Missouri World War II Army Airfields

Missouri World War II Army Airfields
Part of World War II
Type Army Airfields
Built 1940-1944
In use 1940-present

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

Most of these airfields were under the command of First 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

Troop Carrier Command

445th Army Air Force Base Unit
Was: Malden Air Base (1951-1960)
USAF Contract Flight Training
Now: Malden Municipal Airport (IATA: MAWICAO: KMAW)
I Troop Carrier Command
405th Army Air Force Base Unit
Was: Sedalia Air Force Auxiliary Field (1948-1951)
Was: Sedalia Air Force Base (1951-1955)
Now: Whiteman Air Force Base (1955-Pres)
Vichy AAF, Vichy
Sub-base of Sedalia AAF
Now: Rolla National Airport (IATA: VIHICAO: KVIH)
Grandview Airport, Belton (1944-1945)
Was: Grandview Air Force Base (1952-1957)
Was: Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base (1957-1976)
Was: Richards-Gebaur Airport (1976-1997)
(IATA: GVWICAO: KGVW)
Closed 1998. Now non-aviation use as Kansas City SmartPort.
Support airfield for Ft. Leonard Wood
Now: Waynesville Regional Airport at Forney Field
(IATA: TBNICAO: KTBN)

Air Technical Service Command

Joint use USAAF/US Navy/Civil Airport
Now: Lambert-St. Louis International Airport
(IATA: STLICAO: KSTL)

Air Transport Command

406th Army Air Force Base Unit
Now: Rosecrans Memorial Airport
(IATA: STJICAO: KSTJ)
Joint use USAAF/Civil Airport
Now: Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport
(IATA: MKCICAO: KMKC)

Army Air Force Training Command

Contract flying training
Now: Perryville Municipal Airport (IATA: K02)
Contract flying training
Now: Cape Girardeau Regional Airport
(IATA: CGIICAO: KCGI)
Contract flying training
Now: Sikeston Memorial Municipal Airport
(IATA: SIKICAO: KSIK)

References

External links

United States Air Force portal
Military of the United States portal