During

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

, the

United States Army Air Forces The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF or AAF) was the major land-based aerial warfare service component of the United States Army and ''de facto'' aerial warfare service branch of the United States during and immediately after World War II ...

(USAAF) established numerous airfields in

Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...

for antisubmarine defense in the western

Atlantic The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe an ...

and

Gulf of Mexico The Gulf of Mexico ( es, Golfo de México) is an ocean basin and a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean, largely surrounded by the North American continent. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United ...

and for training pilots and aircrews of USAAF fighters, attack planes, and light and medium bombers. After early 1944, heavy bomber crews also trained in the State. However two major operations in Florida were the School of Applied Tactics and the air Proving Grounds which tested and developed new capabilities. Most of these airfields were under the command of

Third Air Force The Third Air Force (Air Forces Europe) (3 AF) is a numbered air force of the United States Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA). Its headquarters is Ramstein Air Base, Germany. It is responsible for all U.S. air forces in ...

, the AAF Antisubmarine Command (AAFAC), or the

Army Air Forces Training Command The United States Army Air Forces during World War II had major subordinate Commands below the Air Staff level. These Commands were organized along functional missions. One such Command was the Flying Training Command (FTC). It began as Air Corp ...

(AAFTC), the latter being the predecessor of the current-day

United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Aerial warfare, air military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part ...

Air Education and Training Command Air Education and Training Command (AETC) is one of the nine List of major commands of the United States Air Force, Major Commands (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force (USAF), reporting to Headquarters, United States Air Force. It was establis ...

( AETC). The 26th Antisubmarine Wing was headquartered in Miami. It controlled about forty percent of the AAFAC squadrons. However the other USAAF support commands, Air Technical Service Command (ATSC) and Air Transport Command (ATC) or Troop Carrier Command, also commanded a significant number of airfields in a support roles. It is still possible to find remnants of these wartime airfields as most were converted into municipal airports, while others transitioned to the newly established

in 1947. Two remained as active USAF installations until 1960 and a third until 1962, at which time they, too, were converted into purely civilian airports, the latter as a commercial airport. A fourth became a joint civil-military commercial airport hosting a

Florida Air National Guard The Florida Air National Guard (FL ANG) is the aerial militia of the State of Florida. It is, along with the Florida Army National Guard (FL ARNG), an element of the Florida National Guard. It is also an element of the Air National Guard (ANG ...

fighter-interceptor group until 1968 when the airport was permanently closed and replaced by a newly constructed international airport and concurrently constructed Air National Guard base also hosting the same Air National Guard fighter-interceptor group which today is a full fighter wing. A fifth airfield remained as an active Strategic Air Command (SAC) bomber, tanker and reconnaissance base with a tenant

Aerospace Defense Command Aerospace Defense Command was a major command of the United States Air Force, responsible for continental air defense. It was activated in 1968 and disbanded in 1980. Its predecessor, Air Defense Command, was established in 1946, briefly ina ...

(ADC) air command and control squadron. The base later incorporating a commercial jetport and became a joint civil-military airport in 1962 until the closure of the USAF installation in 1975 and its conversion to a civilian commercial international airport in 1976. A sixth airfield remained as an active Tactical Air Command (TAC), then Air Combat Command (ACC), fighter base until 1995, hosting an active ACC fighter wing, a collocated Air Force Reserve ( AFRES) fighter wing, a collocated AFRES rescue squadron, and a TAC-gained

(FLANG) fighter alert detachment/operating location. Having been substantially damaged by Hurricane Andrew in 1992, it was converted to air reserve base status as a fighter base for the extant Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) fighter wing and a fighter alert detachment site for the FLANG. The remaining airfields that transitioned from USAAF to USAF continue to function as modern day active

U.S. Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Sign ...

installations under the operational control of Air Force Special Operations Command (

AFSOC Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), headquartered at Hurlburt Field, Florida, is the special operations component of the United States Air Force. An Air Force major command (MAJCOM), AFSOC is also the U.S. Air Force component command ...

), Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC), Air Combat Command (ACC) and Air Mobility Command (AMC). In addition, a former World War II-era naval air station was transferred to USAF in the 1950s and remains under the control of the

Air Force Space Command The atmosphere of Earth is the layer of gases, known collectively as air, retained by Earth's gravity that surrounds the planet and forms its planetary atmosphere. The atmosphere of Earth protects life on Earth by creating pressure allowing for ...

(

AFSPC Space Operations Command (SpOC) is the United States Space Force's space operations, cyber operations, and intelligence field command. It is headquartered at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado and serves as the U.S. Space Force's service com ...

) with a tenant ACC-gained AFRC rescue wing assigned as its sole military flying unit. An

(AETC) flying training group is also a tenant command on another active naval air station. At the former USAAF and USAAF-''cum''-USAF airfields, hundreds of the temporary buildings that were used also survive today, with some still used for aeronautical activities and others being used for a variety of other purposes.

Major Airfields

Multiple Commands

Jacksonville Army Airfield Imeson Field, also known as Jacksonville Imeson Airport, was the airport serving Jacksonville, Florida, from 1927 until its closing in 1968. It was known as Jacksonville Municipal Airport prior to World War II, Jacksonville Army Airfield when the ...

, north of

Jacksonville Jacksonville is a city located on the Atlantic coast of northeast Florida, the most populous city proper in the state and is the List of United States cities by area, largest city by area in the contiguous United States as of 2020. It is the co ...

I Bomber Command The I Bomber Command (later XX Bomber Command) was an intermediate command of the Army Air Forces during World War II. It trained bombardment units and aircrews for deployment to combat theaters. From shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor ...

