Eagle Field (airport)
Encyclopedia
Eagle Field is a private airport located approximately 7 miles (11.3 km) south-southwest of Dos Palos, California
, officially in Firebaugh, California
.
Flying training was performed with Ryan PT-22s as the primary trainer. Also had several PT-17 Stearmans and a few P-40 Warhawks assigned. It was inactivated on 28 December 1944 with the drawdown of AAFTC's pilot training program and was declared surplus and turned over to the Army Corps of Engineers.
The base was used as an aircraft storage depot for excess USAAF training aircraft, having UC-78s, PT-17s, Vultee BT-13/15, and AT-6 Texans. Eventually it was discharged to the War Assets Administration (WAA) and was used as a crop dusting airfield. After the war, the city of Dos Palos was to develop Eagle Field as a municipal airport but they failed in their effort. The property reverted to the federal government. In 1980 it was put up for auction.
Later on it became home of the Central California Historical Military Museum, which continues to operate at the field. The museum is also known as Eagle Field AAF - WWII Living History and Military Museum. Many wartime buildings remain at the airfield which is open to the public.
Dos Palos, California
Dos Palos is a city in Merced County, California, United States. Dos Palos is located south-southwest of Merced, at an elevation of 118 feet . The population was 4,950 at the 2010 census, up from 4,581 at the 2000 census...
, officially in Firebaugh, California
Firebaugh, California
Firebaugh is a city in Fresno County, California, United States. The population was 7,549 at the 2010 census, up from 5,743 as of the 2000 census. ZIP Code for the community is 93622 and the city is located inside area code 559. Firebaugh is located on the west side of the San Joaquin River west...
.
History
It was first activated on 24 June 1943 as United States Army Air Forces primary (level 1) pilot training airfield known as Dos Palos Airport. It was assigned to the USAAF West Coast Training Center (later Western Flying Training Command), operated under contract by Coast Aviation Corp. The airport had three turf runways, aligned 00/18 (1,900 feet); 09/27 (1,900 feet), and 13/31 (2,300 feet). It had four satellite airfields in the local area for emergency and overflow landings.Flying training was performed with Ryan PT-22s as the primary trainer. Also had several PT-17 Stearmans and a few P-40 Warhawks assigned. It was inactivated on 28 December 1944 with the drawdown of AAFTC's pilot training program and was declared surplus and turned over to the Army Corps of Engineers.
The base was used as an aircraft storage depot for excess USAAF training aircraft, having UC-78s, PT-17s, Vultee BT-13/15, and AT-6 Texans. Eventually it was discharged to the War Assets Administration (WAA) and was used as a crop dusting airfield. After the war, the city of Dos Palos was to develop Eagle Field as a municipal airport but they failed in their effort. The property reverted to the federal government. In 1980 it was put up for auction.
Later on it became home of the Central California Historical Military Museum, which continues to operate at the field. The museum is also known as Eagle Field AAF - WWII Living History and Military Museum. Many wartime buildings remain at the airfield which is open to the public.
See also
- California World War II Army AirfieldsCalifornia World War II Army AirfieldsDuring World War II, the United States Army Air Forces established numerous airfields in California for training pilots and aircrews of USAAF fighters and bombers.-Overview:...
External links
- Eagle Field - Central California Historical Military Museum
- Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields Eagle Field