Gulfport Army Air Field Hangar facts for kids
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Gulfport Army Air Field Hangar
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Hangar in 2016
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 Location in Mississippi
Location in the United States
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| Location | Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport, Gulfport, Mississippi |
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| Area | 5.47 acres (2.21 ha) |
| Built | 1944 |
| NRHP reference No. | 11000111 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | March 21, 2011 |
The Gulfport Army Air Field Hangar is a large building in Gulfport, Mississippi. It was built in 1944-1945 to help train pilots and crews for the B-29 Superfortress bomber during World War II. This historic hangar is also known as the FBO Hangar or the Gulfport Municipal Airport Terminal. Because of its importance, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2011 and became a Mississippi Landmark in 2012.
Contents
A Look Back: The Hangar's History
Building for War Efforts
During World War II, the United States needed many trained pilots. The Gulfport Army Air Field was built in 1942 to train air crews for large planes like the B-17.
In 1944, the War Department made the Gulfport Air Field even bigger. They started building this hangar to hold the new, larger B-29 bomber planes.
How the Hangar Was Built
The hangar is made of strong concrete and steel. It has a big, rounded roof. On its east and west sides, there are smaller, one-story sections called "lean-to" additions.
The hangar is about 200 feet (61 meters) long and 80 feet (24 meters) wide. Its roof was covered with thick gypsum planks, sealed with a sticky material called bitumen (a type of asphalt).
To get planes inside, the hangar had large sliding wooden doors covered in metal sheets. The outside walls of the hangar were also covered with these metal sheets.
After the War: New Uses
When World War II ended, the Gulfport Army Air Field was no longer needed by the military. In 1949, it was given to the City of Gulfport.
From about 1947 to 1963, the western side of the hangar was used as the passenger terminal for the Gulfport Municipal Airport. After that, different aviation companies rented the hangar.
Damage and Restoration
In August 2005, a very strong storm called Hurricane Katrina hit the area. The hangar was badly damaged by the hurricane.
Luckily, work to fix and restore the hangar began in 2015. The restoration was finished in May 2016.
On May 26, 2016, the Gulfport–Biloxi Regional Airport Authority officially leased the hangar to the Mississippi National Guard. This means the historic hangar is still being used today!
Gallery
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Hangar's east side in 2011
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Hangar's northeast side in 2011
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Hangar being restored in 2015
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Hangar's northeast side in 2016
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