, 6.4 miles (10.3 km) southeast of Arcadia

Riddle Aeronautical Institute

53d Flying Training Detachment (Contract Pilot School)

2148th Army Air Force Base Unit (Contract Pilot School)

Also: Royal Air Force training

Known sub-bases and auxiliaries

Arcadia Airport

Myrtle Auxiliary Field

Southwest Auxiliary Field

Sparkman Auxiliary Field

Wells Auxiliary Field

Now: Closed 1945, currently Desoto County Juvenile Correctional Complex

• Dorr Field, 11.6 miles (18.7 km) east of Arcadia

Riddle Aeronautical Institute

54th Flying Training Detachment]] (Contract Pilot School)

2148th Army Air Force Base Unit]] (Contract Pilot School)

Also: Royal Air Force training

Known sub-bases and auxiliaries

Dorr Auxiliary Field#1

Dorr Auxiliary Field#2

Dorr Auxiliary Field#3

Dorr Auxiliary Field#4

Now: Closed 1945, currently Desoto County Correctional Institution

• Chapman Field, 11.1 miles (17.9 km) south-southwest of Miami

Civil, AAF, Navy training usage

Riddle Aeronautical Institute

Now: Closed 1947, partly Chapman Field Subtropical Horticulture Research Station

Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics

• Orlando Army Air Base, 2.9 miles (4.7 km) east of Orlando

Initially used by: I Bomber Command (1941-1942)

Initially used by: Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command

13th Bombardment Group (1942-1943)

HQ Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics (1942)

9th Bombardment Group (Heavy)

50th Fighter Group (Special)

HQ Army Air Force Interceptor Command School (1943)

481st Night Fighter Operational Training Group

Known sub-bases and auxiliaries

Brooksville Army Airfield

Bushnell Army Airfield

Kissimmee Army Airfield

Cross City Army Airfield (1942-1946); Cross City Air Force Station (1958-1970)

Zephyrhills Army Airfield

Airfield became: Orlando Municipal Airport (1946)

Now: Orlando Executive Airport (IATA: ORL, ICAO: KORL, FAA Location identifier: ORL)

Ground Station became: Orlando Air Force Base (1951-1967)

Ground Station transferred to: United States Navy as Naval Training Center Orlando (1968-1999)

Now: Baldwin Park neighborhood of Orlando

• Pinecastle Army Airfield, 8.7 miles (14.0 km) south-southeast of Orlando

sub-base of Orlando Army Airbase (1942-1945)

AAFSAT Technical Center

Transferred to: Air Proving Ground Command (1945)

Later: Pinecastle Air Force Base (1951-1958); McCoy Air Force Base (1958-1975)

Now: Orlando International Airport (IATA: MCO, ICAO: KMCO, FAA Location identifier: MCO)

• Alachua Army Airfield, 4.2 miles (6.8 km) northeast of Gainesville

sub-base of Orlando Army Airbase (1942-1943)

AAFSAT Medium Bombardment training unit

415th Bombardment Group (Medium)

Transferred to: III Fighter Command (1943)

Commando Squadron Fighter Training School

Known sub-bases and auxiliaries

Cross City Army Airfield

Keystone Army Airfield

Leesburg Army Airfield

Montbrook Army Airfield

Now: Gainesville Regional Airport (IATA: GNV, ICAO: KGNV, FAA Location identifier: GNV)

• Dunnellon Army Airfield, 5.2 miles (8.4 km) east of Dunnellon

sub-base of Orlando Army Airbase (1942-1944)

AAFSAT Night Fighter Department (Dark)

420th Night Fighter Squadron

Transferred to: III Fighter Command (1944)

Commando Troop Carrier Training School

Known sub-bases and auxiliaries

Canal Auxiliary Field

Now: Dunnellon/Marion County Airport (FAA Location identifier: X35)

Air Transport Command

• Homestead Army Air Base, 6.0 miles (9.7 km) east-northeast of Homestead

Station 8, Caribbean Wing, ATC

563d Army Air Force Base Unit

Was: Dade County Airport (1945-1955)

Was: Homestead Air Force Base (1955-1994)

Now: Homestead Air Reserve Base (1994-Present) (IATA: HST, ICAO: KHST, FAA Location identifier: HST)

• Miami Army Airfield (36th Street Airport), Miami

Joint Civil/Army Airfield use

Also used by: Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command

HQ 45th Bombardment Group (I Bomber Command) (1942)

HQ 26th Antisubmarine Wing (1942-1943)

Army Air Forces Pilot School (Miscellaneous Fields)

Operated by Pan American Airways

Later: : 408th Army Air Force Base Unit (Contract pilot training)

