DOCSLIB.ORG

Davis-Monthan Afb 1940 - 1976 Preface

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Davis-Monthan Afb 1940 - 1976 Preface DAVIS-MONTHAN AFB 1940 - 1976 PREFACE This history, in its final form, is the result of almost three years of off-and-on effort on the part of this historian. It has had to be sandwiched in between the myriad taskings associated with three different assignments. It began at Davis-Monthan AFB in 1979 while assigned there as the historian for the 390th Strategic Missile Wing. My research notes and supporting documents came with me when I was subsequently transferred to the Headquarters SAC Office of the Historian and then later to the 4000th Satellite Operations Group at Offutt AFB, Nebraska. The need for a complete base history became painfully obvious as soon as I began my initial research. There was very little data available at Davis-Monthan AFB concerning the history of the installation; other than a few short Information Office history handouts of the type often given to newcomers and visitors. The majority of substantive material on base activities over the years had been lost as host units switched repeatedly throughout the station’s existence. Those units were subsequently inactiviated or transferred to other bases. Accordingly, the majority of material presented herein had to be obtained at the Albert F. Simpson Historical Research Center, Maxwell AFB, Alabama. Without the invaluable assistance of the many dedicated professionals at the Simpson Center, this history could never have been compiled. The transfer of Davis-Monthan AFB from the Strategic Air Command to the Tactical Air Command on 30 September 1976 ends the period of coverage for this history. GARY P. MYERS, MSgt, USAF Historian 16 December 1982 i INTRODUCTION DEC 2 1940 TO: MAYOR TUCSON ARIZ UNDER LATEST APPROVED WAR DEPT PLANS UNITS OF ARMY AIR CORPS ARE TO BE STATIONED TUCSON AIRPORT–STOP–YOUR COOPERATION WITH WAR DEPT SURVEY BOARDS OF OFFICERS GREATLY APPRECIATED– STOP–THIS TELEGRAM MAY BE TAKEN AS OFFICIAL WAR DEPT NOTIFICATION OF INTENTION TO OCCUPY AIRPORT AND ADJACENT PREMISES MUTUALLY AGREED UPON–END-- ADAMS WASHINGTON On the 2nd of December, 1940, Tucson officials received the above Western Union telegram from the War Department notifying them that a decision had been made to establish a military airfield at the city’s municipal airport. This marked the culmination of an intense eleven-year effort on the part of many of the Old Pueblo’s most prominent citizens to get an air base established at Tucson. Throughout the subsequent years, the fledgling installation grew in spurts; prompted first by the outbreak of World War II and then by the buildup of the Strategic Air Command (SAC) in the era of the Cold War. The missions supported by the base have gone full circle over the years. Its first mission was strategic bombardment and reconnaissance. That ended with the attack on Pearl Harbor, after which the field was tasked with the training of combat crews for the big B-17, B-24, and B-29 bombers used during the war. With the creation of the Strategic Air Command in 1946, Davis-Monthan Field took on an new strategic role involving B-29s, B-50s, and later the all-jet B-47 bombers. The importance of the base was bolstered during the 1960s with the addition of the nation’s first Titan II intercontinental ballistic missile wing and a high- technology reconnaissance unit. The strategic bombardment mission, however, was lost during that period. Within the same decade, the Tactical Air Command first appeared at the base as a tenant unit charged with the training of combat crews for the F-4C jet fighter-bomber. The prominence of the Tactical Air Command at Davis-Monthan AFB became much more pronounced in the early 1970s with the arrival of the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing and its inventory of A-7Ds and later A- 10s. With the final wind down of the Southeast Asian conflict, the base lost its reconnaissance mission and only the Titan II wing remained to represent the Strategic Air Command. After 30 years of SAC stewardship, the base was turned over to the Tactical Air Command on 30 September 1976. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE ............................................................................ i INTRODUCTION .................................................................... ii TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................ iii CHAPTER I AN ARIZONA BACKGROUND PREHISTORY ........................................................................ 1 THE SPANISH YEARS 1539-1821 ........................................................ 2 The Missionary Effort .............................................................. 2 The Founding of Tucson ............................................................ 3 Indian Control .................................................................... 4 THE MEXICAN YEARS 1821-1854 ........................................................ 5 The Mexican War ................................................................. 5 THE FRONTIER YEARS 1854-1912 ....................................................... 6 Cochise and the Chiricahua Apaches .................................................. 8 The War Between the States ......................................................... 8 Fort Lowell ...................................................................... 9 The Indian Wars ................................................................. 10 Camp Grant Massacre ......................................................... 10 Crook’s Forces ............................................................... 11 Passing of the Frontier ............................................................. 12 Statehood ...................................................................... 