| California World War II Army Airfields | |
| Ensign: | Us army air corps shield.svg |
| Ensign Size: | 50px |
| Partof: | World War II |
| Type: | Army Airfields |
| Built: | 1940–1944 |
| Used: | 1940–present |
During World War II, the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) established numerous airfields in California for training pilots and aircrews of USAAF fighters and bombers.
Most of these airfields were under the command of Fourth Air Force or the Army Air Forces Training Command (AAFTC). However, Air Technical Service Command (ATSC), Air Transport Command (ATC) and I Troop Carrier Command used a significant number of airfields in a support role. A significant number of them had operational squadrons for air defense of the Pacific coastline and anti-submarine patrols, and one was even handed over to Civil Air Patrol pilots for their use.
In addition to the major fields, dozens of minor auxiliary fields and airstrips were built, generally to provide more room for basic flight training, but also to support other operations. A few of these were designed as "fallback fields" for launching defensive operations in case of a Japanese invasion.
Most Army airfields were built with three runways in a triangle, with parking ramp areas adjacent to one runway. This triangular configuration allowed rapid construction, without regard to the direction of the prevailing winds. Navy fields were generally built with two runways in a cross, with a third runway intersecting the other two at an angle.
There were, of course, other designs, including single-runway fields. Most noteworthy were "landing mats", large concrete squares, hexagons and circles, which allowed takeoffs and landings in any direction.
Following the war, many bases and auxiliary fields were given to local governments or returned to service as municipal airports. Often, budget constraints caused the new owners to close or even remove the "extra" runways, retaining only those that faced into the prevailing winds. In at least one case (Orland), large portions of a landing mat were removed, leaving a conventional runway and ramp.
Several fields were retained as United States Air Force installations and were front-line bases during the Cold War, or used for experimental aviation, the most notable of these being Edwards Air Force Base.
A few were sold or given back to private owners, generally to be returned to agricultural use, while a handful have become private airports. A number of fields were simply abandoned, due to their remote locations, and the remains of these can still be found, especially in the Mojave Desert.
The mission of Fourth Air Force was the air defense of the West Coast, operating two air defense wings in California (Los Angeles and San Francisco). It also provided operational training of newly formed groups and squadrons in combat aircraft prior to their deployment to overseas combat theaters. After April 1944, operational training was changed to replacement training of newly commissioned pilots in combat fighters from the AAF Training Command advanced flying schools.
Briefly used in 1941 While Hammer Army Airfield under construction
Army Air Forces Basic Flying School / Army Air Force Pilot School, Basic, 24 March 1942–25 April 1944
10th Base Headquarters an Air Base Squadron, 12 July 1942–25 April 1944
433rd Army Air Force Base Unit (Combat Crew Training Station, Fighter), 25 April 1944–31 October 1945
Known sub-bases and auxiliaries
Kirkwood Auxiliary Field
Vina Auxiliary Field
Campbell Auxiliary Field
Oroville Auxiliary Field
Air Base Squadron, 45th Air Base Group / 46th Air Base Squadron/ 46th Base Headquarters and Air Base Squadron, 25 August 1940–1 April 1944
460th Army Air Force Base Unit (Base Services, Air Transport Command), 1 April 1944–8 May 1946
Hq, West Coast Wing, Air Transport Command, 1 August 1944–4 December 1945
Was: Hamilton Air Force Base (1947–1976)
Now: Part of the Hamilton Wetland Restoration Project
Known sub-bases and auxiliaries
Montague Air Force Auxiliary Field
Joint Use with United States Navy (NATS)
50th Air Base Squadron / 50th Base Headquarters and Air Base Squadron, 2 August 1941–31 March 1944
450th Army Air Force Base Unit (Combat Crew Training Station, Night Fighter), 1 April 1944–15 March 1946
Known sub-bases and auxiliaries
Air Corps Basic Flying School / AAF Basic Flying School / AAF Pilot School, Basic; 30 November 1941–1 June 1944
88th Air Base Squadron / 88th Base Headquarters and Air Base Squadron; 12 December 1941–30 April 1944
3023rd Army Air Force Base Unit (Pilot School, Basic); 1 May 1944–1 June 1944
461st Army Air Force Base Unit (Processing In); 1 June 1944–10 November 1945
Now: non-flying agricultural use.
