Montana World War II Army Airfields

Montana World War II Army Airfields
Part of World War II
Type	Army Airfields
Built	1940-1944
In use	1940-present

During World War II, the United States Army Air Force (USAAF) established numerous airfields in Montana for training pilots and aircrews of USAAF fighters and bombers.

Most of these airfields were under the command of Second 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, returned to agriculture, or retained as United States Air Force installations that served as 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

Second Air Force

• Cut Bank AAF, Cut Bank

II Fighter Command

Now: Cut Bank Municipal Airport (IATA: CTB, ICAO: KCTB)

• Glasgow AAF, Glasgow

II Fighter Command

Now: Glasgow International Airport (IATA: GGW, ICAO: KGGW)

Note: Glasgow Air Force Base (1957-1976) is NOT the World War II Airfield.

• Great Falls AAF, Great Falls

352d Army Air Force Base Unit

Was: Great Falls Air Force Base (1947-1955)

Now: Malmstrom Air Force Base (1955-Pres)

• Lewistown AAF, Lewistown

II Bomber Command

Now: Lewistown Municipal Airport (IATA: LWT, ICAO: KLWT)

Air Transport Command

• Gore AAF, Great Falls

Joint use USAAF/Civil Airport

7th Ferrying Group

385th Army Air Force Base Unit

Now: Great Falls International Airport (IATA: GTF, ICAO: KGTF)

• Helena AAF, Helena

Joint use USAAF/Civil Airport

Now: Helena Regional Airport (IATA: HLN, ICAO: KHLN)

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
• Military Airfields in World War II - Montana

External links

	United States Air Force portal
	Military of the United States portal