(1941) : Transferred to:

Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command The Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command was formed in the fall of 1942 to establish a single command to control antisubmarine warfare (ASW) activities of the Army Air Forces (AAF). It was formed from the resources of I Bomber Command, which ...

(1942-1943) : 26th Antisubmarine Wing (Squadrons) : Transferred to:

III Bomber Command The III Bomber Command is a disbanded United States Air Force headquarters. It was established in September 1941, shortly before the attack on Pearl Harbor to command bomber units assigned to 3rd Air Force. Following the entry of the United Sta ...

:: Became sub-base of:

MacDill Field MacDill Air Force Base (MacDill AFB) is an active United States Air Force installation located 4 miles (6.4 km) south-southwest of downtown Tampa, Florida. The "host wing" for MacDill AFB is the 6th Air Refueling Wing (6 ARW), assig ...

(1943) :: Became sub-base of: Chatam Army Airfield, Georgia (1943-1944) : Transferred to:

Air Service Command The atmosphere of Earth is the layer of gases, known collectively as air, retained by Earth's gravity that surrounds the planet and forms its planetary atmosphere. The atmosphere of Earth protects life on Earth by creating pressure allowing for ...

(1944-1945) : Later: Imeson Field Airport (1947-1968) : Concurrent Use: Roundel of the USAF

125th Fighter-Interceptor Group,

, (1947-1968) : Now: Imeson Industrial Park (airfield closed; flight operations relocated to Jacksonville International Airport)

Third Air Force

* Drew Field, west-northwest of

Tampa Tampa () is a city on the Gulf Coast of the U.S. state of Florida. The city's borders include the north shore of Tampa Bay and the east shore of Old Tampa Bay. Tampa is the largest city in the Tampa Bay area and the seat of Hillsborough County ...

: HQ

;

III Fighter Command The III Fighter Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was at MacDill Field, Florida. It was inactivated on 8 April 1946. History Background GHQ Air Force (GHQ,AF) had been established with two major combat ...

: Also used by:

(1942-1943) : 26th Antisubmarine Wing (Squadrons) : 337th Fighter Group (Single Engine) :

22d Bombardment Training Wing D, or d, is the fourth letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''dee'' (pronounced ), plural ''dees''. History The ...

(Heavy) : Drew Field Replacement Training Unit (Heavy Bombardment) : Army Air Force Aircraft Warning Unit Training Center (315th AAFBU) : 89th Combat Crew Training Wing : Known sub-bases and auxiliaries ::

Bartow Army Airfield Bartow may refer to: Places * Bartow, Germany, a municipality in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern * Places in the United States, all named after Francis S. Bartow: **Bartow, Florida, a city and county seat **Bartow, Georgia, a town **Bartow County, Georgia * ...

Brooksville Army Airfield Brooksville is the name of several places in the United States: * Brooksville, Blount County, Alabama * Brooksville, Morgan County, Alabama Brooksville is an unincorporated community in Morgan County, Alabama (We dare defend our rights) , a ...

:: Hillsborough Army Airfield : Now:

Tampa International Airport Tampa International Airport is an international airport west of Downtown Tampa, in Hillsborough County, Florida, United States. The airport is publicly owned by Hillsborough County Aviation Authority (HCAA)., effective December 30, 2021. T ...

, south-southwest of

: HO

: 27th Air Base Group : 55th Bombardment Training Wing (Heavy) : 326th Army Air Force Base Unit : Also used by:

Air Transport Command Air Transport Command (ATC) was a United States Air Force unit that was created during World War II as the strategic airlift component of the United States Army Air Forces. It had two main missions, the first being the delivery of supplies and ...

: Known sub-bases and auxiliaries :: Bonita Springs Auxiliary Field ::

:: Hillsborough Army Airfield ::

Fort Myers Army Airfield Page Field Army Airfield is an inactive United States Army Air Forces base, approximately 4 miles south of Fort Myers, Florida. It was active during World War II as a Third Air Force training airfield. It was closed on 30 September 1945, tw ...

Lakeland Army Airfield Lakeland Army Airfield, was a World War II United States Army Air Force located 5.3 miles southwest of Lakeland, Florida. From 1960 to 2017 it was Lakeland Linder Regional Airport. In 2017 it was renamed Lakeland Linder International Airport. ...

: Now:

MacDill Air Force Base MacDill Air Force Base (MacDill AFB) is an active United States Air Force installation located 4 miles (6.4 km) south-southwest of downtown Tampa, Florida. The "host wing" for MacDill AFB is the 6th Air Refueling Wing (6 ARW), assig ...

Avon Park Army Airfield Avon Park Executive Airport is a city-owned, public-use airport located two nautical miles (3.7 km) west of the central business district of Avon Park, a city in Highlands County, Florida, United States. Overview According to the FAA's Na ...

, east-northeast of Avon Park : Initially Sub-Base of

88th Bombardment Group The 88th Bombardment Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. During World War II, the group served as a training unit for Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress units and aircrews. It was inactivated in May 1944, when the Army Air Forces reorg ...

(Heavy) : Avon Park Replacement Training Unit (Heavy Bombardment) : Later: Avon Park Air Force Base (1949-1956) : Now: Roundel of the USAF

Avon Park Air Force Range Avon may refer to: *River Avon (disambiguation), several rivers Organisations * Avon Buses, a bus operating company in Wirral, England * Avon Coachworks, a car body builder established in 1919 at Warwick, England, relaunched in 1922, followin ...

and MacDill AFB Auxiliary Field *

/ Drane Field, southwest of Lakeland : Initially Sub-Base of

(Drane Field) :

: 60th Flying Training Detachment (Medium Bombardment) : Transferred to:

(1943) :

Commando Squadron Fighter Training School file:Royal_Marines_in_Sangin_MOD_45151554.jpg, Royal Marines from 40 Commando on patrol in the Sangin area of Afghanistan are pictured A commando is a combatant, or operative of an elite light infantry or special operations force, specially tr ...