Known sub-bases and auxiliaries
Boston Field
Huron Field
Murray Field
West Field
Summit Lake Field (Now NAS Lemoore)
Coalinga Municipal Airport (Old)
Base Headquarters and 4th Air Base Squadron; 1 September 1936–1 September 1940
4th Air Base Group; 1 September 1940–15 January 1941
Air Base Squadron, 32nd Air Base Group / 31st Air Base Squadron / 31st Base Headquarters and Air Base Squadron; 15 January 1941–31 March 1944
420th Army Air Force Base Unit (Combat Crew Training Station, Heavy Bombardment); 1 April 1944–31 March 1946
Was: March Air Force Base (1947–1993)
Known sub-bases and auxiliaries
323rd Air Base Sq / 323rd Base Headquarters and Air Base Sq; 1 May 1942–31 March 1944
421st Army Air Force Base Unit (Combat Crew Training Station, Heavy Bombardment); 1 April 1944–16 October 1945
Known sub-bases and auxiliaries
Muroc Flight Test Base
311th Army Air Force Base Unit
Now: LA/Ontario International Airport
301st Base Headquarters and Air Base Squadron
Also used by Air Transport Command
Known sub-bases and auxiliaries
483d Army Air Force Base Unit
Known sub-bases and auxiliaries
493d Army Air Force Base Unit
Now: Charles M. Schulz - Sonoma County Airport
Joint Use with United States Navy
VI Air Support Command (AGF)
475th Army Air Force Base Unit
Now: Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport
505th Army Air Force Base Unit
Was: Van Nuys Air National Guard Base (1946–1990)
Known sub-bases and auxiliaries
Was: Oxnard Air Force Base (1951–1970)
Now: Camarillo Airport
Training Command airfields in California provided Primary, Basic and Advanced (both single and multi-engine) pilot training under the Army Air Force Flying Training Command. Mather AAF provided Navigator Training. Training Command also provided technical aircraft support training to both enlisted and officer personnel at aircraft delivery fields, operated by manufacturers such as North American, Douglas, Northrup, Lockheed and Consolidated Aircraft. Santa Ana AAB provided basic indoctrination training to new enlisted personnel and also pilot qualification screening for prospective air cadets.
63d Army Air Force Base Unit
Now: Agricultural Use
Known sub-bases and auxiliaries
Parker Auxiliary Airfield
Kern Field Auxiliary Airfield
Allen Auxiliary Airfield
Conners Auxiliary Airfield
Taft Auxiliary Airfield
Cuyama Auxiliary Airfield
67th Army Air Force Base Unit
Also used by: Air Transport Command
Was: Mather Air Force Base (1947–1993)
Now: Sacramento Mather Airport
Known sub-bases and auxiliaries
Elk Grove Auxiliary Airfield
87th Army Air Force Base Unit
Was: George Air Force Base (1947–1992)
Now: Southern California Logistics Airport
Known sub-bases and auxiliaries
Hawes Auxiliary Airfield
Helendale Auxiliary Airfield
414th Army Air Force Base Unit
Known sub-bases and auxiliaries
Now: John Wayne Airport
64th Army Air Force Base Unit
Now: Shafter-Minter Field Airport
Known sub-bases and auxiliaries
Pond Auxiliary Field
Famoso Auxiliary Airfield
Dunlap Auxiliary Airfield
Semi-tropic Auxiliary Airfield
Coalinga Municipal Airport (Old)
60th Army Air Force Base Unit
Also used by: Air Transport Command
Now: Stockton Metropolitan Airport
Known sub-bases and auxiliaries
New Jerusalem Auxiliary Airfield
90th Army Air Force Base Unit
Was: Castle Air Force Base (1947–1995)
Known sub-bases and auxiliaries
Merced Municipal Airport Auxiliary Field
Howard Auxiliary Field
Athlone Auxiliary Field
Potter Auxiliary Field
Merced New Municipal Airport Auxiliary Field
Private flying schools operated under contract by Flying Training Command, providing primary pilot training to new air cadets. Although training was provided by civilian contractors and instruction was provided by civilian instructors, the schools were commanded by military personnel and were operated as a military base. These schools operated from early 1942 until being phased out in mid-1944. Graduates then advanced to regular Training Command flight schools for Basic and Advanced training.