1595th Army Air Force Base Unit (First Foreign Transport Group)

1105th Army Air Force Base Unit (ATC Caribbean Wing)

Now: Miami International Airport (IATA: MIA, ICAO: KMIA, FAA Location identifier: MIA)

• Morrison Field, 3.4 miles (5.5 km) southwest of West Palm Beach

Initially used by: 8th Pursuit Wing, III Interceptor Command

Also used by: Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command

26th Antisubmarine Wing (Squadrons)

HQ Caribbean Wing, ATC

427th Army Air Force Base Unit

Also used by: United States Navy

Later: Palm Beach Air Force Base (1951-1962)

Now: Palm Beach International Airport (IATA: PBI, ICAO: KPBI, FAA Location identifier: PBI)

Proving Ground Command

• Eglin Field, 3.1 miles (5.0 km) southwest of Valparaiso

HQ Army Air Forces Proving Ground Command

Known sub-bases and auxiliaries

Eglin Air Force Auxiliary Field #1

Now Eglin AFB Aux Fld #1, Wagner Field

Eglin Air Force Auxiliary Field #2

Now: Eglin AFB Aux Fld #2 Pierce Field

Eglin Air Force Auxiliary Field #3

Now: Eglin AFB Aux Fld #3, Duke Field

Eglin Air Force Auxiliary Field #4

Now: Eglin AFB Aux Fld #4, Peel Field

Eglin Air Force Auxiliary Field #5

Now: Eglin AFB Aux Fld #5, Piccolo Field

Eglin Air Force Auxiliary Field #6

Now: Eglin AFB Aux Fld #6 Biancur Field and Camp Rudder (1 October 1958-Present)

Eglin Air Force Auxiliary Field #7

Now: Eglin AFB Aux Fld #7, Epler Field

Eglin Air Force Auxiliary Field #8

Now: Eglin AFB Auf Fld #9, Baldsiefen Field

Eglin Air Force Auxiliary Field #9

Previously Eglin AFB Aux Fld #9, Hurlburt Field (1947-1955)

Now: Hurlburt Field

Eglin Air Force Auxiliary Field #10 (Dillon Field) (1943)

Now: Naval Outlying Field Choctaw (United States Navy)

Santa Rosa Island Range Complex

Now: Santa Rosa Island Range Complex

Now: Eglin Air Force Base (IATA: VPS, ICAO: KVPS, FAA Location identifier: VPS)

Minor Airfields

• Naval Auxiliary Air Station (NAAS) Boca Chica, 6.1 miles (9.8 km) east-northeast of Key West

Used by: Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command (1942-1943)

26th Antisubmarine Wing (Squadrons)

Now: Naval Air Station Key West (IATA: NQX, ICAO: KNQX, FAA Location identifier: NQX)

• Naval Outlying Field (OLF) Marathon, 2.6 miles (4.2 km) east-northeast of Marathon

Used by: Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command (1942-1943)

26th Antisubmarine Wing (Squadrons)

Now: Florida Keys Marathon Airport (IATA: MTH, ICAO: KMTH, FAA Location identifier: MTH)

• Naval Outlying Field Meacham, 1.5 miles (2.4 km) east of Key West

Used by: Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command (1942-1943)

26th Antisubmarine Wing (Squadrons)

Now: Key West International Airport (IATA: EYW, ICAO: KEYW, FAA Location identifier: EYW)

• Lantana Airport, 8.7 miles (14.0 km) south-southwest of West Palm Beach

Used by: Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command (1942-1943)

26th Antisubmarine Wing (Squadrons)

Now: Palm Beach County Park Airport (IATA: LNA, ICAO: KLNA, FAA Location identifier: LNA)

• Flagler Beach Airport, Flagler Beach

Civil Air Patrol Use

Used by: Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command (1942-1943)

26th Antisubmarine Wing (Squadrons)

Closed appx. 1945, now abandoned

• Jasper CAA Site#43, 2.8 miles (4.5 km) south-southeast of Jasper

Likely Emergency landing airfield

Closed appx. 1950, now farmland

• Ponoma Field, 0.9 miles (1.4 km) east of Pomona Park

Likely Emergency landing airfield

Now: Pomona Landing Airport (FAA Location identifier: 78FL)

• Quincy Municipal Airport, 1.7 miles (2.7 km) east-northeast of Quincy

Likely Emergency landing airfield

Now: Quincy Municipal Airport (FAA Location identifier: 2J9)

• Withlacoochee Army Airfield, 8.2 miles (13.2 km) east of Lacoochee

Used by the Dugway Proving Ground Mobile Chemical Warfare Testing Unit

Now: Closed appx. 1945, now abandoned

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

• 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 - Florida