: Now:

Lakeland Linder International Airport Lakeland Linder International Airport is a public airport five miles southwest of Lakeland, in Polk County, Florida. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2017–2021 categorized it as a nati ...

(1960-Present) * Pinellas Army Airfield, north-northwest of

St. Petersburg Saint Petersburg ( rus, links=no, Санкт-Петербург, a=Ru-Sankt Peterburg Leningrad Petrograd Piter.ogg, r=Sankt-Peterburg, p=ˈsankt pʲɪtʲɪrˈburk), formerly known as Petrograd (1914–1924) and later Leningrad (1924–1991), i ...

: Initially Sub Base of Sarasota Army Airfield : Pinellas Replacement Training Unit (Fighter, Single Engine) : Now: St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport : Concurrent Use: Roundel of the USAF

Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater United States Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater (CGAS Clearwater) is the United States Coast Guard's largest air station. It is located at the St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport in Clearwater, Florida and is home to nearly 700 USCG ...

and Army Reserve Army Aviation Support Facility *

Dale Mabry Army Airfield Dale Mabry Army Airfield, was a World War II United States Army Air Force located at the Dale Mabry Field airport in Tallahassee, Florida. The military airfield closed in 1946 and the airport was returned to civil use. History The military u ...

, west of

Tallahassee Tallahassee ( ) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat and only incorporated municipality in Leon County. Tallahassee became the capital of Florida, then the Florida Territory, in 1824. In 2020, the population ...

: 338th Fighter Group (Single Engine) : Dale Mabry Replacement Depot : 335th Army Air Force Base Unit (Replacement, Fighter) : Known sub-bases and auxiliaries ::

Thomasville Army Airfield Thomasville Regional Airport is a city-owned, public-use airport located six nautical miles (7 mi, 11 km) northeast of the central business district of Thomasville, a city in Thomas County, Georgia, United States. It is included ...

(Georgia) ::

Harris Neck Army Airfield Harris Neck Army Airfield is an abandoned military airfield located in what is now the Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge, McIntosh County, Georgia, McIntosh County, Georgia (U.S. State), Georgia. It is located north of the intersection of Route ...

(Georgia) ::

Perry Army Airfield Perry, also known as pear cider, is an alcoholic beverage made from fermented pears, traditionally the perry pear. It has been common for centuries in England, particularly in Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, and Worcestershire. It is also mad ...

:: Carrabelle Flight Strip#2 : Later:

Dale Mabry Field : ''For the World War II use of the airport, see Dale Mabry Army Airfield'' Dale Mabry Field is a former airport 3.4 miles west of Tallahassee, Florida. It was replaced in 1961 by Tallahassee Regional Airport (now Tallahassee International Ai ...

(commercial airport) (1946-1961) : Now: Campus of

Tallahassee Community College Tallahassee Community College (TCC) is a public community college in Tallahassee, Florida. It is part of the Florida College System and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. As of fall 2017, TCC reported 24,639 st ...

(airfield closed) *

, northeast of Bartow :

54th Fighter Group The 54th Fighter Group is an active unit of the United States Air Force stationed at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico and assigned to the 49th Wing of Air Education and Training Command. The group was reactivated in March 2014. The group was ...

(Single Engine) : Bartow Replacement Unit (Fighter, Single-Engine) : Later: Roundel of the USAF

Bartow Air Base Bartow Executive Airport is a public airport four miles (6 km) northeast of Bartow, in Polk County, Florida. It is owned by the Bartow Airport Authority. Facilities The airport covers and has three asphalt runways: * Runway 5/23: 5,000 x ...

(1950-1961) : Now:

Bartow Municipal Airport Bartow Executive Airport is a public airport four miles (6 km) northeast of Bartow, Florida, Bartow, in Polk County, Florida, Polk County, Florida. It is owned by the Bartow Airport Authority. Facilities The airport covers and has three as ...

* Sarasota Army Airfield, north-northwest of

Sarasota Sarasota () is a city in Sarasota County on the Gulf Coast of the U.S. state of Florida. The area is renowned for its cultural and environmental amenities, beaches, resorts, and the Sarasota School of Architecture. The city is located in the sou ...

: Later:

: 337th Fighter Group (Single Engine) : Sarasota Replacement Training Unit (Fighter, Single Engine) : Known sub-bases and auxiliaries ::

:: Lake Wales Army Airfield :: Pinellas Army Airfield :: Punta Gorda Army Airfield :: Immokalee Army Airfield : Now: Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport * Venice Army Airfield, south-southeast of

Venice Venice ( ; it, Venezia ; vec, Venesia or ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto Regions of Italy, region. It is built on a group of 118 small islands that are separated by canals and linked by over 400 ...

: Also used by 27th Service Group (

) : 53d Fighter Group (Single Engine) : Venice Replacement Training Unit (Fighter, Single Engine) : 422d Army Air Force Base Unit : Now:

Venice Municipal Airport Venice Municipal Airport is a city managed public-use airport located south of the central business district of Venice, a city in Sarasota County, Florida, United States. History The airport was built during the 1940s by the United States ...

