During World War II, the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) established numerous airfields in Kentucky 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). 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
First Air Force Godman AAF, Fort Knox Support for Fort Knox 99th Army Air Force Base Unit Was: Godman Air Force Base (1947-1954) Now: active United States Army Airfield Campbell AAF, Fort Campbell/Hopkinsville Sub-base of Smyrna AAF, Tennessee 99th Army Air Force Base Unit (DET) Was: Campbell Air Force Base (1947-1959) Now: active United States Army Airfield
Air Technical Service Command Louisville MAP, Louisville Aircraft Modification Center Now: Louisville International Airport and Louisville Air National Guard Base
Troop Carrier Command Bowman Field AAF, Louisville AAF Convalescent Hospital 27th Army Air Force Base Unit Now: Bowman Field Airport Lexington/Bluegrass AAF, Lexington Auxiliary to Bowman AAF Now: Blue Grass Airport
References Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. . Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947–1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. . Thole, Lou (1999), Forgotten Fields of America : World War II Bases and Training, Then and Now - Vol. 2. Pictorial Histories Pub .
External links Military Airfields in World War II - Kentucky