Connecticut World War II Army Airfields

During World War II, Connecticut was a major United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) training center for pilots and aircrews.

Connecticut World War II Army Airfields
Part of World War II
Locations of major World War II USAAF Airfields in Connecticut
TypeArmy Airfields
Site information
Controlled byUnited States Army Air Forces
Site history
Built1940-1944
In use1940-present
Garrison information
GarrisonFirst Air Force
Army Air Force Training Command

The USAAF established Six major airfields under the command of First Air Force, headquartered at Mitchel Army Airfield, New York between 1943 and 1945.

The mission of these bases primarily was wartime training of aircrews by Army Air Forces Training Command (A precursor to the current-day USAF Air Education and Training Command).

It is still possible to find remnants of these wartime airfields as most were converted into municipal airports. Hundreds of the temporary buildings that were used survive today, and are being used for other purposes.

Air Fields
Now: Bradley International Airport (BIAP), Bradley Air National Guard Base (BANGB)
  • Brainard Field, 2 miles south-southeast of Hartford
Now: Hartford-Brainard Airport (HFD)
  • Bridgeport Army Air Field, 3 miles southeast of Stratford
Now: Sikorsky Memorial Airport (BDR)
  • Groton Army Air Field, 3 miles southeast of Groton
Now: Groton-New London Airport (GON)
  • New Haven Army Air Field, 3 miles southeast of New Haven
Now: Tweed New Haven Regional Airport (HVN)
  • Rentschler Field, 3 miles east-southeast of Hartford
Was: Rentschler Field (airport) (1933-1997)
Now: Rentschler Heliport (CT88) and Rentschler Field (football stadium)

See also

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
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.