Michigan World War II Army Airfields

Michigan World War II Army Airfields
Part of World War II
Type	Army Airfields
Site history
Built	1940-1944
In use	1940-present

During World War II, the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) established numerous airfields in Michigan 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 Command

• Alpena AAF, Alpena

100th Base Headquarters and Air Base Squadron

Now: Alpena County Regional Airport (IATA: APN, ICAO: KAPN)

Kinross AAF, Kinross

Sub-base of Alpena AAF

Was: Kinross Air Force Base (1947-1959)

Was: Kincheloe Air Force Base (1959-1977)

Now: Chippewa County International Airport
(IATA: CIU, ICAO: KCIU)

Raco AAF, Raco

Sub-base of Alpena AAF

Was: Used by Michigan National Guard and by
Kincheloe AFB as a BOMARC missile site. Closed 1972.

Now: Non-aviation use
Old runways used for automotive testing.

• Grayling AAF, Grayling

still active United States Army airfield (did not xfer to USAF), part of Camp Grayling

• Tri-City AAF, Saginaw

Now: MBS International Airport (IATA: MBS, ICAO: KMBS)

Troop Carrier Command

• Kellogg AAF, Battle Creek

Troop Carrier Training

321st Base Headquarters and Air Base Squadron

Now: W. K. Kellogg Airport / Battle Creek Air National Guard Base (IATA: BTL, ICAO: KBTL)

First Air Force

• Selfridge AAF, Mt. Clemens

4th Base Headquarters and Air Base Squadron

Was Selfridge Air Force Base (1947-1971)

Now: Selfridge Air National Guard Base (1971-Pres)

• Oscoda AAF, Oscoda

524th Base Headquarters and Air Base Squadron (Reduced)

Sub-base of Selfridge AAF

Was: Oscoda Air Force Base (1947-1953)

Was: Wurtsmith Air Force Base (1953-1993)

Now: Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport (IATA: OSC, ICAO: KOSC)

Army Air Force Training Command

• Willow Run Airport, Ypsilanti, Michigan

Eastern Technical Training Command

484th Base Headquarters and Air Base Squadron

Now: Public Airport (IATA: YIP, ICAO: KYIP)
Also home of the Yankee Air Museum

Air Transport Command

• Romulus AAF, Detroit

3d Ferrying Group

345th Base Headquarters and Air Base Squadron

Joint Use USAAF/Civil Airport

Now: Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
(IATA: DTW, ICAO: KDTW)

See also

• Naval Air Station Grosse Ile

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 - Michigan