Waycross-Ware County Airport
Encyclopedia
Waycross-Ware County Airport is a public airport
located three miles (5 km) northwest of the central business district
of Waycross
, a city in Ware County
, Georgia
, United States
. It is owned by the City of Waycross and Ware County.
paved runway
s. Runway 18/36 is 6,000 x 100 ft (30.5 m), with low to high intensity lighting (18 has an ILS
approach and 36 has a GPS approach). Runway 5/23 is 5,035 x 100 ft (30.5 m). Runway 13/31 is 3,528 x 100 ft (30.5 m).
For the 12-month period ending May 29, 2007, the airport had 18,000 aircraft operations, an average of 49 per day: 97% general aviation
and 3% military. There are 49 aircraft based at this airport: 88% single-engine, 6% multi-engine, 4% ultralight and 2% helicopter
.
During 1941, the Civil Aeronautics Authority built two 4,000-ft. asphalt runways under Congress's National Defense Program. With the start of World War II
, the Army Air Forces took an interest in the site entering negotiations with Ware County and Waycross to lease 3,000 acres of land that included the airport. An agreement was reached calling for a lease fee of $1 per year. The Army let the first construction contracts on June 23, 1942. The project specified the lengthening of the two existing run¬ways to 5,000 ft. and adding a third 5,000-ft. runway. Included was a cantonment area to accommodate four tactical squadrons and three squadrons of service troops plus a mobilization type hospital with a 118 bed capacity. In August, the Army enlarged the cantonment area by providing adequate housing for two additional service squadrons plus a fire station, motor repair building, and two quartermaster warehouses.
The initial construction was completed in December 1942. Additional construction reached completion in February 1943. One of the problems at Waycross was the poor natural drainage, The area is relatively flat and a series of ditches had to be constructed to carry away the water during periods of heavy rainfall. Another initial problem was the lack of recreational and social activities. This was alleviated with the establishment of a gymnasium, movie theater, enlisted recreation building and officer's club organized during 1943. In addition, an athletic area consisting of a volley ball court, badminton coins, softball diamond, and horseshoe court was also completed. The base held dances once a week for the enlisted men.
, Savannah, Georgia. When the 85th Bombardment Group (Dive) and the 41st Service Group arrived at Waycross from Hunter AAF during the second week of August 1942, the base was far from complete so a tent city was utilized. The 85th Bomb Group had been activated at Hunter in February 1942 and initially equipped with the Vultee A-31 Vengeance
dive bombers repossessed from British contracts when the war began. The 85th Bomb Group, consisting of the 499th, 500th, 501st and the 502nd Bombardment Squadrons (Dive) were later re-equipped with the Douglas A-24 Dauntless during 1942. The 85th Bomb Group's stay at Waycross was relatively short and at the end of September the Group departed for Gillespie Army Airfield, Tennessee.
The 41st Service Group was the first of several service groups to undergo training at Waycross. The Service Groups were in final phase training prior to staging for overseas duty. The initial lack of facilities at Waycross gave the groups excellent training in providing service to fighter groups that would be very similar to the conditions that would be encountered in overseas duty. The field was constructed without cutting down too many trees resulting in an excellently camouflaged airfield. Many taxiways and hardstands were bordered by trees simulating conditions in a combat area.
During the first week of October 1942, the 311th Bombardment Group (Dive) moved to Waycross from Hunter AAF. The 311th Group and its squadrons, the 385th, 528th, 529th, and the 530th Bombardment Squadron (Dive), were also initially equipped with the Vultee A-31 before transitioning to the North American A-36
Mustang. At Waycross, the 311th Group conducted replacement pilot training. The 311th temporarily deployed to Fort Bragg
during January and February 1943, for maneuvers.
