West Coast Air Corps Training Center
Encyclopedia
Western Flying Training Command is an inactive United States Air Force
unit. It was assigned to the Army Air Forces Training Command
, stationed at Santa Ana Army Air Base
, California
. It was inactivated on 1 November 1945.
On 31 July 1943, was redesignated as the Western Flying Training Command. Inactivated on 1 November 1945, being consolidated into Central Flying Training Command at Randolph Field, Texas.
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...
unit. It was assigned to the Army Air Forces Training Command
Army Air Forces Training Command
Army Air Forces Training Command was a command of the United States Army Air Forces. It was redesignated Air Training Command on 1 July 1946 as part of the reorganization of the Army Air Forces after World War II....
, stationed at Santa Ana Army Air Base
Santa Ana Army Air Base
Santa Ana Army Air Base was an air base built during World War II that was decommissioned in 1946. The air base was used for basic training but did not have planes, hangars or runways. The base was and located in Costa Mesa between Baker Street on the north, Harbor Blvd. on the west, Wilson...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. It was inactivated on 1 November 1945.
History
Established on 8 July 1940 when the United States Army Air Corps redesignated its training center at Santa Ana Army Air Base, California as the West Coast Air Corps Training Center. The West Coast Air Corps Training Center at Santa Ana handled flying training (basic, primary and advanced) at airfields in the Western United States.On 31 July 1943, was redesignated as the Western Flying Training Command. Inactivated on 1 November 1945, being consolidated into Central Flying Training Command at Randolph Field, Texas.
Lineage
- Established as West Coast Air Corps Training Center on 8 July 1940
- Redesignated: Western Flying Training Command, 31 July 1943
- Inactivated on 1 November 1945
Major components
(Does not include axillary and emergency landing fields)- 36th Flying Training Wing (Primary), Santa Anna Field, CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
- Reassigned 8 Jan 1943 to Victorville Field, CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
- Controlled all USAAF Contract Flying School Airfields under WFTC for primary flight training.
- 37th Flying Training Wing (Advanced, Single-Engine), Luke Field, ArizonaArizonaArizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
- 943d/944th/945th/946th School Squadron (Special, Target Tow), Ajo Field, ArizonaArizonaArizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
- 43d Pilot Training Group (Advanced, Single-Engine), Yuma Field, ArizonaArizonaArizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
- 3029th Pilot Training School (Advanced, Single-Engine), Datelan Field, ArizonaArizonaArizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
- Later moved to Gila Bend FieldGila Bend Air Force Auxiliary FieldGila Bend Air Force Auxiliary Field is a United States Air Force auxiliary airfield used as an emergency landing facility by Luke Air Force Base aircraft and units from other nearby bases using the Barry M. Goldwater Air Force Range complex...
, ArizonaArizonaArizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
- Later moved to Gila Bend Field
- AAF Flying Training School (Advanced, Single Engine) Las Vegas Field, NevadaNevadaNevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
- 38th Flying Training Wing (Bomber and Specialized 2/4-Engine), Kirtland Field, New MexicoNew MexicoNew Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
- AAF Advanced Flying School (Twin-Engine), Hobbs FieldHobbs Army AirfieldHobbs Army Air Field was an airfield used during World War II by the United States Army Air Force Air Training Command as part of the Western Flight Training Center.-History:On 18 December 1941, eleven days after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Maj...
, New MexicoNew MexicoNew Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S... - AAF Advanced Flying School (Twin-Engine), Wink FieldWinkler County AirportWinkler County Airport is a general aviation airport located 3 miles NW of Wink, Texas.It is owned and operated by Winkler County, Texas.- History :...
, TexasTexasTexas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in... - AAF Advanced Flying School (Four-Engine), Roswell Field, New MexicoNew MexicoNew Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
- AAF Advanced Flying School (Twin-Engine), Fort Sumner FieldFort Sumner Municipal AirportFort Sumner Municipal Airport is a public airport located approximately northeast of central Fort Sumner, New Mexico.-History:The airfield's origins date to the 1920s when the Transcontinental Air Transport airline built an airfield in Fort Sumner as part of its coast-to-coast air passenger...
, New MexicoNew MexicoNew Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S... - AAF Advanced Flying School (Twin-Engine), La Junta FieldLa Junta Municipal AirportLa Junta Municipal Airport is a public use airport located three nautical miles north of the central business district of La Junta, in Otero County, Colorado, United States. It is owned and operated by the City of La Junta.Although most U.S...
, ColoradoColoradoColorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains... - AAF Advanced Flying School (Twin-Engine), Marfa FieldMarfa Army AirfieldMarfa Army Airfield is an abandoned airfield located in the high desert of West Texas, about southeast of El Paso.-History:...
, TexasTexasTexas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in... - AAF Advanced Flying School (Specialized, Advanced Twin-Engine), Pecos FieldPecos Municipal AirportPecos Municipal Airport is a city-owned, public-use airport located two nautical miles southwest of the central business district of Pecos, a city in Reeves County, Texas, United States...
