Louisiana World War II Army Airfields

Infobox Military Structure
name=Louisiana World War II Army Airfields
partof = World War II
location=
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caption=
type=Army Airfields
code=
built=1940-1944
builder=
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height=
used= 1940-Present
demolished=
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ownership=
controlledby=
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events=During World War II, the United States Army Air Force (USAAF) established numerous airfields in Louisiana for antisubmarine defense in the Gulf of Mexico and for training pilots and aircrews of USAAF fighters and bombers.

Most of these airfields were under the command of Third 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

Third Air Force
* Alexandria AAF, Alexandria: 517th Army Air Force Base Unit: Later: England Air Force Base (1950-1992)
* Barksdale Field, Shreveport: 5th Army Air Force Base Unit: Now:
* Esler Field, Camp Beauregard, Pineville: 98th Army Air Force Base Unit
* Lake Charles AAF, Lake Charles: 82d Army Air Force Base Unit: Later: Lake Charles/Chennault Air Force Base (1950-1963)Air Technical Service Command
* DeRidder Army Air Base, DeRidder: 317th Army Air Force Base Unit
* Kenner Moisant Airport, Kenner: Sub-base of Naval Air Station New Orleans, Joint Use

Army Air Forces Training Command
AAF Southeast Training Center
* Harding Field, Baton Rouge: 49th Army Air Force Base Unit
* New Orleans Army Air Base, New Orleans: 37th Army Air Force Base Unit
* Selman Field, Monroe: 329th Army Air Force Base Unit

References

* Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0892010924.
* Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0912799129.
* Thole, Lou (1999), Forgotten Fields of America : World War II Bases and Training, Then and Now - Vol. 2. Pictorial Histories Pub . ISBN 1575100517
* [http://www.airfieldsdatabase.com/WW2/WW2.htm Military Airfields in World War II - Louisiana]

External links