AAF/USAF: World War II Army Air Forces Contract Flying Schools
First published in 2000. Reformatted 2025.Introduction
Civilian flying schools, under government contract, provided a considerable part of the flying training effort undertaken during WWII by the Army Air Forces. To better understand the training environment at these schools, as well as the overall pilot training program, I recommend the series of articles by Colonel Robert F. Schirmer (see references). He not only researched the subject, he was there! The importance of these contractor operations to the war effort was significant, but were these schools really military bases? To the flying cadets, the contract schools were just another training assignment--although the flight instructors were civilian contractors, the cadets still experienced the discipline and drudgery of military life. Reveille and retreat were still held at the "base" flagpole. But when it comes to real property accountability, the contract school airfields were a breed apart. Since the properties were not owned or leased by the Army Air Forces, they were not designated or activated as Army Air Fields. In official Army Air Forces directories, they were listed by the name of the civilian flying school, the name of the airport on which it operated, or sometimes just by the city name. Part way during WWII, these properties (land, buildings, hangars, and unmovable equipment) were purchased from the civilian contractors by the Defense Plant Corporation (DPC). This effectively made them government property, although they continued to be operated by the civilian contractors. Since I published my list of WWII Army Air Fields a few years ago, I've been bombarded by mail suggesting that I overlooked "Suchandsuch Army Air Field," or "Soandso Army Air Base." Frequently, the locations in question were contract flying schools. In common usage, they had been erroneously referred to as Army Air Fields or Army Air Bases. These questions, and my own curiosity, led to this list of Army Air Forces contract flying school airfields. This list represents a "gray area" of the Army Air Forces basing posture during WWII. It is my hope that this paper will give these airfields the credit they deserve for their wartime service, while clarifying their status and designations.Contract Flying School Inventory
I have compiled this list from a variety of sources, providing some basic tabular data on each airfield, along with its status in 1995. (Why 1995? To correspond with the methodology of my research into the use in 1995 of World War II Army Air Fields in the United States.) This gives a 50-year follow-up from the end of WWII. Reader updates or corrections to this list will be greatly appreciated! Some of these airfields were operated by more than one school; in other cases the school's name may have changed during its period of operation. Without knowing those details, I've simply listed each school name I've found for each airfield. I've added comments for those airfields which hosted glider training, Royal Air Force (RAF) training, women pilots' training, black pilots' training, service transition training, or navigation training. Some glider schools changed roles and went on to conduct primary (also called elementary) or basic training. Some of the schools marked RAF also trained U.S. pilots. Schools with no comments conducted primary training only, or a combination of primary and basic.| WW II AIRFIELD NAME | ST | 1995 NAME | 1995 USE | CITY | COORDS | SCHOOL(S) | COMMENT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen | SD | Aberdeen Reg (ABR) | civil airport | 2.9 E Aberdeen | 45-27 098-25-45 | Anderson & Brennan Flying Service | Glider |
