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 opposin ...

, 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

South Carolina )''Animis opibusque parati'' ( for, , Latin, Prepared in mind and resources, links=no) , anthem = " Carolina";" South Carolina On My Mind" , Former = Province of South Carolina , seat = Columbia , LargestCity = Charleston , LargestMetro = ...

for antisubmarine defense in the

Gulf of Mexico The Gulf of Mexico ( es, Golfo de México) is an oceanic basin, 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 ...

and for training pilots and aircrews of USAAF fighters and bombers. 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 E ...

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) (A predecessor of the current-day

United States 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 Signal ...

Air Education and Training Command Air Education and Training Command (AETC) is one of the nine Major Commands (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force (USAF), reporting to Headquarters, United States Air Force. It was established 1 July 1993, with the realignment of Air Training ...

). However the other USAAF support commands (

Air Technical 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 ...

(ATSC) and

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 ...

(ATC) maintained a large base in Charleston. 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

installations and were front-line bases during the

Cold War The Cold War is a term commonly used to refer to a period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies, the Western Bloc and the Eastern Bloc. The term '' cold war'' is used because the ...

. Hundreds of the temporary buildings that were used survive today, and are being used for other purposes.

Major Airfields

Multiple Commands

* Charleston Army Airfield, northwest of Charleston : 421st Base HQ and Air Base Squadron : Initially:

(29th Air Base Group, Distribution Point #2) : Also used by:

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 ...

( 16th Antisubmarine Squadron) : Later: Transferred to:

First Air Force The First Air Force (Air Forces Northern; 1 AF-AFNORTH) is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command (ACC). It is headquartered at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. Its primary mission is the air defense of the Co ...

(113th AAF Base Unit) : Later: Transferred to:

(593d AAF Base Unit) : Later:

Charleston Air Force Base Charleston Air Force Base is a United States military facility located in the City of North Charleston, South Carolina. The facility is under the jurisdiction of the United States Air Force's 628th Air Base Wing (628 ABW), a subordinate element ...

(1952-2010) : Now: Roundel of the USAF

Joint Base Charleston Joint Base Charleston is a United States military facility located partly in the City of North Charleston, South Carolina and partly in the City of Goose Creek, South Carolina. The facility is under the jurisdiction of the United States Air Forc ...

(2010-Present)

Third Air Force

Aiken Army Airfield Aiken Air Force Station is a closed United States Air Force General Surveillance Radar station. It is located north-northeast of Aiken, South Carolina. It was closed in 1975. During World War II, the site was originally constructed by the Un ...

, north-northeast of Aiken : Sub-base of:

Morris Army Airfield Morris Army Airfield was a military airport located at Fort Gillem, within the city of Forest Park in Clayton County, Georgia, southwest of the city of Atlanta, Georgia, just east of the Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport. See ...

, North Carolina : 359th Army Air Force Base Unit : Later:

Aiken Air Force Station Aiken Air Force Station is a closed United States Air Force General Surveillance Radar station. It is located north-northeast of Aiken, South Carolina. It was closed in 1975. During World War II, the site was originally constructed by the Un ...

(1955-1975) : Now:

Aiken Municipal Airport Aiken Regional Airport is a city-owned public-use airport located five nautical miles (9 km) north of the central business district of Aiken, a city in Aiken County, South Carolina, United States. The airport serves the general aviation c ...

Columbia Army Air Base Columbia Army Air Base was a World War II United States Army Air Forces base. It was primarily used for advanced combat training of B-25 Mitchell medium bomber units and replacement pilots. It was used as a training base in early 1942 for Doo ...

, southwest of Columbia : 309th/329th Bombardment Group, 329th AAF Base Unit : Also used by:

: Later: Transferred to

: 129th Army Air Force Base Unit : Known sub-bases and auxiliaries ::

Barnwell Army Airfield Barnwell Regional Airport is a county-owned, public-use airport located northwest of the central business district of Barnwell, a city in Barnwell County, South Carolina, United States. It is owned by Barnwell County. The airport serves the g ...

