South Dakota World War II Army Airfields

South Dakota World War II Army Airfields
Part of World War II
Mitchell AAF Pierre AAF Rapid City AAF Sioux Falls AAB Watertown AAF Aberdeen AAF Map Of South Dakota World War II Army Airfields
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 South Dakota for training pilots and aircrews of USAAF fighters and bombers.

Most of these airfields were under the command of Second 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.

Major Airfields

Air Technical Service Command

• Mitchell AAF/MAP, Mitchel

353d Army Air Force Base Unit (Det)

Now: Mitchell Municipal Airport (IATA: MHE, ICAO: KMHE)

• Pierre AAF, Pierre

353d Army Air Force Base Unit (Det)

Now: Pierre Regional Airport (IATA: PIR, ICAO: KPIR)

Second Air Force

• Rapid City AAB, Rapid City

353d Army Air Force Base Unit

Was: Rapid City Air Field (1947)

Was: Weaver Air Force Base (1948)

Was: Rapid City Air Force Base (1948-1953)

Now: Ellsworth Air Force Base (1953-Pres)

• Sioux Falls AAF, Sioux Falls

335th Army Air Force Base Unit

Now: Joe Foss Field Air National Guard Station (Joe Foss Field) (IATA: FSD, ICAO: KFSD)

Personnel Distribution Command

• Watertown AAF, Watertown

353d Army Air Force Base Unit (Det)

Now: Watertown Regional Airport (IATA: ATY, ICAO: KATY)

Army Air Force Training Command

• Aberdeen AAF, Aberdeen

Contract Flying School

Now: Aberdeen Regional Airport (IATA: ABR, ICAO: KABR)

References

• 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 - South Dakota