AAF Training Command

Eastern Flying Training Command * Marianna Army Airfield, north-northeast of Marianna : 17th Single Engine Flying Training Group (Advanced-Single Engine) : 325th Army Air Force Base Unit : Known sub-bases and auxiliaries :: Ellis Auxiliary Field ::

Malone Auxiliary Field Malone Auxiliary Army Airfield is a closed military airfield. It was located 15.7 miles north-northeast of Marianna, Florida. History Originally constructed by the United States Army Air Forces in 1942 as one of four auxiliary airfields for the ...

:: Bascom Auxiliary Field ::

Alliance Auxiliary Field Alliance Auxiliary Army Airfield is a closed military airfield. It was located 14 miles southeast of Marianna, Florida. History Originally constructed by the United States Army Air Forces in 1943 as one of four auxiliary airfields for the pil ...

: Later:

Graham Air Base (1951-1960) : Now: Marianna Municipal Airport * Hendricks Field, east-southeast of Sebring : Specialized Pilot Training School (Four Engine) : 76th Army Air Force Base Unit : Known sub-bases and auxiliaries :: Conners Auxiliary Field :: Immokalee Army Airfield : Now:

Sebring Regional Airport Sebring Regional Airport is a public use airport located six nautical miles (7 mi, 11 km) southeast of the central business district of Sebring, a city in Highlands County, Florida, United States. It is owned by the Sebring Air ...

* Buckingham Army Airfield, east of

Fort Myers Fort Myers (or Ft. Myers) is a city in southwestern Florida and the county seat and commercial center of Lee County, Florida, United States. The Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program calculated that the city's population was 92,245 in 20 ...

Army Air Forces Flexible Gunnery School An army (from Old French ''armee'', itself derived from the Latin verb ''armāre'', meaning "to arm", and related to the Latin noun ''arma'', meaning "arms" or "weapons"), ground force or land force is a fighting force that fights primarily on ...

: 38th Flexible Gunnery Training Group : 328th Army Air Force Base Unit : Known sub-bases and auxiliaries :: Naples Army Airfield : Now: Buckingham Field Airport *

Tyndall Field Tyndall (the original spelling, also Tyndale, "Tindol", Tyndal, Tindoll, Tindall, Tindal, Tindale, Tindle, Tindell, Tindill, and Tindel) is the name of an English family taken from the land they held as tenants in chief of the Kings of Engla ...

, southeast of

Panama City Panama City ( es, Ciudad de Panamá, links=no; ), also known as Panama (or Panamá in Spanish), is the capital and largest city of Panama. It has an urban population of 880,691, with over 1.5 million in its metropolitan area. The city is locat ...

: Army Air Forces Flexible Gunnery School : 38th Flexible Gunnery Training Group : 69th Army Air Force Base Unit : Known sub-bases and auxiliaries :: Apalachicola Army Airfield : Now: Roundel of the USAF

Tyndall Air Force Base Tyndall Air Force Base is a United States Air Force Base located east of Panama City, Florida. The base was named in honor of World War I pilot 1st Lt. Frank Benjamin Tyndall. The base operating unit and host wing is the 325th Fighter Wing (325 ...

Eastern Technical Training Command' *

Boca Raton Army Airfield Boca Raton Army Air Field was a World War II United States Army Air Forces airfield, located northwest of the 1940s borders of Boca Raton, Florida. During World War II, it operated the only training for the then new and secret technology of ...

, northeast of

Boca Raton Boca Raton ( ; es, Boca Ratón, link=no, ) is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. It was first incorporated on August 2, 1924, as "Bocaratone," and then incorporated as "Boca Raton" in 1925. The population was 97,422 in the ...

: 3501st Army Air Force Base Unit (Technical School, Radar) : Airfield became:

Boca Raton Airport Boca Raton Airport is a state-owned public-use airport located two miles (3 km) northwest of the central business district of Boca Raton, a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. The airport is immediately adjacent to Florida ...

: Station became:

Florida Atlantic University Florida Atlantic University (Florida Atlantic or FAU) is a Public university, public research university with its main campus in Boca Raton, Florida, and satellite campuses in Dania Beach, Florida, Dania Beach, Davie, Florida, Davie, Fort Lauderd ...

AAF Contract Flying Schools

Avon Park Municipal Airport Avon Park Executive Airport is a city-owned, public-use airport located two nautical miles (3.7 km) west of the central business district of Avon Park, a city in Highlands County, Florida, United States. Overview According to the FAA's N ...

, west-southwest of Avon Park :

Lodwick Aviation Military Academy Lodwick is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: *Francis Lodwick (1619-1694), a Dutch pioneer of ''a priori'' languages who lived in London. *Jake Lodwick Jacob Lodwick (born July 25, 1981) is an American software engineer, serial ...

: 61st Army Air Force Fight Training Detachment (Contract Flying) : Known sub-bases and auxiliaries :: Avon Park Auxiliary Field#1 :: Avon Park Auxiliary Field#2 :: Avon Park Auxiliary Field#3 :: Avon Park Auxiliary Field#4 : Now: Avon Park Executive Airport * Lodwick Field, north-northeast of Lakeland : Lodwick Aviation Military Academy : 60th Flying Training Detachment (Contract Pilot School) : Also:

Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and ...

training : Known sub-bases and auxiliaries :: Coronet Auxiliary Field :: Haldeman-Elder Auxiliary Field :: Hampton Auxiliary Field :: Lodwick Auxiliary Field :: Northeast Auxiliary Field#1 :: Northwest Auxiliary Field#3 ::

Gilbert Auxiliary Field Winter Haven's Gilbert Airport is a city-owned, public-use airport located three nautical miles (6 km) northwest of the central business district of Winter Haven, Florida, Winter Haven, a city in Polk County, Florida, Polk County, Florida, ...