12 CHAPTER II EARLY AVIATION ERA AN IDEAL PLACE FOR AVIATORS ...................................................... 13 AN AERIAL FIELD ................................................................... 14 DAVIS-MONTHAN FIELD (MUNICIPAL AIRPORT) .......................................... 15 Lieutenants Davis and Monthan ..................................................... 17 Early Airport Operations ........................................................... 22 Continued Negotiations ........................................................... 22 CHAPTER III WORLD WAR II ERA TUCSON AIR BASE .................................................................. 25 Community Acceptance ........................................................... 29 AN OLD NAME - BUT A NEW WAR ..................................................... 29 Colonel Lowell H. Smith ........................................................... 30 The Colonel’s Dog ............................................................ 33 Community Participation In The War Effort ............................................. 33 Expansion and Construction ........................................................ 37 Combat Crew Training ............................................................ 37 iii TABLE OF CONTENTS The Price of Vigilance ............................................................. 40 Conversion to the B-29 Superfortress .................................................. 41 Solo in a Superfortress ......................................................... 42 D-M SOLDIER HANGED .............................................................. 43 WOMEN ALSO SERVED .............................................................. 43 DEWEY SIMPSON RETIRES .................................................................. 44 PRISONER-OF-WAR CAMP .................................................................. 44 SEPARATION CENTER ...................................................................... 45 CHAPTER IV THIRTY YEARS OF SAC STEWARDSHIP A NEW STRATEGIC ROLE ............................................................. 46 Jackson City .................................................................... 46 43rd Bombardment Group .......................................................... 47 EIGHTH AIR FORCE ERA ............................................................. 47 Major Operations ................................................................ 47 Historic Flights .................................................................. 51 Pacusan Dreamboat ........................................................... 51 Hawaii to Cairo Flight ...................................................... 52 International 10,000 Kilometer Speed Record .................................... 52 International Closed Course Distance Record .................................... 52 Lucky Lady and Gas Gobbler .................................................... 52 B-36/B-50 Round-Trip Flight to Hawaii ............................................. 53 Lucky Lady II ................................................................ 53 FIFTEENTH AIR FORCE ERA ................................................................. 54 Reorganization ......................................................................... 54 Beginning the Jet Age ............................................................. 56 B-47 Distance and Endurance Record .............................................. 59 The Air Defense Mission ........................................................... 60 Major Construction ............................................................... 60 A PERIOD OF NEW ROLES 1960-1970 ................................................... 60 The Missile Era Arrives ............................................................ 60 Missile Site Construction and Activation ...........................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Military Italian F-35A Lightning Ii
    MILITARY ITALIAN F-35A LIGHTNING II ndoubtedly the most complex, partner, with the Netherlands. Subsequently, Eighteen months on, thanks to the advanced and often controversial Italy was the fi rst nation to build and activate cooperation of the Italian MoD and the programme ever been launched in a Final Assembly and Checkout facility, Aeronautica Militare (Italian Air Force) and a the history of aviation: an accurate where the F-35 Lightning II is assembled. discussion with Colonel Davide Marzinotto, description of the F-35 Joint Strike Italy subsequently fl ew the fi rst F-35 aircraft 32° Stormo’s commander, AIR International UFighter programme, especially in Italy. produced outside the United States. Italy was was granted clearance to gain fi rst-hand December will mark the 20th anniversary also the fi rst nation in the world (excluding experience of the progress made by the Italian of the nation’s participation in the the United States) to introduce the new F-35 fl eet. programme following the signing of a fi ghter into service. The fi rst examples arrived Colonel Marzinotto is a former AMX and memorandum of agreement for the Concept at Amendola Air Base on December 12, 2016, F-2000 pilot. He commanded 20° Gruppo, Demonstration Phase. Four years later, destined for 13° Gruppo (13th Squadron), the Italian F-2000 operational conversion Italy joined the System Development and one of the component squadrons with the unit, assignment to the F-35 Joint Program Demonstration (SDD) phase as a second tier resident 32° Stormo (32nd Wing). O ce in Crystal City, Virginia, prior to Quinta generazione Italiana Troupe Azzurra Troupe 42 | www.airinternational.com ITALIAN F-35A LIGHTNING II MILITARY undergoing F-35 pilot conversion and be undertaken concurrently with the initial confi guration ahead of Block 3F, the fi rst subsequent appointment as the commander production phase su cient to equip US full-up operational standard.
