Vernam Field facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Vernam FieldVernam Air Force Base  |
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|---|---|
| Part of Sixth Air Force | |
| Located in Clarendon Parish, Jamaica | |
 Vernam AFB
Location of Vernam AFB, Jamaica
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| Coordinates | 17°53′26.75″N 077°18′07.68″W / 17.8907639°N 77.3021333°W |
| Type | Military airfield |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | United States Army Air Forces United States Air Force |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1941 |
| In use | 1941-1949 |
Vernam Field (also called Vernamfield) was a very important airfield in Jamaica during World War II. It was built by the United States Army Air Forces in Clarendon Parish, about 55 kilometers (34 miles) west of Kingston, Jamaica. Later, in 1948, it was renamed Vernam Air Force Base by the new United States Air Force. However, it closed just one year later, in 1949.
History of Vernam Field
Vernam Field has a fascinating history, from how it got its name to its role in a major world conflict.
Who Was Vernam Field Named After?
The base was named to honor First Lieutenant Remington de Bremont Vernam. He was an American pilot who joined the French air service during World War I. Sadly, Lieutenant Vernam was shot down in October 1918. He died from his injuries on December 1, 1918. He was buried in France and received a special award called the Distinguished Service Cross for his bravery.
Vernam Field During World War II
Vernam Field was created because of a special deal made in 1940. This deal was called the Destroyers for Bases Agreement. In this agreement, Great Britain allowed the United States to lease land for naval and air bases in the Americas. This was in exchange for military support during the war.
Building the Airfield
The U.S. Army Air Corps first planned Vernam Field as a place for training and as a stop for planes going to Borinquen Field in Puerto Rico. On June 14, 1941, the site was officially chosen. A group of 200 soldiers, called "Force Tuna," arrived in November to start building the airfield.
The plans for the airfield quickly grew. It was designed to be a base for large bomber planes. It had three runways: one long concrete runway (about 1.8 kilometers or 6,000 feet) and two shorter asphalt runways. These shorter runways helped planes land safely in different wind conditions.
On November 21, 1941, Vernam Field officially opened. It became part of the Sixth Air Force, which managed several other important airfields in the Caribbean. Construction continued through 1942, and the first military planes arrived in September.
Fighting Submarines and Training Pilots
After the United States joined World War II in December 1941, Vernam Field's main job became finding and stopping enemy submarines in the northern Caribbean Sea.
The base also served as a training ground. Student pilots from the Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics in Florida came to Vernam. They learned advanced combat tactics before returning to Florida.
By 1944, the fight against submarines had moved further south. Vernam Field became less busy. After some bomber squadrons left, only a few support units remained. On June 30, 1944, Eleanor Roosevelt, the First Lady of the United States, even visited the base.
B-29 Superfortress Flights
In early 1945, Vernam Field became a destination for many B-29 Superfortress aircraft. These huge planes flew long training missions from bases in Kansas and Nebraska, traveling about 3,200 kilometers (2,000 miles). They would land at Vernam Field to refuel and get maintenance before flying back. Sadly, there were several B-29 crashes at the airfield during this time.
After the War: Postwar Use
When World War II ended, Vernam Field became much quieter. By late 1946, only a small staff remained, and there were only two planes, a C-45 and a C-47, which needed repairs. The airfield was then managed by the 24th Composite Wing from Borinquen AFB in Puerto Rico.
Vernam Field also became a stop for early jet aircraft on long training flights. Planes like the P-80 Shooting Stars, F-84 Thunderjets, and early F-86A Sabres used its long runways.
Becoming an Air Force Base
On March 26, 1948, Vernam Field was officially renamed Vernam Air Force Base. Its main job was to report on the weather. A unit from the Military Air Transport Service (MATS) was the main group stationed there.
The base also became a destination for long-range fighter planes that escorted bombers. For example, F-82 Twin Mustangs flew to Vernam from Kearney AFB in Nebraska for training. President Harry S. Truman even visited Vernam AFB on June 30, 1948, during a trip to the Caribbean.
Closure of Vernam Air Force Base
Vernam Air Force Base closed on May 28, 1949. This was due to cuts in the military budget. After it closed, the base was left empty. All the buildings were either removed or torn down. For many years, the area was abandoned. The only use for the old airfield was as a car racetrack called Vernamfield, which used some of the old runways.
Units Stationed at Vernam Field
Over the years, several important military units were stationed at Vernam Field:
- 4th Antisubmarine Squadron, Caribbean Sea Frontier (United States Navy) (used B-18 Bolo planes)
- 35th Bombardment Squadron, 25th Bombardment Group (used B-25 Mitchell planes)
- 417th Bombardment Squadron, 25th Bombardment Group (used B-18 Bolo planes)
Future Plans for Vernam Field
In the 2000s, the Government of Jamaica started looking at plans to develop Vernam Field. They wanted to turn it into the island's fourth international airport.
In September 2008, it was announced that Jamaica's military, the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), might move to Vernam Field. They would move from their old base in Kingston. By June 2009, the JDF had secured the site. Reports said that the Vernam Airfield Development Project planned to build a very long runway, about 3,000 to 3,350 meters (10,000 to 11,000 feet). This runway would be able to handle the largest planes in the world, like the Antonov An-124, Antonov An-225, and the Airbus A380.