: Now: Closed 1957, currently recreation area * Riddle Field, west-southwest of

Clewiston Clewiston is a city in Hendry County, Florida, United States. Its location is northwest of Fort Lauderdale on the Atlantic coastal plain. The population was 7,327 at the 2020 census, up from 7,155 at the 2010 census. The estimated population in 2 ...

: Riddle-McKay Aero College : 75th Flying Training Detachment (Contract Pilot School) : Also:

training : Now:

Airglades Airport Airglades Airport is a county-owned public-use airport in Hendry County, Florida, United States. It is located west of the central business district of Clewiston, Florida. Overview The airport has a lighted 5950-foot runway (13-31) and ample ...

* Taylor Field Airport, southwest of

Ocala Ocala ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Marion County within the northern region of Florida, United States. As of the 2020 United States Census, the city's population was 63,591, making it the 54th most populated city in Florida. Home to ...

: Greenville Aviation School : Also operated: AAFSAT Ocala Bombing Range : Now: Closed 1962, currently industrial park *

Carlstrom Field Carlstrom Field is a former military airfield, located southeast of Arcadia, Florida. The airfield was one of thirty-two Air Service training camps established in 1917 after the United States entry into World War I. History Carlstrom Field ...

, southeast of

Arcadia Arcadia may refer to: Places Australia * Arcadia, New South Wales, a suburb of Sydney * Arcadia, Queensland * Arcadia, Victoria Greece * Arcadia (region), a region in the central Peloponnese * Arcadia (regional unit), a modern administrative un ...

Riddle Aeronautical Institute A riddle is a statement, question or phrase having a double or veiled meaning, put forth as a puzzle to be solved. Riddles are of two types: ''enigmas'', which are problems generally expressed in metaphorical or allegorical language that requi ...

: 53d Flying Training Detachment (Contract Pilot School) : 2148th Army Air Force Base Unit (Contract Pilot School) : Also:

training : Known sub-bases and auxiliaries :: Arcadia Airport :: Myrtle Auxiliary Field :: Southwest Auxiliary Field :: Sparkman Auxiliary Field ::

Wells Auxiliary Field Wells most commonly refers to: * Wells, Somerset, a cathedral city in Somerset, England * Well, an excavation or structure created in the ground * Wells (name) Wells may also refer to: Places Canada *Wells, British Columbia England * Wells ...

: Now: Closed 1945, currently Desoto County Juvenile Correctional Complex *

Dorr Field Dorr Field is a former military airfield, located east of Arcadia, Florida. The airfield was one of thirty-two Air Service training camps established in 1917 after the United States entry into World War I. History Dorr Field was named after ...

, east of

: Riddle Aeronautical Institute : 54th Flying Training Detachment (Contract Pilot School) : 2148th Army Air Force Base Unit (Contract Pilot School) : Also:

training : Known sub-bases and auxiliaries :: Dorr Auxiliary Field#1 :: Dorr Auxiliary Field#2 :: Dorr Auxiliary Field#3 :: Dorr Auxiliary Field#4 : Now: Closed 1945, currently Desoto County Correctional Institution * Chapman Field, south-southwest of

Miami Miami ( ), officially the City of Miami, known as "the 305", "The Magic City", and "Gateway to the Americas", is a East Coast of the United States, coastal metropolis and the County seat, county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade C ...

: Civil, AAF, Navy training usage : Riddle Aeronautical Institute : Now: Closed 1947, partly

Chapman Field Subtropical Horticulture Research Station Chapman Field (officially the Subtropical Horticulture Research Station) is a horticulture and agronomy research facility of the Agricultural Research Service, a division of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), located in Miami, F ...

Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics

Orlando Army Air Base Orlando Executive Airport is a public airport three miles (6 km) east of downtown Orlando, in Orange County, Florida. It is owned and operated by the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA) and serves general aviation. Overview Orlando ...

, east of

Orlando Orlando () is a city in the U.S. state of Florida and is the county seat of Orange County. In Central Florida, it is the center of the Orlando metropolitan area, which had a population of 2,509,831, according to U.S. Census Bureau figures rele ...

(1941-1947) : Initially used by:

(1941-1942) : Initially used by:

13th Bombardment Group In music or music theory, a thirteenth is the note thirteen scale degrees from the root of a chord and also the interval between the root and the thirteenth. The interval can be also described as a compound sixth, spanning an octave ...

(1942-1943) : HQ

Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics An army (from Old French ''armee'', itself derived from the Latin verb ''armāre'', meaning "to arm", and related to the Latin noun ''arma'', meaning "arms" or "weapons"), ground force or land force is a fighting force that fights primarily on ...

(1942) :

9th Bombardment Group 9 (nine) is the natural number following and preceding . Evolution of the Arabic digit In the beginning, various Indians wrote a digit 9 similar in shape to the modern closing question mark without the bottom dot. The Kshatrapa, Andhra and ...

(Heavy) : 50th Fighter Group (Special) : HQ

Army Air Force Interceptor Command School An army (from Old French ''armee'', itself derived from the Latin verb ''armāre'', meaning "to arm", and related to the Latin noun ''arma'', meaning "arms" or "weapons"), ground force or land force is a fighting force that fights primarily on ...

(1943) : 481st Night Fighter Operational Training Group : Known sub-bases and auxiliaries ::

Bushnell Army Airfield Bushnell Army Airfield is a former World War II United States Army Air Forces airfield located northeast of the intersection of Route 301 & Walker Avenue, one mile northeast of the town of Bushnell, Florida. History The airfield was acquired by le ...

