History

Western Nebraska Regional Airport was first established in 1934. The original airport had a hangar, commercial airline connections, air mail service, lighted fields, a weather bureau station, and a strong record as a civilian pilot training facility .

With the United States entry into 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...

, Scottsbluff actively promoted the use of its municipal airport for military/defense purposes. On 5 September 1942, an announcement was made that Scottsbluff was selected as one of seven satellite air bases that would be located in Nebraska. Twenty-eight farms were vacated so construction could begin at a cost of 5.5 million dollars. The original Scottsbluff Municipal Airport was forced to close to make way for the new airfield's construction. The old airport later became a prisoner of war camp.

Construction began at the new base on 7 September 1942. A temporary railroad spur was constructed to the base, and some 600000 cubic yards (458,732.9 m³) of concrete for three runways was poured in forty-five days. There were approximately 108 buildings on the ground including barracks, mess halls, officers' quarters, warehouses, a hangar, a camouflage instruction building, and a bombsight storage building. 108 buildings and structures were constructed at the airfield.

Scottsbluff Army Airfield

The base was first occupied as early as 11 October 1942 and was assigned to 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....

. Initially, Scottsbluff Army Airfield was a satellite to Casper Army Air Field, Wyoming

Wyoming

Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...

. The first troops arrived 4 December 1942. The 4190th Army Air Force Base Unit was the host organization at Scottsbluff AAF.

The original mission of Scottsbluff AAF was to train aircrews of Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses and Consolidated B-24 Liberators bombers. Crews based at Casper AAF Wyoming final training at Scottsbluff. All training aircraft at the airfield were assigned to the 4190th AAFBU.

In 1944 base command was transferred from Second Air Force to the 1st Troop Carrier Command, and became a satellite field of Alliance Army Airfield. The 1st TCC used the facility training Douglas C-47 Skytrain

C-47 Skytrain

The Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota is a military transport aircraft that was developed from the Douglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II and remained in front line operations through the 1950s with a few remaining in operation to this day.-Design and...

 and glider crews. Aircraft and radio maintenance personnel also trained here.

Civil use

The airfield closed on 31 December 1945. The War Department

United States Department of War

The United States Department of War, also called the War Department , was the United States Cabinet department originally responsible for the operation and maintenance of the United States Army...

 handed over control of the airport to the City of Scottsbluff in 1947. Buildings and structures which were not part of the transfer were sold by the U.S. Government in separate agreements, and in most cases were removed from the site. The USAF continued to use the airport for military training regularly until 1950.

In July 1970, Scotts Bluff County took control and has had it ever since. The county continues to operate the facility as the William B. Helig Field, serving the regional area of the Nebraska Panhandle for all public travel and aeronautical needs and is connected by commercial airlines.

In the summer of 2003, the county created an Airport Authority Board which has since made major improvements on and around the airport property. New improvements include a new terminal building, wildlife fence, fire equipment, and remodeling the fire station. Future projects include runway lighting and resurfacing. The board is currently working with local law enforcement and the TSA

Transportation Security Administration

The Transportation Security Administration is an agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that exercises authority over the safety and security of the traveling public in the United States....

for security screening.

External links

• Western Nebraska Regional Airport, official web site