    [Show full text]
  • University of Maine, World War II, in Memoriam, Volume 1 (A to K)
    The University of Maine DigitalCommons@UMaine General University of Maine Publications University of Maine Publications 1946 University of Maine, World War II, In Memoriam, Volume 1 (A to K) University of Maine Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/univ_publications Part of the Higher Education Commons, and the History Commons Repository Citation University of Maine, "University of Maine, World War II, In Memoriam, Volume 1 (A to K)" (1946). General University of Maine Publications. 248. https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/univ_publications/248 This Monograph is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@UMaine. It has been accepted for inclusion in General University of Maine Publications by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@UMaine. For more information, please contact [email protected]. UNIVERSITY OF MAINE WORLD WAR II IN MEMORIAM DEDICATION In this book are the records of those sons of Maine who gave their lives in World War II. The stories of their lives are brief, for all of them were young. And yet, behind the dates and the names of places there shines the record of courage and sacrifice, of love, and of a devotion to duty that transcends all thought of safety or of gain or of selfish ambition. These are the names of those we love: these are the stories of those who once walked with us and sang our songs and shared our common hope. These are the faces of our loved ones and good comrades, of sons and husbands. There is no tribute equal to their sacrifice; there is no word of praise worthy of their deeds.
    [Show full text]
  • Italian Specail Report
    SHAPING THE FUTURE OF ITALIAN AIRPOWER 10/13/15 Second Line of Defense Second Line of Defense Shaping the Future of Italian Airpower SECOND LINE OF DEFENSE Table of Contents INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................... 2 THE FIRST FLIGHT AS A KEY BASELINE EVENT .................................................................................................... 2 THE ITALIAN AIR FORCE SHAPES A WAY AHEAD: THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE ITALIAN CHIEF OF STAFF ......... 6 ITALIAN AIRPOWER MODERNIZATION: A DISCUSSION WITH THE EDITOR OF RIVISTA ITALIANA DIFESA ..... 8 RESHAPING CONCEPTS OF OPERATIONS: EUROFIGHTER, THE F-35, THE UK AND ITALY ............................. 10 THE RECONFIGURATION OF EUROFIGHTER ................................................................................................................ 11 THE IMPACT OF THE F-35 FLEET ............................................................................................................................... 12 WORKING NEW CONCEPTS OF OPERATIONS ............................................................................................................. 14 EVOLVING WEAPONS AT THE VORTEX OF THE CHANGE .............................................................................................. 15 LEVERAGING WEAPONS COMMONALITIES: THE CASE OF THE METEOR MISSILE ............................................................... 16 AN UPDATE ON EUROFIGHTER MODERNIZATION: THE
    [Show full text]
  • ANNEX a to GAS (A)
    GAS (A) – SOW Annex A Version 2.0 15 July 2019 ANNEX A to GAS (A) STATEMENT OF WORK (SOW) FOR GLOBAL INTO-PLANE REFUELING (IPR) IN SUPPORT OF WORLDWIDE MILITARY OPERATIONS Page 1 of 36 NATO UNCLASSIFIED GAS (A) – SOW Annex A Version 2.0 15 July 2019 This document contains NSPA proprietary information. Reproduction or disclosure of any part without prior approval by NSPA is not permitted. AMENDMENT RECORD REVISION/AMENDMENT PAGES DATE OF ISSUE REMARKS 1.0 Version 1 35 Draft for NSPA Review Page 2 of 36 NATO UNCLASSIFIED GAS (A) – SOW Annex A Version 2.0 15 July 2019 APPROVAL RECORD OFFICE / POSITION DATE NAME SIGNATURE Customer Representative 04JUL19 Various per e-mail NSPA Technical Officer Bernd JANSEN NSPA Project Lead Nicolas LEBRUN NSPA LK-F Branch Chief Mark KEKUEWA NSPA Contracting Officer Torsten ZAENGER Page 3 of 36 NATO UNCLASSIFIED GAS (A) – SOW Annex A Version 2.0 15 July 2019 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Scope ......................................................................................................... 6 2. Applicable Documents ................................................................................ 7 3. Command and Control ............................................................................... 9 4. Planning Factors / Constraints ................................................................... 9 5. Description of the Services Required ....................................................... 10 6. Schedules, Milestones and Operating Hours ........................................... 14 7. Contractor Human
    [Show full text]