Kissimmee Army Airfield Kissimmee Army Airfield, was a United States Army Air Forces airfield during World War II, located west of Kissimmee, Florida. History The airport opened in April 1940 as the Kissimmee Municipal Airport. By 1941, it was taken over by the Unite ...

Cross City Army Airfield Cross City Air Force Station is a former United States Air Force facility, located east of Cross City, Florida. Overview Originally a small civil airport, during World War II it was active as a training base for the Army Air Forces School of A ...

(1942-1946); Roundel of the USAF

Cross City Air Force Station Cross City Air Force Station is a former United States Air Force facility, located east of Cross City, Florida. Overview Originally a small civil airport, during World War II it was active as a training base for the Army Air Forces School of ...

(1958-1970) :: Zephyrhills Army Airfield : Airfield became: Orlando Municipal Airport (1946) : Now:

Orlando Executive Airport Orlando Executive Airport is a public airport three miles (6 km) east of downtown Orlando, in Orange County, Florida. It is owned and operated by the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA) and serves general aviation. Overview Orlando ...

: Ground Station became: Roundel of the USAF

Orlando Air Force Base (1947-1967) : Ground Station transferred to:

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

Naval Training Center Orlando A navy, naval force, or maritime force is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake-borne, riverine, littoral, or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions. It inc ...

(1968-1999) : Now:

Baldwin Park Baldwin Park may refer to: * Baldwin Park, California ** Baldwin Park (Metrolink station) in Baldwin Park, California * Baldwin Park, Florida, a neighborhood in Orlando, Florida * Baldwin Park, Missouri * A public park in Baldwin, Nassau County, ...

neighborhood of Orlando *

Pinecastle Army Airfield Pinecastle or Pine Castle may refer to: * McCoy Air Force Base (previously Pinecastle Army Airfield), a former United States Air Force base * Naval Air Station DeLand (previously Pinecastle Electronic Warfare and Bombing Range), a United States Nav ...

, south-southeast of

: sub-base of Orlando Army Airbase (1942-1945) : AAFSAT Technical Center : Transferred to:

Air Proving Ground Command The Army Air Forces Proving Ground Command (AAF PGC) was the primary testing command of the United States Army Air Forces (1946-47), and then the United States Air Force (1947-57). In March 1946, the Army Air Forces Center was redesignated the ...

(1945) : Later: Roundel of the USAF

Pinecastle Air Force Base Pinecastle or Pine Castle may refer to: * McCoy Air Force Base (previously Pinecastle Army Airfield), a former United States Air Force base * Naval Air Station DeLand (previously Pinecastle Electronic Warfare and Bombing Range), a United States Na ...

(1951-1958);
Roundel of the USAF

McCoy Air Force Base McCoy AFB (1940–1947, 1951–1975) is a former U.S. Air Force installation located 10 miles (16 km) southeast of Orlando, Florida. It was a training base during World War II. From 1951 to 1975, it was a front line Strategic Air Command ...

(1958-1975) : Now:

Orlando International Airport Orlando International Airport is a major public airport located 6 miles (10 km) southeast of Downtown Orlando, Florida. In 2021, it handled 19,618,838 passengers, making it the busiest airport in the state and seventh busiest airport i ...

Alachua Army Airfield Alachua Army Airfield, was a World War II United States Army Air Force airfield, located northeast of Gainesville, Florida. History Construction of the Gainesville Municipal Airport began in April 1940 as a Works Project Administration (WPA) a ...

, northeast of Gainesville : sub-base of Orlando Army Airbase (1942-1943) : AAFSAT Medium Bombardment training unit : 415th Bombardment Group (Medium) : Transferred to:

(1943) :

: Known sub-bases and auxiliaries ::

Keystone Army Airfield Keystone Army Airfield, was a World War II United States Army Air Forces airfield, located north-northwest of Keystone Heights, Florida. History The airport was constructed in 1942 as Crystal Lake Airfield, and was commissioned in December 1942 ...

:: Leesburg Army Airfield :: Montbrook Army Airfield : Now:

Gainesville Regional Airport Gainesville Regional Airport is a public airport three miles northeast of Gainesville, in Alachua County, Florida, United States. It is owned by Gainesville-Alachua Co. Auth. The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015 catego ...

* Dunnellon Army Airfield, east of

Dunnellon Dunnellon is a city with the unique feature of sitting in 3 counties in Marion, Levy & Citrus counties in Florida, United States. The predominant part falls in the Marion county. The population was 1,928 at the 2020 census, up from 1,733 in 20 ...

: sub-base of Orlando Army Airbase (1942-1944) : AAFSAT Night Fighter Department (Dark) : 420th Night Fighter Squadron : Transferred to:

(1944) : Commando Troop Carrier Training School : Known sub-bases and auxiliaries :: Canal Auxiliary Field : Now:

Dunnellon/Marion County Airport Marion County Airport is a county-owned public airport located in the unincorporated area of Dunnellon, in Marion County, Florida, United States. In 2014, the general aviation airport averaged 105 flights per day. The complex features two lighted ...

Air Transport Command

Homestead Army Air Base Homestead Air Reserve Base (Homestead ARB), previously known as Homestead Air Force Base (Homestead AFB) is located in Miami–Dade County, Florida to the northeast of the city of Homestead. It is home to the 482nd Fighter Wing (482 FW) of th ...

, east-northeast of

Homestead Homestead may refer to: *Homestead (buildings), a farmhouse and its adjacent outbuildings; by extension, it can mean any small cluster of houses * Homestead (unit), a unit of measurement equal to 160 acres *Homestead principle, a legal concept t ...

