Lemoore Army Air Field facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lemoore Army Airfield
 |
|
|---|---|
| Part of Army Air Force Training Command | |
| Kings County, near Lemoore, California | |
Remains of Lemoore AAF, 2006 USGS Airphoto
|
|
 Lemoore AAF
|
|
| Coordinates | 36°15′03″N 119°56′51″W / 36.25083°N 119.94750°W |
| Type | Army Airfield |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | United States Army Air Forces |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1941–42 |
| In use | 1942–1945 |
| Garrison information | |
| Garrison | Army Air Force Training Command |
Lemoore Army Air Field was an important training base during World War II. It was located about nine miles (14 km) southwest of Lemoore, California. Even though it was mostly a dirt airfield that could only be used when the weather was dry, the United States Army Air Forces used it for training pilots.
The old site of Lemoore Army Air Field is south of where Route 198 and 27th Avenue meet. This is about two miles (3 km) west of the main entrance to Lemoore Naval Air Station.
Building a Training Base
This airfield was built between 1941 and 1942, specifically for training pilots during World War II. The government bought or leased a large area of land, about 1,466 acres (5.9 km2), to create the Lemoore Basic Flying School.
The airfield had a unique triangular shape for landing planes. It also had a long area called an apron where planes could park. Near the apron, there were many buildings. These included places for soldiers to live, classrooms, a dining hall, and even a chapel. There were also two large hangars for planes.
The base also had extra facilities like an outdoor theater and a swimming pool. These were built south of the main airfield area.
In 1944, a report said Lemoore Army Air Field had a 6,500-foot (1,981 m) paved runway. However, it still mentioned that the "entire field [was] available only when dry." This meant parts of it could still get muddy.
Lemoore AAF also had several smaller helper airfields nearby. These were called sub-bases or auxiliaries:
- Boston Field (A-1) 36°13′12″N 119°59′20″W / 36.22000°N 119.98889°W (now farmland)
- Huron Field (A-2) 36°13′21″N 120°02′22″W / 36.22250°N 120.03944°W (now farmland)
- Indian Field (A-3) 36°07′53″N 120°05′06″W / 36.13139°N 120.08500°W (now farmland)
- Murray Field (A-4) 36°08′41″N 119°56′00″W / 36.14472°N 119.93333°W (now farmland)
- West Field (A-5) 36°15′45″N 120°12′06″W / 36.26250°N 120.20167°W (now farmland)
- Summit Lake Field (A-6) 36°20′22″N 119°56′49″W / 36.33944°N 119.94694°W (now part of NAS Lemoore)
- Helm Field (A-7) 36°21′00″N 120°10′03″W / 36.35000°N 120.16750°W (now farmland)
- Corcoran Municipal Airport 36°06′08″N 119°35′40″W / 36.10222°N 119.59444°W
- Porterville Army Airfield 36°01′46″N 119°03′43″W / 36.02944°N 119.06194°W (now Porterville Municipal Airport)
- Coalinga Municipal Airport (Old) 36°09′27″N 120°21′35″W / 36.15750°N 120.35972°W (closed)
On March 5, 1944, the famous Jack Benny Radio Program even broadcast live from the base! The whole cast, including Jack Benny, Don Wilson (announcer), Dennis Day, Mary Livingstone, Phil Harris, and Eddie "Rochester" Anderson, were there. Dennis Day sang two popular songs.
After the War: What Happened Next?
After World War II ended, Lemoore Army Air Field was officially closed down on September 25, 1945.
In 1946, the site was declared "surplus," meaning it was no longer needed by the military. It was then used as a civilian airfield. Maps from 1953 showed it had a 6,100-foot (1,859 m) runway, suggesting it had been made bigger.
In 1957, the City of Lemoore sold the 1,460-acre (5.9 km2) site to the Navy. This land became part of the new Lemoore Naval Air Station. Interestingly, the northern part of the huge runways at NAS Lemoore are built on the same land that was once Lemoore AAF's smaller helper field, Summit Lake (A-6).
The Air Force thought about putting a long-range radar station at the old Lemoore AAF site in the 1950s, but it was never built. By 1959, the airfield seemed to be completely abandoned.
Maps from 1963 still showed the "Abandoned Lemoore" airfield with one main runway. A Navy radio beacon was added on the north side of the old Lemoore AAF site. The much larger runways of the newly built NAS Lemoore were also shown to the north.
For a short time between 1963 and 1964, the former Lemoore AAF was used as a private civilian airfield called "Willett." It had two concrete runways, with the longest being 3,200 feet (975 m). However, this private airfield only lasted about three years. By 1966, no airfield was shown at the site.
In the early 1970s, parts of the old airfield were leased by a company that made farming supplies. They used some of the old airfield buildings as a chemical laboratory for agriculture.
Over the years, different owners used parts of the land. One part was used as a crop dusting airstrip for several years. Around 1975, the runway was removed, and the area was turned into farmland.
By 1989, the former Lemoore AAF site was owned by two private individuals. One owned the western part, which included the old aircraft maintenance buildings, hangars, and parking areas. This land was used as an orchard. The other owner had the eastern part, which used to have the taxiways, runways, and parking areas for planes. This land was used to grow crops.
A report from 1989 mentioned that some structures were still standing. These included two hangars, three warehouses, and several barracks-style buildings. Most of them seemed strong, but a couple were not well-maintained, with broken windows and no doors.
Units Stationed at Lemoore AAF
Many different military units were stationed at Lemoore Army Air Field during its active years. These units helped with training and supporting the airfield's operations. Some of the main units included:
- Headquarters, Air Corps Basic Flying School
- 527th School Squadron
- 528th School Squadron
- 529th School Squadron
- 530th School Squadron
- 531st School Squadron
- 532nd School Squadron
- Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, 87th Air Base Group (Special)
- 302nd Material Squadron (Special)
- 88th Air Base Squadron (Special)
- Air Force Band
- Sub Depot
- Detachment, 1st Communications Squadron
- Detachment, 1st Weather Squadron
- Detachment, 853rd Ordnance Service Company (Aviation)
- Company M (less Detachment), 32nd Quartermaster Regiment (Truck)
- Detachment, 858th Signal Service Company (Aviation)
- 461st Army Air Forces Base Unit (Processing In)