| Albany Mun. Apt. | GA | Southwest Georgia Regional (ABY) | civil airport | 4 SW Albany | 31-32 084-11 | Darr Aero Tech, Inc. | RAF |
| Antigo | WI | unknown | unknown | Antigo | Anderson Air Activities | Glider | |
| Arledge Field | TX | Arledge Field (F56) | civil airport | 5 SE Stamford | 32-55 099-44 | Stamford Flying School Lou Foote Flying Service Coleman Flying School |
|
| Artesia Mun. Apt. | NM | Artesia (ATS) | civil airport | 6.5 W Artesia | 32-50-30 104-30 | Big Spring Flying Service | Glider |
| Avenger Field | TX | Avenger Field (SWW) | civil airport | 3.5 W Sweetwater | 32-28 100-28 | Plosser-Prentz Air Academy Aviation Enterprises, Ltd. |
Women Pilots |
| Avon Park Mun. Apt. | FL | Avon Park Municipal (AVO) | civil airport | 1.5 W Avon Park | 27-35 081-32 | Lodwick Aviation Military Academy | |
| Mobile (NOTE 1) | AL | Mobile Regional (MOB) | civil airport | 10 W Mobile | 30-41-25 088-14-20 | Mobile Area Soaring Corp. Waterman Airlines, Inc. |
Glider |
| Bennettsville Mun. Apt. | SC | Marlboro County (BBP) | civil airport | 3.5 NW Bennettsville | 34-37 079-44 | Georgia Air Service, Inc. Southestern Air Service, Inc. |
|
| Big Spring Army Glider Training Sch. | TX | unknown | non-aviation | 18 NNW Big Spring | 32-30 101-33 | Big Spring Flying Service | Glider |
| Bruce Field | TX | Bruce Field (E30) | civil airport | 4 S Ballinger | 31-40 099-59 | Fred Harmon Flying School | |
| Bush Field | GA | Bush Field (AGS) | civil airport | 6 SSE Augusta | 33-22 081-57-45 | Georgia Aero Tech | RAF |
| Carlstrom Field | FL | Carlstrom Field (92FL) | civil airport | 7 SE Arcadia | 27-07 081-49 | Embry-Riddle Co. | RAF |
| Chester Field | MO | Perryville Municipal (K02) | civil airport | 3.8 NW McBride | 37-52 089-52 | Anderson Air Activities | |
| Chickasha Mun. Apt. | OK | Chickasha Municipal (CHK) | civil airport | 4 NNW Chickasha | 35-05-30 097-58-30 | Wilson-Bonfils Flying Schools | |
| Cimarron Field | OK | Clarence E. Page Municipal (F29) | civil airport | 14 W Oklahoma City | 35-29 097-49 | Oklahoma Air College, Inc. | |
| Cleveland | MS | Cleveland Muni (RNV) | civil airport | 2 NW Cleveland | 33-45-40 090-45-28 | Cleveland School of Aviation | |
| Coleman Flying School | TX | Coleman Municipal (COM) | civil airport | 2 NE Coleman | 31-51 099-24 | Coleman Flying School, Ltd. | |
| Condor Field | CA | unknown | non-aviation | 5 N Twenty-Nine Palms | 34-12 116-03 | Twenty-Nine Palms Air Academy | Glider |
| Corsicana Field | TX | C. David Campbell Field (CRS) | civil airport | 6 SE Corsicana | 32-02 096-24 | Air Activities of Texas | |
| Crookston | MN | Crookston Muni Kirkwood Fld (CKN) | civil airport | 3 NNW Crookston | 47-48-45 096-37-15 | L. Millar-Wittig | Glider |
| Cuero Mun. Apt. | TX | unknown | non-aviation | 2.5 N Cuero | 29-07 097-18 | Brayton Flying Service, Inc. | |
| Curtis Field | TX | Curtis Field (BBD) | civil airport | 3 N Brady | 31-11 099-20 | Brady Avn School, Inc. Dallas Avn School & Air College |
|
| Curtis-Reynolds Airport | IL | Glenview CGAF (78IL) | civil airport | 1.6 NW Glenview | 42-05 087-49 | Chicago School of Aeronautics | |
| Curtis-Steinberg Field | IL | unknown | non-aviation | 3.5 SSW East St. Louis | 38-34-45 090-10 | Parks Air College | |
| Decatur Mun. Apt. | AL | Pryor Field Regional (DCU) | civil airport | 4 NNE Decatur | 34-39 086-56-30 | Southern Aviation Training School, Inc. Southern Airways, Inc. |
|
| Denton | TX | Hartlee Field Airport (1F3) | civil airport | 5.4 NE Hartlee | 33-16 097-04 | Harte Flying Service | Glider |
| Dorr Field | FL | unknown | non-aviation | 12 E Arcadia | 27-12-15 081-41 | Embry-Riddle Co. | |
