Montana World War II Army Airfields
Encyclopedia
During World War II
, the United States Army Air Force (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 a 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.
Air Transport Command
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the United States Army Air Force (USAAF) established numerous airfields in Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
for training pilots and aircrews of USAAF fighters and bombers.
Most of these airfields were under the command of Second Air Force
Second Air Force
The Second Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Education and Training Command . It is headquartered at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi....
or the Army Air Forces Training Command
Air Training Command
Air Training Command is a former major command of the United States Army Air Forces and United States Air Force. ATC came into being as a redesignation of the Army Air Forces Training Command on July 1, 1946...
(AAFTC) (A predecessor of the current-day United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
Air Education and Training Command
Air Education and Training Command
Air Education and Training Command was established July 1, 1993, with the realignment of Air Training Command and Air University. It is one of the U.S. Air Force's ten major commands and reports to Headquarters, United States Air Force....
). 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, returned to agriculture, or retained as United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
installations that served as front-line bases during the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
. Hundreds of the temporary buildings that were used survive today, and are being used for other purposes.
Major Airfields
Second Air Force- Cut Bank AAF, Cut BankCut Bank, MontanaCut Bank is a city in and the county seat of Glacier County, Montana, United States located just east-south-east of the "cut bank" geographical feature which formed canyon-like along the eponymously named Cut Bank Creek river...
- II Fighter Command
- Now: Cut Bank Municipal AirportCut Bank Municipal AirportCut Bank Municipal Airport is a public use airport located three nautical miles southwest of the central business district of Cut Bank, a city in Glacier County, Montana, United States. It is owned by Cut Bank and Glacier County....
- Glasgow AAF, GlasgowGlasgow, MontanaGlasgow is a city in and the county seat of Valley County, Montana, United States. The population was 3,253 at the 2000 census.-History:Glasgow was founded in 1887 as a railroad town by James J. Hill, who was responsible for creating many communities along the Hi-Line. The town was named after...
- Glasgow AAF, Glasgow
- II Fighter Command
- Now: Glasgow International Airport
- Note: Glasgow Air Force BaseGlasgow Air Force BaseGlasgow Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base located approximately north of the city of Glasgow, Valley County, Montana, not far from the Canadian border...
(1957-1976) is NOT the World War II Airfield.- Great Falls AAF, Great FallsGreat Falls, MontanaGreat Falls is a city in and the county seat of Cascade County, Montana, United States. The population was 58,505 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Great Falls, Montana Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Cascade County...
- Great Falls AAF, Great Falls
- Note: Glasgow Air Force Base
- 352d Army Air Force Base Unit
- Was: Great Falls Air Force Base (1947-1955)
- Now:
Malmstrom Air Force BaseMalmstrom Air Force BaseMalmstrom Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base and census-designated place in Cascade County, Montana, United States. It was named in honor of World War II POW Colonel Einar Axel Malmstrom...
(1955-Pres)- Lewistown AAF, LewistownLewistown, MontanaLewistown is a city in and the county seat of Fergus County, Montana, United States. The population was 5,813 at the 2000 census. Lewistown is located in central Montana, the geographic center of the state, southeast of Great Falls...
- Lewistown AAF, Lewistown
- II Bomber Command
- Now: Lewistown Municipal AirportLewistown Municipal AirportLewistown Municipal Airport is a public-use airport located two nautical miles southwest of the central business district of Lewistown, a city in Fergus County, Montana, United States. It is owned by the City of Lewistown and Fergus County...
Air Transport Command
- Gore AAF, Great FallsGreat Falls, MontanaGreat Falls is a city in and the county seat of Cascade County, Montana, United States. The population was 58,505 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Great Falls, Montana Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Cascade County...
- Joint use USAAF/Civil Airport
- 7th Ferrying Group
- 385th Army Air Force Base Unit
- Now: Great Falls International AirportGreat Falls International AirportGreat Falls International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located within city limits, three miles southwest of central Great Falls in Cascade County, Montana, USA...
- Helena AAF, HelenaHelena, MontanaHelena is the capital city of the U.S. state of Montana and the county seat of Lewis and Clark County. The 2010 census put the population at 28,180. The local daily newspaper is the Independent Record. The Helena Brewers minor league baseball and Helena Bighorns minor league hockey team call the...
- Helena AAF, Helena
- Joint use USAAF/Civil Airport
- Now: Helena Regional AirportHelena Regional AirportHelena Regional Airport is a public airport located two miles northeast of the city of Helena in Lewis and Clark County, Montana, United States. The airport has three runways.- Airlines & Destinations :- External links :*...