Minnesota World War II Army Airfields explained

Minnesota World War II Army Airfields
Ensign:Us army air corps shield.svg
Ensign Size:50px
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 Minnesota 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 Transport Command

Joint use USAAF/Civil Airport

Air Technical Service Command

Joint use USAAF/Civil Airport

Army Air Force Training Command

Contract flying training

Contract flying training/Glider training

Now: Returned to agriculture.

Contract flying training/Glider training

Closed 1961. Now: Industrial site.

References