  • Almanac ■ Guide to Air Force Installations Worldwide
    USAFAlmanac ■ Guide to Air Force Installations Worldwide Major Installations Note: A major installation is an Air Force Base, Air Andrews AFB, Md. 20762-5000; 10 mi. SE of 4190th Wing, Pisa, Italy; 31st Munitions Support Base, Air Guard Base, or Air Reserve Base that Washington, D. C. Phone (301) 981-1110; DSN Sqdn., Ghedi AB, Italy; 4190th Air Base Sqdn. serves as a self-supporting center for Air Force 858-1110. AMC base. Gateway to the nation’s (Provisional), San Vito dei Normanni, Italy; 496th combat, combat support, or training operations. capital and home of Air Force One. Host wing: 89th Air Base Sqdn., Morón AB, Spain; 731st Munitions Active-duty, Air National Guard (ANG), or Air Force Airlift Wing. Responsible for Presidential support Support Sqdn., Araxos AB, Greece; 603d Air Control Reserve Command (AFRC) units of wing size or and base operations; supports all branches of the Sqdn., Jacotenente, Italy; 48th Intelligence Sqdn., larger operate the installation with all land, facili- armed services, several major commands, and Rimini, Italy. One of the oldest Italian air bases, ties, and support needed to accomplish the unit federal agencies. The wing also hosts Det. 302, dating to 1911. USAF began operations in 1954. mission. There must be real property accountability AFOSI; Hq. Air Force Flight Standards Agency; Area 1,467 acres. Runway 8,596 ft. Altitude 413 through ownership of all real estate and facilities. AFOSI Academy; Air National Guard Readiness ft. Military 3,367; civilians 1,102. Payroll $156.9 Agreements with foreign governments that give Center; 113th Wing (D. C.
    [Show full text]
  • Florida Statewide Aviation Economic Impact Study
    FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION STATEWIDE AVIATION Economic Impact Study 3 2 5 7 1 4 6 Technical Report 2019 Contents 1. Overview ............................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background ................................................................................................................................... 4 1.2 Study Purpose ............................................................................................................................... 4 1.3 Communicating Results ................................................................................................................ 5 1.4 Florida’s Airports ........................................................................................................................... 5 1.5 Study Conventions ...................................................................................................................... 10 1.5.1 Study Terminology .............................................................................................................. 10 1.6 Report Organization .................................................................................................................... 12 2. Summary of Findings ........................................................................................................................... 13 2.1 FDOT District Results ..................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • T Military Service Report
    West Seneca Answers the Call to Arms Residents in World War II Town of West Seneca, New York Name: TABAK JOSEPH Address: Service Branch:ARMY - AIR FORCE Rank: PVT Unit / Squadron: BARRACKS 206 Medals / Citations: Theater of Operations / Assignment: Service Notes: Private Base Assignments: Harlingen Army Airfield (Harlingen, Texas) - The mission of Harlingen Army Airfield was to train aerial gunners and strafing techniques, training over 48,000 soldiers / The planes utilized for training and transportation at the Harlingen Army Air Field were the Vultee BT-13 Valiant, Bell P-39 Airacobra, Bell P-63 Kingcobra, Beech C-45H Expeditor, Lockheed A-29 Hudson, Lockheed B-34 Ventura, Martin B-26 Marauder, North American B-25 Mitchell, Douglas C-47 Skytrain, North American AT-6 Texan Trainer, and Consolidated B-24 Liberator Miscelleaneous: 2014 WWW.WSVET.ORG West Seneca Answers the Call to Arms Residents in World War II Town of West Seneca, New York Name: TAGLIAFERRO JOHN N. Address: 24 LENOX ROAD Service Branch:ARMY Rank: SGT Unit / Squadron: 119TH INFANTRY, 30TH INFANTRY DIVISION Medals / Citations: EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL PURPLE HEART Theater of Operations / Assignment: EUROPEAN THEATER Service Notes: Sergeant John N. Tagliaferro died in France from wounds received on the battlefield / Sergeant Tagliaferro had been an Infantryman in the Army for approximately three years and served overseas for one month / Sergeant John Tagliaferro was 24 years of age at the time of his death Sergeant John N. Tagliaferro is buried at Normandy American Cemetery (Colleville-sur-Mer, France) Base Assignments: Miscelleaneous: Employed as a Architect, John N.
