Cairns Army Airfield
Encyclopedia
Cairns Army Airfield is a military airport
forming a part of Fort Rucker
, in Dale County
, Alabama
, USA
. It is owned by the United States Army
. The airfield is south of the town of Daleville
, which sits between it and the main post.
Third Air Force
during World War II, then placed on inactive status with the war's end.
Needing a location to shoot all takeoffs and landings for the film Twelve O'Clock High
, including the spectacular B-17 belly-landing sequence early in the film, director Henry King selected Ozark since its dark runways more closely matched wartime bases in England as opposed to the light-colored runways at the Eglin Air Force Base
, the primary shoot location. Since the field had been allowed to overgrow during its inactive status, it was also an ideal location for the character Harvey Stovall to reminisce about his World War II service (which is seen at the beginning of the film) before the crew mowed and dressed the field to start the rest of shooting. The field was acquired by Fort Rucker in 1952. It was known as Ozark Army Airfield until January 1959, when the name was changed to Cairns Army Airfield, named for U.S. Army Major General Bogardus Snowden "Bugs" Cairns who was killed instantly when his H-13 Sioux
helicopter crashed minutes after take off in dense woods northwest of Fort Rucker
, Alabama headquarters on 9 December 1958. He was enroute to Matteson Range to observe a firepower rehearsal in preparation for a full-scale armed helicopter display. He was commander of the Aviation Center and Commandant of the Aviation School.
Cairns is one of the busiest airfields in the Army, training large numbers of Army aviators both day and night.
The Aviation Training Brigade consists of five battalions that conduct flight training at Fort Rucker at three training sites. 1st Battalion, 223d Aviation Regiment, Cairns Army Airfield and Knox Army Heliport conducts flight training in the CH-47, C-12 and conducts the Maintenance Test Pilot Courses, it also provides evaluations of flight training for contractors.
paved runway
s: 6/24 is 4,546 by 150 feet (1,386 x 46 m) and 18/36 is 5,025 by 150 feet (1,532 x 46 m).
In 1995 the pilots handled 209,000 aircraft movements without incident. In an average day tower operators handle 800 to 1,000 movements. What makes Cairns unique is the density in which it operates. The airfield may be launching 70 to 120 aircraft in the morning and afternoon, and then 50 or 60 at night for training.
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
forming a part of Fort Rucker
Fort Rucker
Fort Rucker is a U.S. Army post located mostly in Dale County, Alabama, United States. It was named for a Civil War officer, Confederate General Edmund Rucker. The post is the primary flight training base for Army Aviation and is home to the United States Army Aviation Center of Excellence and...
, in Dale County
Dale County, Alabama
Dale County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of General Samuel Dale. As of the 2010 census the population was 50,251...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is owned by the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. The airfield is south of the town of Daleville
Daleville, Alabama
Daleville is a city in Dale County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 4,653. It is part of the Enterprise–Ozark Micropolitan Statistical Area. The city's nickname is "Gateway to Fort Rucker", as this U.S. Army post is located just north of town...
, which sits between it and the main post.
History
In September 1942, 1259 acres (5.1 km²) south of Daleville were acquired for the construction of an airfield to support the training camp. It was a training airfield as part of the United States Army Air ForcesUnited 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....
Third Air Force
Third Air Force
The Third Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Forces in Europe . It is headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany....
during World War II, then placed on inactive status with the war's end.
Needing a location to shoot all takeoffs and landings for the film Twelve O'Clock High
Twelve O'Clock High
Twelve O'Clock High is a 1949 American war film about aircrews in the United States Army's Eighth Air Force who flew daylight bombing missions against Nazi Germany and occupied France during the early days of American involvement in World War II. The film was adapted by Sy Bartlett, Henry King ...
, including the spectacular B-17 belly-landing sequence early in the film, director Henry King selected Ozark since its dark runways more closely matched wartime bases in England as opposed to the light-colored runways at the Eglin Air Force Base
Eglin Air Force Base
Eglin Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately 3 miles southwest of Valparaiso, Florida in Okaloosa County....
