Dodge City Army Airfield
Encyclopedia
Dodge City Army Airfield (also known as Ford County Airport) is an abandoned airfield located in Ford County
, 6 miles (9.7 km) northwest of Dodge City, Kansas
.
, the United States Army Air Forces
used Dodge City Army Airfield as a training airfield by the Army Air Forces Flying Training Command
, Gulf Coast Training Center. The airfield encompassed a total of 2560 acres (1,036 ha). It was headquartered by the 455th Army Air Force Base Unit.
The airfield opened in early 1942 as part of the 70,000 Pilot Training Program, and originally trained Royal Air Force
and Free French pilots in basic flight training. The immediate construction involved runways and airplane hangars, with four 6500 by 150 ft (1,981.2 by 45.7 m) concrete runways, several taxiways and a large parking apron and a control tower. Four large hangars were also constructed. Buildings were ultimately utilitarian and quickly assembled. Most base buildings, not meant for long-term use, were constructed of temporary or semi-permanent materials. Although some hangars had steel frames and the occasional brick or tile brick building could be seen, most support buildings sat on concrete foundations but were of frame construction clad in little more than plywood and tarpaper.
In December 1942, the USAAF took over the airfield and it became the Army Air Forces Pilot School (Specialized 2-Engine, later Advanced 2-Engine), training aircrews on North American B-25 Mitchells and Martin B-26 Marauders
medium bombers. In addition, Dodge City AAF was a training facility for Women Air Force Service Pilots (WASPs)
The USAAF closed Dodge City AAF on 31 July 1945 and the airfield was in reserve status until 1949 when it was opened as a civilian airport. The facility was listed as "Dodge City Municipal Airport (Ford County)". The airport was not attended, and the manager was listed as William Meade.
Dodge City Municipal Airport was evidently closed at some point between 1954–62, with civil air traffic now utilizing Dodge City Regional Airport
. The airfield & its buildings were subsequently reused for a variety of commercial purposes.
Today, the Stanley Feed Yard occupies the site of the former Dodge City AAF. Most of the runways and taxiways have been removed and agricultural fields have largely replaced the airfield. There is little that is left of the administrative/technical site. A few streets survive and some derelict buildings and hangars exist.
Ford County, Kansas
Ford County is a county located in southwest Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 33,848. The Dodge City Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Ford County. Its county seat and most populous city is Dodge City. The county is named in...
, 6 miles (9.7 km) northwest of Dodge City, Kansas
Dodge City, Kansas
Dodge City is a city in, and the county seat of, Ford County, Kansas, United States. Named after nearby Fort Dodge, the city is famous in American culture for its history as a wild frontier town of the Old West. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,340.-History:The first settlement of...
.
History
During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the United States Army Air Forces
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
used Dodge City Army Airfield as a training airfield by the Army Air Forces Flying Training Command
Air Training Command
Air Training Command is a former major command of the United States Army Air Forces and United States Air Force. ATC came into being as a redesignation of the Army Air Forces Training Command on July 1, 1946...
, Gulf Coast Training Center. The airfield encompassed a total of 2560 acres (1,036 ha). It was headquartered by the 455th Army Air Force Base Unit.
The airfield opened in early 1942 as part of the 70,000 Pilot Training Program, and originally trained Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
and Free French pilots in basic flight training. The immediate construction involved runways and airplane hangars, with four 6500 by 150 ft (1,981.2 by 45.7 m) concrete runways, several taxiways and a large parking apron and a control tower. Four large hangars were also constructed. Buildings were ultimately utilitarian and quickly assembled. Most base buildings, not meant for long-term use, were constructed of temporary or semi-permanent materials. Although some hangars had steel frames and the occasional brick or tile brick building could be seen, most support buildings sat on concrete foundations but were of frame construction clad in little more than plywood and tarpaper.
In December 1942, the USAAF took over the airfield and it became the Army Air Forces Pilot School (Specialized 2-Engine, later Advanced 2-Engine), training aircrews on North American B-25 Mitchells and Martin B-26 Marauders
B-26 Marauder
The Martin B-26 Marauder was a World War II twin-engine medium bomber built by the Glenn L. Martin Company. First used in the Pacific Theater in early 1942, it was also used in the Mediterranean Theater and in Western Europe....
medium bombers. In addition, Dodge City AAF was a training facility for Women Air Force Service Pilots (WASPs)
The USAAF closed Dodge City AAF on 31 July 1945 and the airfield was in reserve status until 1949 when it was opened as a civilian airport. The facility was listed as "Dodge City Municipal Airport (Ford County)". The airport was not attended, and the manager was listed as William Meade.
Dodge City Municipal Airport was evidently closed at some point between 1954–62, with civil air traffic now utilizing Dodge City Regional Airport
Dodge City Regional Airport
Dodge City Regional Airport is a public airport located three miles east of the central business district of Dodge City, in Ford County, Kansas, USA. The airport covers and has two runways. It is mostly used for general aviation, but is also served by one commercial airline. Service is...
. The airfield & its buildings were subsequently reused for a variety of commercial purposes.
Today, the Stanley Feed Yard occupies the site of the former Dodge City AAF. Most of the runways and taxiways have been removed and agricultural fields have largely replaced the airfield. There is little that is left of the administrative/technical site. A few streets survive and some derelict buildings and hangars exist.
See also
- Kansas World War II Army AirfieldsKansas World War II Army AirfieldsDuring World War II, Kansas was a major United States Army Air Force training center for pilots and aircrews of USAAF fighters and bombers. Kansas was a favored because it has excellent, year-round flying conditions...