: Station 8, Caribbean Wing, ATC : 563d Army Air Force Base Unit : Was: Dade County Airport (1945-1955) : Was: Roundel of the USAF

Homestead Air Force Base Homestead Air Reserve Base (Homestead ARB), previously known as Homestead Air Force Base (Homestead AFB) is located in Miami–Dade County, Florida to the northeast of the city of Homestead. It is home to the 482nd Fighter Wing (482 FW) of th ...

(1955-1994) : Now: Roundel of the USAF

Homestead Air Reserve Base Homestead Air Reserve Base (Homestead ARB), previously known as Homestead Air Force Base (Homestead AFB) is located in Miami–Dade County, Florida to the northeast of the city of Homestead. It is home to the 482nd Fighter Wing (482 FW) of th ...

(1994-Present) *

Miami Army Airfield Miami Army Airfield, was a World War II United States Army Air Forces airfield located at the 36th Street Airport in Miami, Florida. The military airfield closed in 1946 and the airport was returned to civil use. In 1949, the airport became a U ...

(36th Street Airport),

: Joint Civil/Army Airfield use : Also used by:

: HQ 45th Bombardment Group (I Bomber Command) (1942) : HQ 26th Antisubmarine Wing (1942-1943) :

Army Air Forces Pilot School An army (from Old French ''armee'', itself derived from the Latin verb ''armāre'', meaning "to arm", and related to the Latin noun ''arma'', meaning "arms" or "weapons"), ground force or land force is a fighting force that fights primarily on ...

(Miscellaneous Fields) : Operated by

Pan American Airways Pan American World Airways, originally founded as Pan American Airways and commonly known as Pan Am, was an American airline that was the principal and largest international air carrier and unofficial overseas flag carrier of the United States ...

: Later: : 408th Army Air Force Base Unit (Contract pilot training) : 1595th Army Air Force Base Unit (First Foreign Transport Group) : 1105th Army Air Force Base Unit (ATC Caribbean Wing) : Now:

Miami International Airport Miami International Airport , also known as MIA and historically as Wilcox Field, is the primary airport serving the greater Miami metropolitan area with over 1,000 daily flights to 167 domestic and international destinations, including most co ...

* Morrison Field, southwest of

West Palm Beach West or Occident is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from east and is the direction in which the Sunset, Sun sets on the Earth. Etymology The word "west" is a Germanic languages, German ...

: Initially used by:

8th Pursuit Wing 8 (eight) is the natural number following 7 and preceding 9. In mathematics 8 is: * a composite number, its proper divisors being , , and . It is twice 4 or four times 2. * a power of two, being 2 (two cubed), and is the first number of t ...

III Interceptor Command The III Fighter Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was at MacDill Field, Florida. It was inactivated on 8 April 1946. History Background GHQ Air Force (GHQ,AF) had been established with two major combat ...

: Also used by:

: 26th Antisubmarine Wing (Squadrons) : HQ Caribbean Wing, ATC : 427th Army Air Force Base Unit : Also used by:

: Later:

Palm Beach Air Force Base (1951-1962) : Now:

Palm Beach International Airport Palm Beach International Airport is a public airport in Palm Beach County, Florida, located just west of the city of West Palm Beach, Florida, United States, which it serves as the primary airport for. It is also the primary airport for most o ...

Proving Ground Command

Eglin Field Eglin may refer to: * Eglin (surname) * Eglin Air Force Base, a United States Air Force base located southwest of Valparaiso, Florida * Federal Prison Camp, Eglin, a Federal Bureau of Prisons minimum security prison on the grounds of Eglin Air Forc ...

, southwest of Valparaiso : HQ

Army Air Forces Proving Ground Command An army (from Old French ''armee'', itself derived from the Latin verb ''armāre'', meaning "to arm", and related to the Latin noun ''arma'', meaning "arms" or "weapons"), ground force or land force is a fighting force that fights primarily on ...

: Known sub-bases and auxiliaries : Eglin Air Force Auxiliary Field #1 :: Now Roundel of the USAF

Eglin AFB Aux Fld #1,

Wagner Field Wagner Field, (Formerly: Eglin Air Force Auxiliary Field #1), is a component of Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. It is located northeast of the main base, 13.9 miles northeast of Valparaiso, Florida. The site is notable as the training location ...

: Eglin Air Force Auxiliary Field #2 :: Now: Roundel of the USAF

Eglin AFB Aux Fld #2 Pierce Field : Eglin Air Force Auxiliary Field #3 :: Now: Roundel of the USAF

Eglin AFB Aux Fld #3, Duke Field : Eglin Air Force Auxiliary Field #4 :: Now: Roundel of the USAF

Eglin AFB Aux Fld #4, Peel Field : Eglin Air Force Auxiliary Field #5 :: Now: Roundel of the USAF

Eglin AFB Aux Fld #5,

Piccolo Field Piccolo Field, (Formerly: Eglin Air Force Auxiliary Field #5), is a closed United States Air Force field. It is located 9.3 miles northwest of Valparaiso, Florida. Overview Auxiliary Field 5 is named Piccolo Field for Capt. Anthony D. Piccolo, ...

: Eglin Air Force Auxiliary Field #6 :: Now: Roundel of the USAF

Eglin AFB Aux Fld #6 Biancur Field and

Camp Rudder Camp James E. Rudder (Camp Rudder) is host to the third and final phase of a nine-week training course, dubbed the "swamp phase", of the U.S. Army Ranger School. The camp is located on the Eglin Air Force Base reservation, co-located with Eglin AFB ...

