Savannah Army Air Base

Savannah Army Air Base. A major United States Army Air Forces training installation during World War II, it was activated in 1940 to support the rapid expansion of American air power. The base primarily served as a center for advanced pilot and crew training, preparing personnel for combat in theaters like the European Theater of Operations and the Pacific Theater. Its operations were crucial to the air war effort before closing shortly after the war's end.

History

The establishment of the base was part of the massive pre-war military buildup under the administration of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Constructed on land adjacent to the existing Savannah Municipal Airport, it was officially activated in 1940 under the jurisdiction of the United States Army Air Corps. During the war, command of the facility shifted between the Third Air Force and the First Air Force, which were responsible for training and air defense within the Continental United States. The base's history is intertwined with the broader narrative of the home front mobilization, contributing thousands of airmen to commands such as the Eighth Air Force and the Fifteenth Air Force.

Facilities and operations

The base featured extensive infrastructure typical of a major training hub, including multiple long runways, large hangars, and numerous barracks. Its primary mission involved advanced flight training for pilots transitioning to multi-engine aircraft like the B-17 Flying Fortress and the B-24 Liberator. In addition to pilot instruction, the base hosted schools for bombardiers, navigators, and flexible gunners, operating under the umbrella of the Army Air Forces Training Command. Support operations included a major aircraft modification center and logistics functions managed by the Air Technical Service Command.

Major units assigned

Several key USAAF groups and squadrons were stationed at the base for training and reorganization. Notably, the 29th Bombardment Group and the 39th Bombardment Group used the facility to prepare for deployment overseas. The 1st Fighter Group also conducted training there early in the war. Other significant units included the 312th Bombardment Group and various operational training units under the III Bomber Command. These organizations later saw action in major campaigns, including the Combined Bomber Offensive and the Battle of the Bulge.

Postwar use and legacy

With the conclusion of World War II, the base was declared surplus and inactivated in 1945. The property was subsequently transferred to the city of Savannah, Georgia, with much of the infrastructure becoming part of the expanded civilian airport, later known as Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport. A portion of the former base grounds was developed into the Savannah Air National Guard Base, home to the 165th Airlift Wing flying the C-130 Hercules. The site's legacy endures as a vital contributor to the United States Air Force's wartime training pipeline and a cornerstone for ongoing military and aviation activities in the Southeastern United States.

See also

* Hunter Army Airfield * Moody Air Force Base * World War II training airfields of the United States Army Air Forces * Georgia World War II Army Airfields

Category:World War II airfields in Georgia (U.S. state) Category:United States Army Air Forces airfields Category:Buildings and structures in Chatham County, Georgia