During World War II, the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) established numerous airfields in Michigan for training pilots and aircrews of USAAF fighters and bombers.
Most of these airfields were under the command of First 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). Other USAAF support commands (Air Technical Service Command (ATSC); Air Transport Command (ATC) or Troop Carrier Command) commanded a significant number of airfields in support roles.
Remnants of these wartime airfields exist. Many were converted into municipal airports, some were returned to agriculture, and several were retained as United States Air Force installations and were front-line bases during the Cold War. Hundreds of the temporary buildings that were used survive today, and are being used for other purposes.
Major airfields
Air Technical Service Command
Alpena AAF, Alpena
100th Base Headquarters and Air Base Squadron
Now: Alpena County Regional Airport
Kinross AAF, Kinross
Sub-base of Alpena AAF, Phelps Collins CTRC
Was: Kinross Air Force Base (1947-1959) Was: Kincheloe Air Force Base (1959-1977) Now: Chippewa County International Airport Raco AAF, Raco Sub-base of Alpena AAF Was: Used by Michigan National Guard and byKincheloe AFB as a BOMARC missile site. Closed 1972. Now: Non-aviation useOld runways used for automotive testing. Grayling AAF, Grayling still active United States Army airfield (did not xfer to USAF), part of Camp Grayling Tri-City AAF, Saginaw Now: MBS International Airport
Troop Carrier Command
Kellogg AAF, Battle Creek
Troop Carrier Training
321st Base Headquarters and Air Base Squadron
Now: W. K. Kellogg Airport / Battle Creek Air National Guard Base
First Air Force
Selfridge AAF, Mt. Clemens
4th Base Headquarters and Air Base Squadron
Was Selfridge Air Force Base (1947-1971) Now: Selfridge Air National Guard Base (1971-present) Oscoda AAF, Oscoda 524th Base Headquarters and Air Base Squadron (reduced) Sub-base of Selfridge AAF Was: Oscoda Air Force Base (1947-1953) Was: Wurtsmith Air Force Base (1953-1993) Now: Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport
Army Air Force Training Command
Willow Run Airport, Ypsilanti, Michigan
Eastern Technical Training Command
484th Base Headquarters and Air Base Squadron
Now: Public Airport Also home of the Yankee Air Museum
Air Transport Command
Romulus AAF, Detroit
3d Ferrying Group
345th Base Headquarters and Air Base Squadron
Joint Use USAAF/Civil Airport
Now: Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
See also
Naval Air Station Grosse Ile
References
Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. . Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947–1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. . Thole, Lou (1999), Forgotten Fields of America : World War II Bases and Training, Then and Now - Vol. 2. Pictorial Histories Pub . Military Airfields in World War II - Michigan