On April 1, 1943, Waycross was made a sub-base of Drew Army Airfield, Tampa, Florida. In July 1943, the 311th Bomb Group was re-designated a Fighter-Bomber Group, shipped out to Tenth Air Force
in India
, and eventually into combat. The next month, the 85th Bomb Group and its four squadrons, the 499th, 500th, 501st, and 502nd, returned to Waycross from Harding Army Airfield, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The 85th had been re-designated as a Fighter-Bomber Group, was assigned the new mission of training replacement pilots. In September, the 499th Fighter Squadron t moved to Harris Neck Army Airfield
, near the Atlantic coast. The same month, the Army placed Waycross under the jurisdiction of Dale Mabry Field
, Tallahassee, Florida. On September 15, 1943, the 30th Service Group arrived increasing the personnel of the field to 4,250. In December 1943, the 499th returned to Waycross, the 500th moved to Harris Neck, and the 502nd transferred to Punta Gorda Army Airfield, Florida. During this time frame, the Group's squadrons were operating the Bell P-39 Aircobra. At the end of 1943, the last of six Service Groups departed and the main activity of the base turned to the training of fighter-bomber replacement pilots by the 501st Fighter-Bomber Squadron.
During 1944, the training of replacement fighter-bomber pilots continued. In April, the 841st Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion from Fort Stewart
trained at the base. On May 1, 1944, the 501st was re-designated as the Waycross Replacement Training Unit (RTU). Also during the year, the P-40 Warhawk replaced the P-39 as the primary training aircraft. Aerial gunnery took place off the coast 60 miles distant. For air-to¬ground training, the Army established a 32,000-acre range 27 miles SSW at Homerville, Georgia that included skip-bombing, strafing, and rocket targets. The instructors were much more proficient than the students in aerial gunnery, obtaining an average score of 43.0 versus a 21.6 average for the students. It was much closer on air-to-ground with the instruc¬ors edging out the students with an average score of 31.4 to 29.89.
Waycross also had a contingent of German POWs, used predominately as mechanics. By the end of 1944, AAF training diminished to the point that the Army closed Harris Neck AAF, transferring its personnel and aircraft to Waycross.
Waycross celebrated the arrival of brand new P-51 Mustang
s in April, 1945. Initially, Waycross operated an equal number of P-40s and P-51s. The only problem encountered with the Mustang involved excess cockpit beat caused by the aircraft's bubble canopy during the summer. As a result, the RTU operated the Mustangs above 5,000 ft. using them mainly for air-to-air gunnery. In May, Waycross received one Douglas C-47 and one Beech C-45. The C-47 took the base's enlisted men on cross-country liberty flights while the officers had use of the C-45. Liberty flights were flown to Washington, D.C., New York City, Chicago, Pittsburg, and St. Louis as well as other cities.
By July 1945, Waycross had completed 15 classes of pilots. As training continued to reduce, the Army closed Waycross on October 15, 1945.
Currently, there is no scheduled air service in operation, and today, the Ware County Airport is a General aviation
facility. A monument that remembers the Army's presence has been erected at the airport's entrance and a display exists in the airport's terminal building with a brief history of the AAF at Waycross. A couple of former Army buildings remain.
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...
located three miles (5 km) northwest of the central business district
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
of Waycross
Waycross, Georgia
Waycross is the county seat of, and only incorporated city in, Ware County in the U.S. state of Georgia. The population was 14,725 at the 2010 Census. A small portion of the city extends into Pierce County. According the U.S...
, a city in Ware County
Ware County, Georgia
Ware County is a county located in the southeast of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 35,483. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 35,831 The county seat is Waycross....
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is owned by the City of Waycross and Ware County.
Facilities and aircraft
Waycross-Ware County Airport covers an area of 1051 acres (425.3 ha) and contains three 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. Runway 18/36 is 6,000 x 100 ft (30.5 m), with low to high intensity lighting (18 has an ILS
Instrument Landing System
An instrument landing system is a ground-based instrument approach system that provides precision guidance to an aircraft approaching and landing on a runway, using a combination of radio signals and, in many cases, high-intensity lighting arrays to enable a safe landing during instrument...
approach and 36 has a GPS approach). Runway 5/23 is 5,035 x 100 ft (30.5 m). Runway 13/31 is 3,528 x 100 ft (30.5 m).
For the 12-month period ending May 29, 2007, the airport had 18,000 aircraft operations, an average of 49 per day: 97% general aviation
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
and 3% military. There are 49 aircraft based at this airport: 88% single-engine, 6% multi-engine, 4% ultralight and 2% helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
.
