Illinois World War II Army Airfields explained

Illinois World War II Army Airfields
Ensign:Us army air corps shield.svg
Ensign Size:80px
Partof:World War II
Type:Army Airfields
Built:1940-1944
Used:1940-present

During World War II, the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) established numerous airfields in Illinois 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

Army Air Force Training Command

Eastern Technical Training Center (Metrological School; adv. Specialities)

9th Army Air Force Base Unit

Was: Chanute Air Force Base (1917-1993)

Contract Pilot School

Now: St. Louis Downtown Airport

AAF Southeast Training Center

327th Army Air Force Base Unit

Sub-base of George AAF

Sub-base of George AAF

Air Transport Command

8th Army Air Force Base Unit

Air Technical Service Command

395th Army Air Force Base Unit

Joint use USAAF/Civil Airport

Now: the Scottsdale neighborhood in Chicago, and the southeast side of Burbank, Illinois (see Ashburn Flying Field)

Joint use USAAF/Civil Airport

Later a joint use USAF/Civil Airport as O'Hare International Airport & O'Hare Air Reserve Station

References