| Douglas Mun. Apt. | GA | Douglas Municipal (DQH) | civil airport | 1.3 S Douglas | 31-29 082-51-30 | Raymon O'Neal Aviation Co. Raymond-Brinckerhoff Aviation Co. Raymond-Richardson Aviation Co. |
|
| Eagle Field | CA | unknown | non-aviation | 6.5 SW Dos Palos | 36-54 120-40 | Coast Aviation Corp. | |
| Aeronautical Training Center, Inc. | CA | unknown | unknown | El Centro | Aeronautical Training Center, Inc. | RAF | |
| Falcon Field | AZ | Falcon Field (FFZ) | civil airport | 6.9 ENE Mesa | 33-27-15 111-44 | Southwest Airways Co. | RAF |
| Fletcher Field | MS | Fletcher Field (CKM) | civil airport | 8 NNE Clarksdale | 34-17-30 090-30-30 | Clarksdale School of Aviation | |
| Fort Stockton Mun. Apt. | TX | Fort Stockton-Pecos County (FST) | civil airport | 2 NW Fort Stockton | 30-55 102-55 | Pacific Air Schools, Ltd. | |
| Garner Field | TX | Garner Field (UVA) | civil airport | 2.5 ESE Uvalde | 29-13 099-45 | Hangar Six, Inc. | |
| Gary Field | CA | unknown | non-aviation | 5 NW Blythe | 33-41 114-38 | Morton Air Academy | |
| Goodland | KS | Renner Fld (Goodland Muni) (GLD) | civil airport | 2 NNE Goodland | 39-21-30 101-42-45 | William A. Ong | Glider |
| Grand Central Air Terminal | CA | unknown | non-aviation | 2.5 NW Glendale | 34-10 118-17-30 | Grand Central Flying School Cal-Aero Training Corporation Polaris Flight Academy |
RAF |
| Grand Forks | ND | unknown | non-aviation | 2.6 WNW Grand Forks | 47-56 097-06 | Jolly Flying Service | Glider |
| Greenville Mun. Apt. | SC | Greenville Dtn (GMU) | civil airport | 3.2 E Greenville | 34-50-45 082-21 | Southern Airways, Inc. | Glider |
| Grider Field | AR | Grider Field (PBF) | civil airport | 4 SE Pine Bluff | 34-11-15 091-56 | Pine Bluff School of Aviation | |
| Hamilton | TX | Hamilton (MNZ) | civil airport | 2.6 SW Hamilton | 31-40 098-09 | Hunter Flying Service | Glider |
| Harrell Field | AR | Harrell Field (CDH) | civil airport | 4 NE Camden | 33-37 092-46 | Wiggins-Marden Aero Corp | |
| Harris Field | MO | Cape Girardeau Regional (CGI) | civil airport | 6.5 SSW Cape Girardeau | 37-14 089-34 | Cape Institute of Aeronautics, Inc. | |
| Harvey Parks Airport | MO | Sikeston Memorial Municipal (SIK) | civil airport | 1.5 NE Sikeston | 36-53-50 089-33-50 | Missouri Institute of Aeronautics, Inc. | |
| Hatbox Field | OK | Hatbox Field (HAX) | civil airport | 2.25 W Muskogee | 35-44-30 095-24-15 | Spartan Aircraft Co. Spartan School of Aeronautics |
|
| Hays | KS | unknown | non-aviation | 1.5 E Hays | 38-52 099-19 | Harte Flying Service | Glider |
| Hicks Field | TX | industrial park | non-aviation | 11 NNW Fort Worth | 32-55 097-24 | Texas Aviation School, Inc. W.F. Long Flying School |
|
| Howard Hughes Airport | TX | William P. Hobby (HOU) | civil airport | 9 SSE Houston | 29-38-45 095-16-30 | Aviation Enterprises, Inc. | Women Pilots |
| Jackson-Madison Mun Apt | TN | McKellar-Sipes Regional (MKL) | civil airport | 4.5 W Jackson | 35-36 088-55 | Georgia Air Services, Inc. | |
| Janesville | WI | unknown | non-aviation | 1.8 NNE Janesville | 42-42-15 089-00-30 | Morey Airplane Company | Glider |
| Jones Field | TX | Jones Field (F00) | civil airport | 1.5 N Bonham | 33-36 096-11 | Bonham Aviation School | |
| Kaufman County Apt. (Terrell Field) | TX | Terrell Municipal (TRL) | civil airport | 1.5 SE Terrell | 32-43-30 096-16-30 | Terrell Aviation School, Ltd. | RAF |
| King City Airport | CA | Mesa Del Ray (KIG) | civil airport | 1.5 NNE King City | 36-14 121-06-30 | Palo Alto Airport, Inc. | |
| Lafayette Field LA | LA | Lafayette Regional (LFT) | civil airport | 1.5 SE Lafayette | 30-12-30 091-59-30 | Lafayette School of Aeronautics | |