:: Johns Island Army Airfield :: North Army Airfield ::

Walterboro Army Airfield Lowcountry Regional Airport is a public use airport located two nautical miles (4 km) northeast of the central business district of Walterboro, a city in Colleton County, South Carolina, United States. It is owned by the city and cou ...

: Now:

Columbia Metropolitan Airport Columbia Metropolitan Airport is the main commercial airport for Columbia and the Midlands region of South Carolina, United States. The airport is located in West Columbia, southwest of Columbia, in Lexington County. It is surrounded by the ...

Greenville Army Airbase Donaldson Air Force Base is a former facility of the United States Air Force located south of Greenville, South Carolina. It was founded in 1942 as Greenville Army Air Base; it was deactivated in 1963 and converted into a civilian airport. It ...

, south of Greenville : Later: Transferred to First Air Force : Known sub-bases and auxiliaries :: Coronaca Army Airfield :: Anderson Auxiliary Field : Later:

Donaldson Air Force Base Donaldson Air Force Base is a former facility of the United States Air Force located south of Greenville, South Carolina. It was founded in 1942 as Greenville Army Air Base; it was deactivated in 1963 and converted into a civilian airport. It ...

(1947-1963) : Now:

Donaldson Center Airport Donaldson Field Airport is a public airport six miles (10 km) south of the central business district of Greenville, a city in Greenville County, South Carolina, United States. It is located at the Donaldson Center Industrial Air Park and ...

* Congaree Army Airfield, east-southeast of Columbia : Later: Transferred to:

United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through combi ...

: Now:

McEntire Joint National Guard Base McEntire Joint National Guard Base or McEntire JNGB is a military airport located in Richland County, South Carolina, United States, 10 miles (16 km) west of the town of Eastover and approximately 15 miles southeast of the city of Colum ...

* Florence Army Airfield, east-southeast of

Florence Florence ( ; it, Firenze ) is a city in Central Italy and the capital city of the Tuscany region. It is the most populated city in Tuscany, with 383,083 inhabitants in 2016, and over 1,520,000 in its metropolitan area.Bilancio demografico an ...

: Later: Transferred to First Air Force : Known sub-bases and auxiliaries :: Hartsville Army Airfield :: Hartsville Auxiliary Field : Now:

Florence Regional Airport Florence Regional Airport is three miles east of Florence, in Florence County, South Carolina. The only scheduled flights are American Eagle to Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, about 30 minutes. Facilities The airport covers and has ...

i *

Myrtle Beach General Bombing and Gunnery Range Myrtle may refer to: Plants *Myrtaceae, the myrtle family **''Myrtus'', the myrtle genus * List of plants known as myrtle, including a list of trees and plants known as myrtle In geography Canada * Myrtle, Ontario, a community United States * ...

, west-southwest of

Myrtle Beach Myrtle Beach is a resort city on the east coast of the United States in Horry County, South Carolina. It is located in the center of a long and continuous stretch of beach known as "The Grand Strand" in the northeastern part of the state. Its y ...

: Later: Myrtle Beach Army Airfield : 519th Army Air Force Base Unit : Later: Transferred to First Air Force : 136th Army Air Force Base Unit : Known sub-bases and auxiliaries :: Ocean Drive Flight Strip : Later:

Myrtle Beach Air Force Base Myrtle Beach Air Force Base was a United States Air Force base located near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Early history On 16 October 1939, Myrtle Beach Town Council resolved that the community "is in dire need of a modern municipal airport". The ...

(1956-1993) : Now:

Myrtle Beach International Airport Myrtle Beach International Airport is a county-owned public-use airport located three nautical miles (6 km) southwest of the central business district of Myrtle Beach, in Horry County, South Carolina, United States. It was formerly k ...