Operated by: Coast Aviation Corporation
Known sub-bases and auxiliaries
Hammond Auxiliary Field
Vail Auxiliary Field
Dos Palos Emergency Field
Canal Field Auxiliary Field
Mason Auxiliary Field
Operated by: Morton Air Academy
Now: W R Byron Airport (Private)
Known sub-bases and auxiliaries
Ripley Auxiliary Field#1
Ripley Auxiliary Field#2
Operated by: Allen Hancock College of Aeronautics
Now: Closed about 1959, now Allan Hancock College
Known sub-bases and auxiliaries
Santa Maria Auxiliary Field
La Brea Auxiliary Field
Mckinnon Auxiliary Field
Souza Auxiliary Field
Waller-Franklin Auxiliary Field
Operated by: Undetermined
Known sub-bases and auxiliaries
Operated by: Undetermined
Known sub-bases and auxiliaries
Benard Auxiliary Field
Hanson Auxiliary Field
Sorenson Auxiliary Field
Trescony Auxiliary Field
Operated by: Undetermined
Operated by: Rankin Aeronauticial Academy, Inc.
Now: Agricultural use
Known sub-bases and auxiliaries
Tipton Auxiliary Field
Strathmore Auxiliary Field
Operated by: Ryan School of Aeronautics
Known sub-bases and auxiliaries
Highland Auxiliary Field
Ryan Auxiliary Field#1
Ryan Auxiliary Field#2
Ryan Auxiliary Field#3
Valle Vista Auxiliary Field
Operated by: Visalia-Dinuba School of Aeronautics
Known sub-bases and auxiliaries
Three Rivers Auxiliary Field
Operated by: Mira Loma Flight Academy
Also used by United States Navy as a NAAS to NAS San Diego
Now: Oxnard Airport,
Now: Detention Facility
Known sub-bases and auxiliaries
Liberty Auxiliary Field
Victory Field Auxiliary Field
Airfields were used for transport of personnel, supplies and equipment. Also for ferrying replacement aircraft to overseas units (Primarily Pacific Theater and Alaska).
Station #10, Air Transport Command, Pacific Wing
1504th Army Air Forces Base Unit
20th Ferrying Group
507th Army Air Force Base Unit
Emergency landing field for Reno Army Air Base, Nevada (ATC)
21st Ferrying Group
459th Army Air Force Base Unit
Also used by the United States Navy (Ferrying Service)
Port of Embarkation
San Francisco Fighter Wing (4th Air Force)
Also: Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco
Provided aircraft modification prior to overseas deployment and also depot-level repair and maintenance services. Technical Service Command also operated acceptance centers for newly manufactured aircraft in Southern California, then ATC Ferrying Command transferred the new aircraft to various airfields or modification centers prior to deployment to operational units.
4895th Army Air Force Base Unit
Sacramento Air Depot
Was: McClellan Air Force Base (1947–2001)
Winter-Davis Flight Strip
499th Army Air Force Base Unit
San Bernardino Air Depot
Was: Norton Air Force Base (1947–1994)
Known sub-bases and auxiliaries
Delivery airport for Douglas Aircraft (A-20, B-18, C-47)
Delivery airport for Vultee Aircraft (BT-13)
Joint Use: United States Navy
Delivery airport for Northrop Aircraft (P-61)
Also used by Technical Training Command
Delivery airport for Consolidated Aircraft (PBY, B-24)
Also: Coast Guard Air Station San Diego
Known sub-bases and auxiliaries
Delivery airport for Lockheed Aircraft (P-38, B-17, PV-2, C-69)
Also used by Technical Training Command
6th Ferrying Group (Air Transport Command)
Delivery airport for Douglas Aircraft (B-17, A-26, C-47)
348th Army Air Force Base Unit
Delivery airport for North American Aviation (AT-6, P-51, B-25)
Delivery airport for Douglas Aircraft (SBD Dauntless)
Aerial Port of Embarkation (Air Transport Command)
Los Angeles Fighter Wing (4th Air Force)
Also used by Technical Training Command
Also: Coast Guard Air Station Los Angeles
Delivery airfield for Douglas Aircraft (C-54)
See main article: Desert Training Center. Desert Training Center's California Army Airfields built to support General Patton's many desert training camps. Patton's HQ was at Camp Young.[1]