, the primary shoot location. Since the field had been allowed to overgrow during its inactive status, it was also an ideal location for the character Harvey Stovall to reminisce about his World War II service (which is seen at the beginning of the film) before the crew mowed and dressed the field to start the rest of shooting. The field was acquired by Fort Rucker in 1952. It was known as Ozark Army Airfield until January 1959, when the name was changed to Cairns Army Airfield, named for U.S. Army Major General Bogardus Snowden "Bugs" Cairns who was killed instantly when his H-13 Sioux
H-13 Sioux
The H-13 Sioux was a two-bladed, single engine, light helicopter built by Bell Helicopter. Westland Aircraft manufactured the Sioux under license for the British military as the Sioux AH.1 and HT.2.-Development:...
helicopter crashed minutes after take off in dense woods northwest of Fort Rucker
Fort Rucker
Fort Rucker is a U.S. Army post located mostly in Dale County, Alabama, United States. It was named for a Civil War officer, Confederate General Edmund Rucker. The post is the primary flight training base for Army Aviation and is home to the United States Army Aviation Center of Excellence and...
, Alabama headquarters on 9 December 1958. He was enroute to Matteson Range to observe a firepower rehearsal in preparation for a full-scale armed helicopter display. He was commander of the Aviation Center and Commandant of the Aviation School.
Current use
Fort Rucker is the Home of Army Aviation, where all of the Army's Aviators as well as many international and civilian personnel begin their rotary-wing flight training.Cairns is one of the busiest airfields in the Army, training large numbers of Army aviators both day and night.
The Aviation Training Brigade consists of five battalions that conduct flight training at Fort Rucker at three training sites. 1st Battalion, 223d Aviation Regiment, Cairns Army Airfield and Knox Army Heliport conducts flight training in the CH-47, C-12 and conducts the Maintenance Test Pilot Courses, it also provides evaluations of flight training for contractors.
Facilities
Cairns AAF has two asphaltAsphalt
Asphalt or , also known as bitumen, is a sticky, black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid that is present in most crude petroleums and in some natural deposits, it is a substance classed as a pitch...
paved runway
Runway
According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
s: 6/24 is 4,546 by 150 feet (1,386 x 46 m) and 18/36 is 5,025 by 150 feet (1,532 x 46 m).
In 1995 the pilots handled 209,000 aircraft movements without incident. In an average day tower operators handle 800 to 1,000 movements. What makes Cairns unique is the density in which it operates. The airfield may be launching 70 to 120 aircraft in the morning and afternoon, and then 50 or 60 at night for training.
See also
- Alabama World War II Army AirfieldsAlabama World War II Army AirfieldsDuring World War II, the United States Army Air Force established numerous airfields in Alabama for antisubmarine defense in the Gulf of Mexico and for training pilots and aircrews of USAAF fighters and bombers....
- Fort RuckerFort RuckerFort Rucker is a U.S. Army post located mostly in Dale County, Alabama, United States. It was named for a Civil War officer, Confederate General Edmund Rucker. The post is the primary flight training base for Army Aviation and is home to the United States Army Aviation Center of Excellence and...
, located at 31°20′37"N 85°42′29"W - Lowe Army HeliportLowe Army HeliportLowe Army Heliport is a military heliport serving Fort Rucker in Dale County, Alabama, United States. Owned by the United States Army, it is located 8 nautical miles southwest of the city of Ozark.- Facilities :...
, located at 31°21′21"N 085°45′04"W - Hanchey Army HeliportHanchey Army HeliportHanchey Army Heliport is a military heliport serving Fort Rucker in Dale County, Alabama, United States. Owned by the United States Army, it is located south of the city of Ozark.- Facilities :...
, located at 31°20′46"N 085°39′16"W
External links
- Fort Rucker, official site
- U.S. Army Aviation Technical Test Center, official site
- Cairns Army Airfield at GlobalSecurity.orgGlobalSecurity.orgGlobalSecurity.org, launched in 2000, is a public policy organization focusing on the fields of defense, space exploration, intelligence, weapons of mass destruction and homeland security...
- Airfield photos for KOZR from Civil Air PatrolCivil Air PatrolCivil Air Patrol is a Congressionally chartered, federally supported, non-profit corporation that serves as the official civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force . CAP is a volunteer organization with an aviation-minded membership that includes people from all backgrounds, lifestyles, and...
- Aerial image as of 18 February 1997 from USGS The National Map