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Montana World War II Army Airfields

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U.S. Air Force facilities created for World War II
Montana World War II Army Airfields
Part of World War II
Montana World War II Army Airfields is located in MontanaCut Bank AAFCut Bank AAFGlasgow AAFGlasgow AAFGreat Falls AAFGreat Falls AAFLewistown AAFLewistown AAFGore AAFGore AAFHelena AAFHelena AAFclass=notpageimage| Map of Montana World War II Army Airfields
TypeArmy airfields
Site history
Built1940-1944
In use1940–present

During World War II, the United States Army Air Forces (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 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

II Fighter Command
Now: Cut Bank Municipal Airport (IATA: CTB, ICAO: KCTB)
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.
352d Army Air Force Base Unit
Was: Great Falls Air Force Base (1947-1955)
Now: Malmstrom Air Force Base (1955–present; runway inactive since 1997, limited to rotary-wing ops)
II Bomber Command
Now: Lewistown Municipal Airport (IATA: LWT, ICAO: KLWT)

Air Transport Command

Joint use USAAF/Civil Airport
7th Ferrying Group
385th Army Air Force Base Unit
Now: Great Falls International Airport (IATA: GTF, ICAO: KGTF)
And: Great Falls Air National Guard Base
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 0-89201-092-4.
  • Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.
  • Thole, Lou (1999), Forgotten Fields of America : World War II Bases and Training, Then and Now - Vol. 2. Pictorial Histories Pub . ISBN 1-57510-051-7
  • Military Airfields in World War II - Montana
Army Air Forces Training Command
Flying training
Flying schools
Specialized schools
Technical training
USAAF Second Air Force in World War II
Airfields
Units
Commands
Wings
Groups
Bombardment
Fighter
Reconnaissance
Troop Carrier
  • United States Army Air Forces
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