Michigan World War II Army Airfields

Michigan World War II Army Airfields
Type	Army Airfields
Site information
Controlled by	United States Army
Site history
Built	1940–1944; 80 years ago (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). Other USAAF support commands (Air Technical Service Command (ATSC); Air Transport Command (ATC) or Troop Carrier Command) commanded a significant number of airfields in support roles.

Remnants of these wartime airfields exist. 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

Alpena AAF, Alpena

100th Base Headquarters and Air Base Squadron

Now: Alpena County Regional Airport (IATA: APN, ICAO: KAPN)

Kinross AAF, Kinross

Sub-base of Alpena AAF, Phelps Collins CTRC

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.

Grayling AAF, Grayling

still active United States Army airfield (did not xfer to USAF), part of Camp Grayling

Tri-City AAF, Saginaw

Now: MBS International Airport (IATA: MBS, ICAO: KMBS)

Troop Carrier Command

Kellogg AAF, Battle Creek

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

Selfridge AAF, Mt. Clemens

4th Base Headquarters and Air Base Squadron

Was Selfridge Air Force Base (1947-1971)

Now:

Selfridge Air National Guard Base (1971-present)

Oscoda AAF, Oscoda

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

Willow Run Airport, Ypsilanti, Michigan

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

Romulus AAF, Detroit

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)

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
Military Airfields in World War II - Michigan

External links

Army Air Forces Training Command

Flying training

Flying schools	Eastern Flying Training Command Central Flying Training Command Western Flying Training Command
Specialized schools	Bombardier Contract Flying Glider Training Gunnery Navigator

Technical training

USAAF First Air Force in World War II

Airfields

First Air Force Group Training Stations
First Air Force Replacement Training Stations
First Air Force Tactical Airfields
Freeman Army Airfield
Godman Army Airfield
Selfridge Field

Units

Commands

Wings

25th Antisubmarine
50th Troop Carrier
52d Troop Carrier
53d Troop Carrier
60th Troop Carrier
61st Troop Carrier
Boston Fighter
New York Fighter
Norfolk Fighter
Philadelphia Fighter

Groups

Bombardment	2d Bombardment 13th Bombardment 22d Bombardment 34th Bombardment 43d Bombardment 45th Bombardment 301st Bombardment 302d Bombardment 400th Bombardment 402d Bombardment 455th Bombardment 459th Bombardment 460th Bombardment 471st Bombardment
Combat Cargo	1st Combat Cargo 2d Combat Cargo 4th Combat Cargo
Fighter	8th Fighter 31st Fighter 33d Fighter 52d Fighter 56th Fighter 57th Fighter 58th Fighter 59th Fighter 79th Fighter 80th Fighter 83d Fighter 87th Fighter 324th Fighter 325th Fighter 326th Fighter 327th Fighter 332d Fighter 348th Fighter 352d Fighter 353d Fighter 355th Fighter 356th Fighter 358th Fighter 359th Fighter 361st Fighter 362d Fighter 365th Fighter 366th Fighter 368th Fighter 370th Fighter 371st Fighter 373d Fighter 402d Fighter 413th Fighter 476th Fighter
Reconnaissance	26th Reconnaissance 73d Reconnaissance
Troop Carrier	10th Troop Carrier 60th Troop Carrier 61st Troop Carrier 62d Troop Carrier 63d Troop Carrier 89th Troop Carrier 313th Troop Carrier 314th Troop Carrier 315th Troop Carrier 316th Troop Carrier 317th Troop Carrier 349th Troop Carrier 375th Troop Carrier 403d Troop Carrier 433d Troop Carrier 434th Troop Carrier 435th Troop Carrier 436th Troop Carrier 437th Troop Carrier 438th Troop Carrier 439th Troop Carrier 440th Troop Carrier 441st Troop Carrier 442d Troop Carrier
Other	1st Search Attack 477th Composite
Incidents	Freeman Field Mutiny