, TexasTexasTexas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in... - AAF Bombardier School, Carlsbad Field, New MexicoNew MexicoNew Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
- AAF Bombardier School, Roswell Field, New MexicoNew MexicoNew Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
- AAF Bombardier School, Deming Field, New MexicoNew MexicoNew Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
- AAF Bombardier School, Childress Field, TexasTexasTexas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
- AAF Bombardier School, Kirtland Field, New MexicoNew MexicoNew Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
- 81st Flying Training Wing (Preflight); HQ WFTC, Santa Ana Army Air BaseSanta Ana Army Air BaseSanta Ana Army Air Base was an air base built during World War II that was decommissioned in 1946. The air base was used for basic training but did not have planes, hangars or runways. The base was and located in Costa Mesa between Baker Street on the north, Harbor Blvd. on the west, Wilson...
, CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
- 35th Flying Training Wing (Basic), Minter Field, CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
- 3024th Pilot Training Group, Marana Field, ArizonaArizonaArizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
- AAF Flying Training School (Basic) Merced FieldCastle Air Force BaseCastle Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force Strategic Air Command base located northeast of Atwater, northwest of Merced and about east southeast of San Francisco, California....
, CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area... - AAF Flying Training School (Basic) Chico FieldChico Municipal AirportChico Municipal Airport , often called CMA, is a public airport located four miles north of the central business district of Chico, a city in Butte County, California, United States. The airport covers 1,475 acres and has two runways and one helipad. It is mostly used for general aviation, but...
, CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area... - AAF Flying Training School (Basic) Gardner FieldGardner Army AirfieldGardner Army Airfield is a former United States Army Air Force World War II Field located 9 miles southeast of Taft, California. It was named for Major John H...
, CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area... - AAF Flying Training School (Basic) Lemoore FieldLemoore Army AirfieldLemoore Army Air Field, located nine miles southwest of Lemoore, California, was a dirt air field usable only in dry weather. It nevertheless was used by the AAF Western Flying Training Command as a processing and training field....
, CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
- 82d Flying Training Wing (Flexible Gunnery), Las Vegas Field, NevadaNevadaNevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
- 328th Flexible Gunnery Training Group, Kingman Field, ArizonaArizonaArizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
- 329th Flexible Gunnery Training Group, Yucca FieldYucca Army AirfieldYucca Army Airfield is a former military airfield located about west of Yucca, in Mohave County, Arizona. It is on the east side of Interstate 40, south of Kingman. It is presently used as a testing facility by Chrysler LLC.- Military use:...
, ArizonaArizonaArizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix... - AAF Air Gunnery School, Williams Field, ArizonaArizonaArizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
- AAF Air Gunnery School, Yuma FieldMarine Corps Air Station YumaMarine Corps Air Station Yuma or MCAS Yuma is a United States Marine Corps air station which is the home to multiple squadrons of AV-8B Harrier IIs of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron 1 and Marine Fighter Training Squadron 401 , an air combat adversary...
, ArizonaArizonaArizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix... - AAF Air Gunnery School, Indian Springs FieldCreech Air Force BaseCreech Air Force Base , formerly known as Indian Springs Air Force Auxiliary Field, is a United States Air Force base located one mile north of the central business district of Indian Springs, in Clark County, Nevada, United States. It is about northwest of Las Vegas and northwest of Nellis Air...
, NevadaNevadaNevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its... - AAF Air Gunnery School (Twin Engine), Datelan Field, ArizonaArizonaArizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
- 83d Flying Training Wing (Advanced, Twin-Engine), Douglas Field, ArizonaArizonaArizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
- AAF Advanced Flying School (Twin-Engine), Victorville Field, CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
- AAF Advanced Flying School (Twin-Engine), Williams Field, ArizonaArizonaArizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
- AAF Advanced Flying School (Twin-Engine), Coolidge FieldCoolidge Municipal AirportCoolidge Municipal Airport is a city-owned, public-use airport located five miles southeast of the central business district of Coolidge, a city in Pinal County, Arizona, United States.-Facilities and aircraft:...
, ArizonaArizonaArizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix... - AAF Advanced Flying School (Twin-Engine), Hereford FieldHereford Army AirfieldHereford Army Airfield is an abandoned military airfield located about west-southwest of Hereford, Arizona.-Military use:The airfield was was acquired by the War Department in August 1942 for use as an auxiliary air field for Douglas Army Airfield, Arizona. A total of were acquired by the War...
, ArizonaArizonaArizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix... - AAF Advanced Flying School (Twin-Engine), Mather FieldMather Air Force BaseMather Air Force Base is a closed United States Air Force Base located east of Sacramento at Rancho Cordova, California on the south side of U.S. Route 50....
, CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area... - AAF Bombardier School, Victorville Field, CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
- AAF Bombardier School, Williams Field, ArizonaArizonaArizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
- AAF Navigation School, Mather FieldMather Air Force BaseMather Air Force Base is a closed United States Air Force Base located east of Sacramento at Rancho Cordova, California on the south side of U.S. Route 50....
, CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...