    [Show full text]
  • George P. Novotny
    The American Fighter Aces Association Oral Interviews The Museum of Flight Seattle, Washington George P. Novotny Interview Date: circa 1980s-1990s 2 Abstract: Fighter ace George P. Novotny discusses his military service with the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. He describes his experiences as a fighter pilot, including his time in the Mediterranean Theater with the 325th Fighter Group. Topics discussed include his training and service history, notable missions and aerial victories, and military life in North Africa. The audio has brief moments of distortion throughout the recording. Biography: George P. Novotny was born on February 22, 1920 in Toledo, Ohio. He joined the United States Army Air Forces in 1942 and graduated from flight training the following year. After a stateside assignment with the 54th Fighter Group, Novotny was deployed to North Africa, where he joined the 317th Fighter Squadron of the 325th Fighter Group. During his combat tour, he flew missions over Italy, Bulgaria, and other areas of the Mediterranean Theater and became a member of the 325th’s “Fearsome Foursome.” He also participated in an escort mission for President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s aircraft when it was en route to the Tehran Conference. After the end of his combat tour, Novotny served at Oscoda Army Air Base (Michigan) as a flight instructor, teaching Free French Air Force pilots how to fly the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt. He left the military after World War II and embarked on a career with Capital Airlines and Trans World Airlines (TWA). Novotny retired in 1982 and passed away in 2018.
    [Show full text]
  • Building a Safe, Secure, and Credible NATO Nuclear Posture
    Building a Safe, Secure, and Credible NATO Nuclear Posture NUCLEAR THREAT INITIATIVE 1776 Eye St, NW | Suite 600 | Washington DC 20006 www.nti.org Steve Andreasen, Isabelle Williams, Brian Rose, @NTI_WMD Hans M. Kristensen, and Simon Lunn www.facebook.com/nti.org Foreword by Ernest J. Moniz and Sam Nunn ABOUT THE NUCLEAR THREAT INITIATIVE The Nuclear Threat Initiative works to protect our lives, environment, and quality of life now and for future generations. We work to prevent catastrophic attacks with weapons of mass destruction and disruption (WMDD)—nuclear, biological, radiological, chemical, and cyber. Founded in 2001 by former U.S. Senator Sam Nunn and philanthropist Ted Turner, who continue to serve as co-chairs, NTI is guided by a prestigious, international board of directors. Ernest J. Moniz serves as chief executive officer and co-chair; Des Browne is vice chair; and Joan Rohlfing serves as president. www.nti.org Cover: A Dutch F-16 takes off from Leeuwarden Airbase in the Netherlands in 2011. PHOTO BY ROBIN UTRECHT/AFP/GETTY IMAGES Building a Safe, Secure, and Credible NATO Nuclear Posture Steve Andreasen Isabelle Williams Brian Rose Hans M. Kristensen Simon Lunn Foreword by Ernest J. Moniz and Sam Nunn January 2018 The views expressed in this publication are the authors’ own and do not necessarily reflect those of NTI, its Board of Directors, or other institutions with which the authors are associated. © 2018 Nuclear Threat Initiative All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission of the publisher and copyright holder.
    [Show full text]
  • Bedding Down Terrain During ‘Northern Task Force Air Commander
    Italy deployed F-35A Lightning IIs operationally for the fi rst time in October to undertake the NATO air policing mission safeguarding Iceland’s airspace, and Combat Aircraft was granted exclusive access to the detachment at Kefl avík. REPORT AND PHOTOS Giovanni Colla Combat Aircraft December 2019 ITH ITS REMOTE 2019 — we have supported this NATO geographical location mission in Iceland.’ The AM has previously and total lack of deployed Euro ghter F-2000As for organic air defense the mission. capabilities, Iceland Working alongside the Icelandic relies completely on Coast Guard, the TFA came under the Wits NATO allies for air policing. A periodic leadership of the Comando Operativo di presence of NATO ghter aircraft at Vertice Interforze (Italian Joint Command Ke avík air base is viewed as being Operations) and was supported by around su cient to maintain the integrity of its 130 personnel. airspace. In contrast with the Baltic Air Col Sprea co added: ‘The planning for Policing (BAP) mission, which involves this mission began in the rst months continuous coverage, the Icelandic of the year and we received o cial government has consistently only con rmation for it in mid-July.’ A team requested an average of three annual from Amendola began to work on deployments, with each lasting for three speci c requirements including scramble to four weeks. operations that focused on the Icelandic In late September, the Italian Air Force scenario. An advance party then ew to (Aeronautica Militare, AM) spearheaded Iceland on September 23 to set up a force the third Icelandic ghter detachment protection team, a headquarters and the of 2019 under its Task Force Air (TFA) necessary communications equipment.