History
In April 1930, Ware County and the City of Waycross established an airport three miles northwest of the city of Waycross. A 1935 airport guide described the Ware County Airport as a sod airfield, roughly a one-half mile square, with a hangar, no servicing, and operated by the Department of Commerce.During 1941, the Civil Aeronautics Authority built two 4,000-ft. asphalt runways under Congress's National Defense Program. With the start of World War II
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 Army Air Forces took an interest in the site entering negotiations with Ware County and Waycross to lease 3,000 acres of land that included the airport. An agreement was reached calling for a lease fee of $1 per year. The Army let the first construction contracts on June 23, 1942. The project specified the lengthening of the two existing run¬ways to 5,000 ft. and adding a third 5,000-ft. runway. Included was a cantonment area to accommodate four tactical squadrons and three squadrons of service troops plus a mobilization type hospital with a 118 bed capacity. In August, the Army enlarged the cantonment area by providing adequate housing for two additional service squadrons plus a fire station, motor repair building, and two quartermaster warehouses.
The initial construction was completed in December 1942. Additional construction reached completion in February 1943. One of the problems at Waycross was the poor natural drainage, The area is relatively flat and a series of ditches had to be constructed to carry away the water during periods of heavy rainfall. Another initial problem was the lack of recreational and social activities. This was alleviated with the establishment of a gymnasium, movie theater, enlisted recreation building and officer's club organized during 1943. In addition, an athletic area consisting of a volley ball court, badminton coins, softball diamond, and horseshoe court was also completed. The base held dances once a week for the enlisted men.
World War II
Waycross Army Airfield was initially activated as a sub-base of Hunter Army AirfieldHunter Army Airfield
Hunter Army Airfield , located in Savannah, Georgia, United States, is a military airfield and subordinate installation to Fort Stewart.Hunter features a runway that is 11,375 feet long and an aircraft parking area that is more than 350 acres...
, Savannah, Georgia. When the 85th Bombardment Group (Dive) and the 41st Service Group arrived at Waycross from Hunter AAF during the second week of August 1942, the base was far from complete so a tent city was utilized. The 85th Bomb Group had been activated at Hunter in February 1942 and initially equipped with the Vultee A-31 Vengeance
Vultee A-31 Vengeance
The Vultee A-31 Vengeance was an American dive bomber of World War II, built by Vultee Aircraft. The Vengeance was not used in combat by US units, however it served with the British Royal Air Force, the Royal Australian Air Force, and Indian Air Force in Southeast Asia and the Southwest Pacific.The...
dive bombers repossessed from British contracts when the war began. The 85th Bomb Group, consisting of the 499th, 500th, 501st and the 502nd Bombardment Squadrons (Dive) were later re-equipped with the Douglas A-24 Dauntless during 1942. The 85th Bomb Group's stay at Waycross was relatively short and at the end of September the Group departed for Gillespie Army Airfield, Tennessee.
The 41st Service Group was the first of several service groups to undergo training at Waycross. The Service Groups were in final phase training prior to staging for overseas duty. The initial lack of facilities at Waycross gave the groups excellent training in providing service to fighter groups that would be very similar to the conditions that would be encountered in overseas duty. The field was constructed without cutting down too many trees resulting in an excellently camouflaged airfield. Many taxiways and hardstands were bordered by trees simulating conditions in a combat area.
During the first week of October 1942, the 311th Bombardment Group (Dive) moved to Waycross from Hunter AAF. The 311th Group and its squadrons, the 385th, 528th, 529th, and the 530th Bombardment Squadron (Dive), were also initially equipped with the Vultee A-31 before transitioning to the North American A-36
North American A-36
The North American A-36 Apache was the ground-attack/dive bomber version of the North American Aviation P-51 Mustang, from which it could be distinguished by the presence of rectangular, slatted dive brakes above and below the wings...
Mustang. At Waycross, the 311th Group conducted replacement pilot training. The 311th temporarily deployed to Fort Bragg
Fort Bragg (North Carolina)
Fort Bragg is a major United States Army installation, in Cumberland and Hoke counties, North Carolina, U.S., mostly in Fayetteville but also partly in the town of Spring Lake. It was also a census-designated place in the 2010 census and had a population of 39,457. The fort is named for Confederate...
during January and February 1943, for maneuvers.
