Arkansas World War II Army Airfields

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U.S. Army Air Forces airfields in Arkansas
Us army air corps shield.svg
Arkansas World War II Army Airfields is located in Arkansas
Blytheville
Blytheville
Walnut Ridge
Walnut Ridge
Newport
Newport
Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Adams Field
Grider Field
Location of U.S. Army Air Forces airfields in Arkansas
TypeArmy airfields
Site information
OwnerU.S. Army Air Forces
Controlled byThird Air Force
Training Command
Site history
Built1940 – 1944
Built byCorps of Engineers
In use1940 – present
Battles/wars

During World War II, the U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) established numerous airfields in Arkansas for training fighter and bomber pilots and aircrews.

Most of the airfields were under the command of Third Air Force or the U.S. Army Air Forces Training Command (USAAFTC), present-day 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[]

Army Air Force Training Command
Southeast Training Center/AAF Eastern Flying Training Command

  • Blytheville Army Air Field, 3 miles north of Blytheville
Army Air Forces Advanced Flying School (Two Engine) / Army Air Forces Pilot School (Advanced, Two Engine); 3 May 1942-31 May 1945
326th Base Headquarters and Air Base Squadron; 21 July 1942-30 April 1944
2111th Army Air Forces Base Unit; 1 May 1944-16 June 1945
Became Blytheville Air Force Base / Eaker Air Force Base (1951-1992)
Now: Arkansas International Airport (IATA: BYH, ICAO: KBYH, FAA LID: BYH) (1992-Present)
  • Newport Army Air Field, 6 miles northeast of Newport
Army Air Forces Basic Flying School/Army Air Forces Pilot School (Basic); 1 November 1942-30 April 1944
337th Base Headquarters and Air Base Squadron; 24 November 1942-30 April 1944
Later: Marine Corps Air Facility Newport
Now: Newport Municipal Airport (M19)
  • Stuttgart Army Air Field, 5 miles north of Stuttgart
Army Air Forces Advanced Flying School (Two Engine)/Army Air Forces Pilot School (Advanced, Two Engine); 20 September 1942-7 February 1945
426th Base Headquarters and Air Base Squadron; 20 September 1942-30 April 1944
2141st Army Air Forces Base Unit (AAFEFTC); 1 May 1944-7 February 1945
314th Army Air Forces Base Unit (Third AF); 7 February 1945-8 December 1945
Now: Stuttgart Municipal Airport (SGT)
Army Air Forces Basic Flying School/Army Air Forces Pilot School (Basic); 15 August 1942-1 September 1944
323th Base Headquarters and Air Base Squadron; 25 August 1942-30 April 1944
Later: Marine Corps Air Facility Walnut Ridge
Now: Walnut Ridge Regional Airport (ARG)
(Joint use USAAF/Civil Airport)
12th Ferrying Service Detachment/12th Ferrying Service Station; 1 December 1943-31 March 1944
581st Army Air Forces Base Unit (12th Ferrying Service Station); 31 March 1944-20 September 1945
Now: Clinton National Airport (IATA: LIT, ICAO: KLIT, FAA LID: LIT)
Pine Bluff School of Aviation
312th Flying Training Detachment
Now: Pine Bluff Regional Airport (IATA: PBF, ICAO: KPBF, FAA LID: PBF)

Known Secondary Facilities[]

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
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