Hunter Army Airfield
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| Hunter Army Airfield | |
|---|---|
| Name | Hunter Army Airfield |
| Country | United States |
| Location | Savannah, Georgia |
| Type | Army airfield |
| Operator | United States Army |
| Controlledby | United States Army Forces Command |
| Used | 1939–present |
| Garrison | 3rd Infantry Division (adjacent Fort Stewart) |
Hunter Army Airfield Hunter Army Airfield is a United States Army airfield and installation adjacent to Savannah, Georgia and contiguous with Fort Stewart. The installation supports aviation, sustainment, and deployment operations for tenant units assigned to United States Army Forces Command, United States Army Reserve, and allied exercises with partners such as United Kingdom, Canada, and NATO. Its strategic position on the Atlantic Ocean coast enables expeditionary staging, joint exercises, and logistics throughput for operations across the Caribbean, South America, and Europe.
History
The site originated as a municipal airfield in the 1920s before federal acquisition during the expansion of the United States Army Air Corps in the late 1930s. During World War II the installation served training and antisubmarine patrol roles alongside bases such as Hunter Field (Georgia), supporting units from the Army Air Forces Training Command, Third Air Force, and transient elements of the Royal Air Force under the Arnold Scheme. Postwar reorganization transferred control among United States Air Force and United States Army authorities, especially during the creation of the Department of Defense in 1947 and the National Security Act of 1947. In the Cold War era the airfield supported rotary-wing and fixed-wing Army aviation during crises including operations tied to the Cuban Missile Crisis and deployments to Vietnam War staging ports. The base expanded in the 1980s and 1990s for contingency operations such as Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm, and later hosted elements for Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Facilities and Infrastructure
The installation comprises runways, ramp space, hangars, maintenance depots, and logistics nodes linked to rail and highway corridors including Interstate 95. Airfield pavements accommodate large transport types used by United States Air Force and civilian charters supporting Military Sealift Command and United States Transportation Command deployments. Support facilities include aviation maintenance shops influenced by standards from Army Aviation and Missile Command and Combat Aviation Brigade logistics concepts, medical treatment facilities consistent with TRICARE referral networks, and cantonment areas adjacent to Fort Stewart. Training ranges, forward arming and refueling points, and staging areas enable joint exercises with units from Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Naval Station Mayport, and visiting international contingents such as Brazilian Army aviation detachments.
Units and Operations
Tenant and transient units at the installation reflect a mix of active-duty, reserve, and National Guard organizations. The site regularly supports 3rd Infantry Division rotational deployments, 16th Combat Aviation Brigade attachments, and aviation detachments from the 1st Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment as well as Army Reserve aviation assets. It functions as a hub for U.S. Army South partner nation engagement, bilateral exercises like Jamaica and Colombia training events, and multinational readiness drills with NATO Response Force elements. Installation operations coordinate with federal agencies including U.S. Customs and Border Protection for homeland security liaison and with Federal Emergency Management Agency during disaster response missions such as hurricane relief in coordination with Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency.
Airfield and Flight Operations
Runway configuration supports tactical lift, rotary-wing, and limited strategic airlift operations, handling types ranging from the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk and Boeing CH-47 Chinook to transient Lockheed C-130 Hercules and Boeing C-17 Globemaster III aircraft. Air traffic operations integrate procedures aligned with the Federal Aviation Administration and military airspace control elements coordinated with Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport when required for redistributed traffic. Flight operations emphasize instrument procedures, tactical assault landing zones, and night-vision goggle flight corridors consistent with Instrument Flight Rules and Army aviation doctrine published by United States Army Aviation Center of Excellence. Airfield rescue and firefighting capability meets Department of Defense standards for crash and rescue contingencies.
Incidents and Accidents
Throughout its operational history the installation has experienced aircraft mishaps and ground incidents, ranging from rotary-wing hard-landings to transport mishaps involving transient aircraft. Investigations have involved agencies such as the Army Combat Readiness Center and the National Transportation Safety Board when civilian assets were involved. Notable responses included joint search-and-rescue coordination with Coast Guard Air Station Savannah and medical evacuation missions utilizing 118th Medical Battalion elements. Lessons learned from accidents informed updated maintenance practices derived from Aviation Safety Action Program procedures and retrofits guided by Army Materiel Command.
Environmental and Community Impact
The installation occupies coastal ecosystems influencing Savannah River estuary hydrology, wetlands, and maritime habitats, requiring compliance with statutes like the Clean Water Act and coordination with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service for protected species considerations. Environmental stewardship programs have addressed runway stormwater management, fuel handling to meet Environmental Protection Agency standards, and compatibility planning with the Chatham County community. Community outreach includes collaboration with Savannah Technical College, local Chatham County Public Schools, veterans organizations such as the American Legion, and regional economic development entities like the Georgia Department of Economic Development to balance operational readiness with regional growth and conservation goals.