    [Show full text]
  • Italian Orders of Battle & TO&Es 1980-1989 V2.0 by R Mark Davies for Battlefront: First Echelon
    Italian Orders of Battle & TO&Es 1980-1989 v2.0 By R Mark Davies for Battlefront: First Echelon LANDSOUTH Command (a) Italian 3rd Army Corps BATTLEGROUP CWPT-01 (a) NATO’s LANDSOUTH (Allied Land Forces Southern Portuguese 1st Independent Mixed Brigade Europe) Command, headquartered at Verona, was responsible for the defence of north-eastern Italy against a Warsaw Pact drive through Yugoslavia or Austria. LANDSOUTH was commanded by an Italian four-star Italian 4th (Alpini) Army Corps general and was subordinate to the US-led AFSOUTH, headquartered at Naples. (b) Officially, only the Italian 3rd, 4th & 5th Corps were under Italian 5th Army Corps LANDSOUTH command, though it is reasonable to presume that Territorial Command forces would also be committed to LANDSOUTH in the event of an invasion of Italy (see the full Italian Army order of battle below). Spanish Army Corps (c) (c) Following Spain’s accession to NATO in 1982, the BATTLEGROUP CWUS-17 Spanish Army was formally committed to providing a corps of two divisions plus support to LANDSOUTH. However, there (e) Up to x1 US Parachute Infantry Battlegroup were no permanent structures in place and no exercises were conducted to test this commitment, so the exact composition of the proposed Spanish Corps is unknown. BATTLEGROUP Spain also made an informal commitment to send its sole ACE Mobile Force (Land) ‘Southern Option’ (de) Armoured Division (the Brunete Armoured Division) to West Germany in the event of a war with the Warsaw Pact, so it seems unlikely that this would form part of any Spanish Corps commitment to LANDSOUTH and therefore leaves a Motorised Division, a Mechanised Division and two Mountain Divisions to choose from (see the Spanish TO&Es).
    [Show full text]
  • Punta Gorda Army Air Field (PG AAF) Fact Sheet and Timeline 7 May 2015
    Punta Gorda Army Air Field (PG AAF) Fact Sheet and Timeline 7 May 2015 All Punta Gorda Army Air Field data came from the archived military files of the A.F. Historical Research Agency. Punta Gorda Army Air Field history is contained on microfilm reel #B2479. 5 May 1942 Internal Army Air Corps memorandum with the 225 acre lease in Charlotte County for the Punta Gorda Airport. 27 May 1942 Initial air field site survey rejected a site 2 miles south of Punta Gorda and a site 7 miles north of Punta Gorda was also rejected. A desirable site was selected 2 miles southeast of the city. (Note: The site 2 miles southeast would have placed the airfield at the intersection of present day Airport Road and Taylor Road). The final selected site (present location) was 3 miles southeast of the city). Thursday, 1 October 1942 Punta Gorda Herald headline: “Army Air Field to be Built” Cost of air field project announced at $700,000 Construction of the first building began on/about 19 October 1942 (source: p 66, article) Runways under survey began on/about 27 October 1942 (source: p 67, article) Runway construction and roadway equipment arrived on 4 November 1942 (source: p 68, article) Additional land purchases 12 November 1942 (source: p 69, article) Land clearing for runway construction work continued the week of 14 January 1943 (p72) 5 October 1942 (Completion Report for Punta Gorda Air Field – no date listed for report) Punta Gorda Airfield, an Operational Training Unit Station (Medium Bombardment) was authorized October 5, 1942 by Directive A 6187.
    [Show full text]