Arkansas World War II Army Airfields

During World War II, the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) established numerous airfields in Arkansas for training pilots and aircrews of USAAF fighters and bombers.

Arkansas World War II Army Airfields
Part of World War II
Blytheville AAF
Walnut Ridge AAF
Newport AAF
Stuttgart AAF
Adams AAF
Map Of Arkansas World War II Army Airfields
TypeArmy Airfields
Site information
Controlled byUSAAF Third Air Force
Site history
Built1940-1944
In use1940-Present
Garrison information
GarrisonArmy Air Force Training Command

Most of these airfields were under the command of Third 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

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)

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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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