On April 1, 1943, Waycross was made a sub-base of Drew Army Airfield, Tampa, Florida. In July 1943, the 311th Bomb Group was re-designated a Fighter-Bomber Group, shipped out to Tenth Air Force
Tenth Air Force
The Tenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Reserve Command . It is headquartered at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas....
in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, and eventually into combat. The next month, the 85th Bomb Group and its four squadrons, the 499th, 500th, 501st, and 502nd, returned to Waycross from Harding Army Airfield, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The 85th had been re-designated as a Fighter-Bomber Group, was assigned the new mission of training replacement pilots. In September, the 499th Fighter Squadron t moved to Harris Neck Army Airfield
Harris Neck Army Airfield
Harris Neck Army Airfield is an abandoned military airfield located in what is now the Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge, McIntosh County, Georgia. It is located north of the intersection of Route 131 & Harris Neck Airport Road, about southwest of Savannah, Georgia.-History:Harris Neck is a...
, near the Atlantic coast. The same month, the Army placed Waycross under the jurisdiction of Dale Mabry Field
Dale Mabry Field
Dale Mabry Field was an early airfield located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States established in 1928 and replaced by Tallahassee Regional Airport. It was located at what is now Appleyard Drive and W...
, Tallahassee, Florida. On September 15, 1943, the 30th Service Group arrived increasing the personnel of the field to 4,250. In December 1943, the 499th returned to Waycross, the 500th moved to Harris Neck, and the 502nd transferred to Punta Gorda Army Airfield, Florida. During this time frame, the Group's squadrons were operating the Bell P-39 Aircobra. At the end of 1943, the last of six Service Groups departed and the main activity of the base turned to the training of fighter-bomber replacement pilots by the 501st Fighter-Bomber Squadron.
During 1944, the training of replacement fighter-bomber pilots continued. In April, the 841st Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion from Fort Stewart
Fort Stewart
Fort Stewart is a census-designated place and U.S. Army post primarily in Liberty County and Bryan County, but also extending into smaller portions of Evans, Long, and Tattnall Counties in Georgia, USA. The population was 11,205 at the 2000 census...
trained at the base. On May 1, 1944, the 501st was re-designated as the Waycross Replacement Training Unit (RTU). Also during the year, the P-40 Warhawk replaced the P-39 as the primary training aircraft. Aerial gunnery took place off the coast 60 miles distant. For air-to¬ground training, the Army established a 32,000-acre range 27 miles SSW at Homerville, Georgia that included skip-bombing, strafing, and rocket targets. The instructors were much more proficient than the students in aerial gunnery, obtaining an average score of 43.0 versus a 21.6 average for the students. It was much closer on air-to-ground with the instruc¬ors edging out the students with an average score of 31.4 to 29.89.
Waycross also had a contingent of German POWs, used predominately as mechanics. By the end of 1944, AAF training diminished to the point that the Army closed Harris Neck AAF, transferring its personnel and aircraft to Waycross.
Waycross celebrated the arrival of brand new P-51 Mustang
P-51 Mustang
The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
s in April, 1945. Initially, Waycross operated an equal number of P-40s and P-51s. The only problem encountered with the Mustang involved excess cockpit beat caused by the aircraft's bubble canopy during the summer. As a result, the RTU operated the Mustangs above 5,000 ft. using them mainly for air-to-air gunnery. In May, Waycross received one Douglas C-47 and one Beech C-45. The C-47 took the base's enlisted men on cross-country liberty flights while the officers had use of the C-45. Liberty flights were flown to Washington, D.C., New York City, Chicago, Pittsburg, and St. Louis as well as other cities.
By July 1945, Waycross had completed 15 classes of pilots. As training continued to reduce, the Army closed Waycross on October 15, 1945.
Waycross-Ware County Airport
Eventually the government returned the airport to Ware County and the City of Waycross. Eastern Airlines and later AirSouth were regular scheduled air-carriers that once served this airport.Currently, there is no scheduled air service in operation, and today, the Ware County Airport is a General aviation
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
facility. A monument that remembers the Army's presence has been erected at the airport's entrance and a display exists in the airport's terminal building with a brief history of the AAF at Waycross. A couple of former Army buildings remain.
External links
- Waycross-Ware County Airport at Ware County web site