(1 October 1958-Present) : Eglin Air Force Auxiliary Field #7 :: Now: Roundel of the USAF

Eglin AFB Aux Fld #7, Epler Field : Eglin Air Force Auxiliary Field #8 :: Now: Roundel of the USAF

Eglin AFB Auf Fld #8,

Baldsiefen Field Baldsiefen Field, (Formerly: Eglin Air Force Auxiliary Field #8), is a closed United States Air Force field. It is located 10.2 miles east of Valparaiso, Florida. Overview Auxiliary Field 8 is named Baldsiefen Field for 2nd Lt. Richard Edward ...

: Eglin Air Force Auxiliary Field #9 :: Previously Eglin AFB Aux Fld #9,

Hurlburt Field Hurlburt Field is a United States Air Force installation located in Okaloosa County, Florida, immediately west of the town of Mary Esther. It is part of the greater Eglin Air Force Base reservation and is home to Headquarters Air Force Spe ...

(1947-1955) :: Now: Roundel of the USAF

: Eglin Air Force Auxiliary Field #10 (Dillon Field) (1943) :: Now: Roundel of the USAF

Naval Outlying Landing Field Choctaw Naval Outlying Landing Field Choctaw is the United States Navy's designation for an auxiliary airfield that was originally constructed during World War II as Eglin Field (now Eglin Air Force Base) Auxiliary Field # 10. It is located 16.6 miles no ...

(

) :

Santa Rosa Island Range Complex The Santa Rosa Island Range Complex is a component of the Eglin AFB testing range, located 17.5 miles west-southwest of the main base, on Santa Rosa Island, sitting between the communities of Navarre and Okaloosa Island. Overview The complex i ...

:: Now:

: Now:

Eglin Air Force Base Eglin Air Force Base is a United States Air Force (USAF) base in the western Florida Panhandle, located about southwest of Valparaiso in Okaloosa County. The host unit at Eglin is the 96th Test Wing (formerly the 96th Air Base Wing). The ...

Minor Airfields

* Naval Auxiliary Air Station (NAAS) Boca Chica, east-northeast of

Key West Key West ( es, Cayo Hueso) is an island in the Straits of Florida, within the U.S. state of Florida. Together with all or parts of the separate islands of Dredgers Key, Fleming Key, Sunset Key, and the northern part of Stock Island, it cons ...

: Used by:

(1942-1943) : 26th Antisubmarine Wing (Squadrons) : Now: Roundel of the USAF

Naval Air Station Key West Naval Air Station Key West , is a naval air station and military airport located on Boca Chica Key, four miles (6 km) east of the central business district of Key West, Florida, United States., effective 2007-10-25 NAS Key West is an air ...

* Naval Outlying Field (OLF) Marathon, east-northeast of

Marathon The marathon is a long-distance foot race with a distance of , usually run as a road race, but the distance can be covered on trail routes. The marathon can be completed by running or with a run/walk strategy. There are also wheelchair div ...

: Used by:

(1942-1943) : 26th Antisubmarine Wing (Squadrons) : Now:

Florida Keys Marathon Airport The Florida Keys Marathon International Airport is a public airport located along the Overseas Highway (US1) in Marathon, Florida, Marathon, in Monroe County, Florida, Monroe County, Florida, United States. The airport covers and has one runway. ...

* Naval Outlying Field Meacham, east of

: Used by:

(1942-1943) : 26th Antisubmarine Wing (Squadrons) : Now:

Key West International Airport Key West International Airport is an international airport located in the City of Key West in Monroe County, Florida, United States, east of the main commercial center of Key West. Flights departing from EYW often have weight restrictions, b ...

* Lantana Airport, south-southwest of

: Used by:

(1942-1943) : 26th Antisubmarine Wing (Squadrons) : Now:

Palm Beach County Park Airport Palm Beach County Park Airport is a county-owned, public-use airport in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. It is located six nautical miles (7 mi, 11 km) south of the central business district of West Palm Beach, Florida. ...

* Flagler Beach Airport, Flagler Beach :

Civil Air Patrol Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is a congressionally chartered, federally supported non-profit corporation that serves as the official civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force (USAF). CAP is a volunteer organization with an aviation-minded mem ...

Use : Used by:

(1942-1943) : 26th Antisubmarine Wing (Squadrons) : Closed appx. 1945, now abandoned * Jasper CAA Site#43, south-southeast of

Jasper Jasper, an aggregate of microgranular quartz and/or cryptocrystalline chalcedony and other mineral phases,Kostov, R. I. 2010. Review on the mineralogical systematics of jasper and related rocks. – Archaeometry Workshop, 7, 3, 209-213PDF/ref> ...

: Likely Emergency landing airfield : Closed appx. 1950, now farmland * Pomona Field, east of Pomona Park : Likely Emergency landing airfield : Now: Pomona Landing Airport * Quincy Municipal Airport, east-northeast of Quincy : Likely Emergency landing airfield : Now: Quincy Municipal Airport * Withlacoochee Army Airfield, east of Lacoochee : Used by the

Dugway Proving Ground Dugway Proving Ground (DPG) is a U.S. Army facility established in 1942 to test biological and chemical weapons, located about southwest of Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, and south of the Utah Test and Training Range. Location Dugway P ...

Mobile Chemical Warfare Testing Unit : Now: Closed appx. 1945, now abandoned

References

* Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. . * Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. . * Thole, Lou (1999), Forgotten Fields of America : World War II Bases and Training, Then and Now - Vol. 2. Pictorial Histories Pub .
Military Airfields in World War II - Florida

External links

{{Use dmy dates, date=March 2018

United States World War II army airfields World War II Army Airfields World War II Army Airfields .