Massachusetts World War II Army Airfields

Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts 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 Technical Service Commannd

• Bedford Army Air Field, Bedford

432d/433d Army Air Force Base Unit

Was: Hanscom Airport (1947)

Was: Bedford Airfield (1948)

Now: Hanscom Air Force Base (1948-present)

• Logan Airport, Boston

Joint use USAAF/Navy/Civil Airport

Now: Logan International Airport (IATA: BOS, ICAO: KBOS, FAA LID: BOS)

First Air Force

• Westover Army Air Field, Chicopee

25th Army Air Force Base Unit

Was Westover Air Force Base (1947-1974)

Now: Westover Joint Air Reserve Base (1974-present)

• Fort Devens Army Air Field, Fort Devens

307th Army Air Force Base Unit

Used by United States Navy briefly around 1944

Was: Camp Devens Airfield (1926-1934)

Was: Fort Devens Airfield (1934-1977)

Was: Moore Army Airfield (1945-1995)

Now: Soon to be turned into an industrial park

• Otis Army Air Field, Falmouth

308th Army Air Force Base Unit

Transferred to United States Navy, May 1944-1946

Was: Otis Air Force Base (1952-1973)

Now: Otis Air National Guard Base (1973-present)

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 - Massachusetts

External links

	United States Air Force portal
	Military of the United States portal