Michigan World War II Army Airfields

Michigan World War II Army Airfields
Part of World War II
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 Michigan 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

Air Technical Service Command

100th Base Headquarters and Air Base Squadron
Now: Alpena County Regional Airport (IATA: APN, ICAO: KAPN)
Kinross AAF, Kinross
Sub-base of Alpena AAF
Was: Kinross Air Force Base (1947-1959)
Was: Kincheloe Air Force Base (1959-1977)
Now: Chippewa County International Airport
(IATA: CIU, ICAO: KCIU)
Raco AAF, Raco
Sub-base of Alpena AAF
Was: Used by Michigan National Guard and by
Kincheloe AFB as a BOMARC missile site. Closed 1972.
Now: Non-aviation use
Old runways used for automotive testing.
still active United States Army airfield (did not xfer to USAF), part of Camp Grayling
Now: MBS International Airport (IATA: MBS, ICAO: KMBS)

Troop Carrier Command

Troop Carrier Training
321st Base Headquarters and Air Base Squadron
Now: W. K. Kellogg Airport / Battle Creek Air National Guard Base (IATA: BTL, ICAO: KBTL)

First Air Force

4th Base Headquarters and Air Base Squadron
Was Selfridge Air Force Base (1947-1971)
Now: Selfridge Air National Guard Base (1971-Pres)
524th Base Headquarters and Air Base Squadron (Reduced)
Sub-base of Selfridge AAF
Was: Oscoda Air Force Base (1947-1953)
Was: Wurtsmith Air Force Base (1953-1993)
Now: Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport (IATA: OSC, ICAO: KOSC)

Army Air Force Training Command

Eastern Technical Training Command
484th Base Headquarters and Air Base Squadron
Now: Public Airport (IATA: YIP, ICAO: KYIP)
Also home of the Yankee Air Museum

Air Transport Command

3d Ferrying Group
345th Base Headquarters and Air Base Squadron
Joint Use USAAF/Civil Airport
Now: Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
(IATA: DTW, ICAO: KDTW)

See also

References

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