Blythe Airport

Infobox Airport
name = Blythe Airport
nativename =
nativename-a =
nativename-r =

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IATA = BLH
ICAO = KBLH
type = Public
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operator =
city-served =
location = Blythe, California
elevation-f = 399
elevation-m = 122
coordinates = Coord|33|37|09.0|N|114|43|00.8|W|type:airport|display=inline,title
website =
metric-elev =
metric-rwy =
r1-number = 8/26
r1-length-f = 6,543
r1-length-m = 1,994
r1-surface = Asphalt
r2-number = 17/35
r2-length-f = 5,800
r2-length-m = 1,768
r2-surface = Asphalt
stat-year =
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Blythe Airport Airport codes|BLH|KBLH is a public airport located six miles (9.7 km) west of Blythe, serving Riverside County, California, USA. The airport has two runways and is mostly used for general aviation.

Facilities

Blythe Airport has two runways:
* Runway 8/26: 6,543 x 150 ft (1,994 x 46 m). Surface: Asphalt
* Runway 17/35: 5,800 x 100 ft (1,768 x 30 m). Surface: Asphalt

History

The airfield was opened in April 1940. During World War II the airfield was known as Bishop Army Airfield and was used by the United States Army Air Forces.

The field was built for the I Troop Carrier Command but was given up by that command, without ever occupying it, to the 4th Air Force as a California-Arizona Maneuver Area (CAMA) training field. The 46th Bomb Group and later the 34th Bomb Group occupied the field during the CAMA days and flew a variety of planes including B-17s, B-24s, A-31s and A-36s. Blythe Army Air Field later became a sub-base of Muroc Army Air Field (now Edwards Air Force Base)

Known units assigned to Blythe Army Airfield were:

* 46th Bombardment Group (Light) 23 May 1942-November 1942. A-20 Havoc
* 34th Bomb Group (Heavy) 15 December 1942-April 1944. B-17 Flying Fortresses and B-24 Liberators
* 55th Bombardment Group (Dive) 2 November-11 December 1942 A-24 Dauntlesses
* 398th Bombardment Group (Heavy) April 1943 B-17 Flying Fortresses

With the end of the war, the base was declared excess to requirements and returned to civil control.

ee also

* California World War II Army Airfields

References

* [http://www.gcr1.com/5010web/airport.cfm?Site=BLH Airport Master Record (FAA Form 5010)] , also available as a [http://www.gcr1.com/5010web/REPORTS/AFD09282006BLH.pdf printable form] (PDF)

External links