AAF Training Command

Eastern Flight Training Center * Shaw Army Airfield, west-northwest of

Sumter Sumter may refer to: People Given name * Sumter S. Arnim (1904–1990), American dentist * Sumter de Leon Lowry Jr. (1893–1985), United States Army general Surname * Rowendy Sumter (born 1988), Curaçaoan footballer * Shavonda E. Sumter ( ...

: Army Air Force Flying School (Basic) : Known sub-bases and auxiliaries :: Burt Gin Auxiliary Field :: Rembert Auxiliary Field :: Monaghan Auxiliary Field :: Sumter Municipal Airport : Now: Roundel of the USAF

Shaw Air Force Base Shaw Air Force Base (Shaw AFB) is a United States Air Force (USAF) base located approximately west-northwest of downtown Sumter, South Carolina. It is one of the largest military bases operated by the United States, and is under the jurisdict ...

AAF Contract Flying Schools

* Greenville Municipal Airport, east of Greenville : Southern Airways Contract Glider Pilot Training School (1941-1943) : Later: Transferred to:

(1943-1945) : 529th Army Air Force Base Unit : Joint Civil/USAAF Use : Now: Greenville Downtown Airport * Palmer Field, west of

Bennettsville Bennettsville is a city located in the U.S. state of South Carolina on the Great Pee Dee River. As the county seat of Marlboro County, Bennettsville is noted for its historic homes and buildings from the 19th and early 20th centuries—including ...

: Georgia Air Service, Inc & Southeastern Air Service, Inc. : Now: Marlboro County Jetport *

Hawthorne School of Aeronautics Hawthorne School of Aeronautics was a flying school and airport located 5 miles south of Orangeburg, South Carolina. The school was closed in 1945. Today the land is being used for non-aviation purposes. History The Hawthorne School of Aeron ...

, south of Orangeburg : Free French Air Force pilot training : 58th Flying Training Detachment : Known sub-bases and auxiliaries :: Jennings Auxiliary Field :: Hagood Auxiliary Field :: Kennedy Auxiliary Field : Now: Non-aviation use * Woodward Field Airport, northeast of Camden : : Southern Aviation School

Minor Airfields

* Chinquapin Airport, west of Greenwood : Preflight cadet pilot screening : Now: Non-aviation use * Columbia Municipal Airport, southeast of Columbia : Used for training of observation pilots (3d AF); supported Fort Jackson;

US 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 of ...

use. : Now: Jim Hamilton – L.B. Owens Airport * Lane Intermediate Field (CAA Site #24), north of Charleston : Auxiliary fighter pilot training field : Abandoned 1983
Manning Airfield
south of Allendale : Undetermined usage by AAF : Abandoned, undetermined history * Roddey Airport, south-southwest of Rock Hill : Likely Emergency landing airfield : Abandoned approx 1965. * Spartanburg Memorial Airport, south-southwest of

Spartanburg Spartanburg is a city in and the seat of Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States. The city of Spartanburg has a municipal population of 38,732 as of the 2020 census, making it the 11th-largest city in the state. For a time, the Offi ...

: Joint Civil/USAAF airfield; supported Army Camp Croft Infantry Replacement Training Center : 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 ...

1943 : (

IATA The International Air Transport Association (IATA ) is a trade association of the world's airlines founded in 1945. IATA has been described as a cartel since, in addition to setting technical standards for airlines, IATA also organized tariff ...

: SPA,

ICAO The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO, ) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that coordinates the principles and techniques of international air navigation, and fosters the planning and development of international a ...

: KSPA,

FAA The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is the largest transportation agency of the U.S. government and regulates all aspects of civil aviation in the country as well as over surrounding international waters. Its powers include air traffic m ...

LID: SPA)

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 - South Carolina

External links

{{USAAF 3d Air Force World War II 01

Airfields of the United States Army Air Forces in the United States by state United States World War II army airfields