| Lakeland Mun. Apt. | FL | unknown | non-aviation | 2.1 N Lakeland | 28-04-30 081-57 | Lodwick School of Aeronautics | RAF |
| Lamesa Field | TX | unknown | non-aviation | 7.5 N Lamesa | 32-50-45 101-55 | John H. Wilson Glider School Clint Breedlove Aerial Service |
Glider |
| Lindbergh Field | CA | San Diego Intl Lindbergh Fld (SAN) | civil airport | 2 W San Diego | 32-44 117-11 | Ryan School of Aeronautics | |
| Lonoke | AR | unknown | unknown | Lonoke | Kenneth Starnes Flying Service | Glider | |
| Love Field | TX | Dallas Love Field (DAL) | civil airport | 6 NNW Dallas | 32-51-07 096-50-54 | Dallas Air College Terrell Aviation School |
RAF |
| Thirty-Sixth Street Apt. (NOTE 2) | FL | Miami International (MIA) | civil airport | 6 NW Miami | 25-49 080-16 | Pan American Airways, Inc. | Navigation |
| Miami Mun. Apt. | OK | Miami Municipal (MIO) | civil airport | 2 N Miami | 36-54-45 094-53 | Spartan School of Aeronautics Spartan Aircraft Co. |
RAF |
| Monticello | MN | Pilots Cove (20Y) | civil airport | 1 NNE Monticello | 45-19-05 093-46-38 | Hinck Flying Service, Inc. | Glider |
| Moton Field (Tuskegee Institute Field #2) | AL | Moton Field Municipal (06A) | civil airport | 3 N Tuskegee | 32-28 085-41 | Tuskegee Institute | Black Pilots |
| Mustang Field | OK | El Reno Municipal Air Park (F28) | civil airport | 6 SW El Reno | 35-28-30 098-00 | Oklahoma Air College, Inc. Midwest Air School |
|
| Oakland Mun. Apt. | CA | Metro Oakland Intl (OAK) | civil airport | 5 S Oakland | 37-43-52 122-13 | Boeing School of Aeronautics | Service Transition |
| Okmulgee | OK | Okmulgee Municipal (OKM) | civil airport | 2 ENE Okmulgee | 35-40 095-57 | Sooner Air Training Corp. | Glider |
| Ontario | CA | Chino (CNO) | civil airport | 6 S Ontario | 33-59 117-38-30 | Cal-Aero Academy | |
| Orangeburg Mun. Apt. | SC | unknown | non-aviation | 5 S Orangeburg | 33-25 080-51 | Hawethorne School of Aeronautics | |
| Parks Airport | IL | St Louis Downtown (CPS) | civil airport | 3 E East St Louis | 38-34-15 090-11 | Parks Air College, Inc. | |
| Pittsburgh Mun. Apt. | KS | Atkinson Municipal (PTS) | civil airport | 3.5 NW Pittsburg | 37-27 094-44 | McFarland Flying Service | Glider |
| Plainview | TX | unknown | non-aviation | 5.5 N Plainview | 34-16-15 101-43-00 | Clint Breedlove Aerial Service | Glider |
| Ponca City Mun | OK | Ponca City Municipal (PNC) | civil airport | 2.5 NNW Ponca City | 36-43-30 097-06-30 | Darr School of Aeronautics | RAF |
| Rankin | CA | unknown | non-aviation | 6 SE Tulare | 36-09-30 119-15-30 | Rankin Aeronautical Academy, Inc. | |
| Riddle Field | FL | Airglades (2IS) | civil airport | 8 W Clewiston | 26-44-30 081-03 | Riddle-McKay Aero College | RAF |
| Robins Field (NOTE 4) | MS | Bruce Campbell Field (MBO) | civil airport | 11.5 NE Jackson | 32-26-45 090-06 | Mississippi Institute of Aeronautics, Inc. | |
| Rochester | MN | unknown | non-aviation | 1.7 SSE Rochester | 44-00 092-27 | Fontana School of Aeronautics | Glider |
| Ryan | AZ | Ryan Field (RYN) | civil airport | 13 SW Tucson | 32-09 111-11 | Ryan School of Aeronautics | |
| Ryan Field | CA | Hemet-Ryan (HMT) | civil airport | 2.5 WSW Hemet | 33-44 117-01 | Ryan School of Aeronautics | |
| Santa Maria Mun. Apt. | CA | unknown | non-aviation | 1 SE Santa Maria | 34-56-30 120-25-30 | Allen Hancock College of Aeronautics | |
| Sequoia Field | CA | Sequoia Field (Q31) | civil airport | 6 N Visalia | 36-26 119-19 | Visalia-Dinuba School of Aeronautics | |
| Souther Field | GA | Souther Field (ACJ) | civil airport | 3 NE Americus | 32-07 084-11 | Graham Aviation Co. | RAF |
| Spencer | IA | Spencer Muni (SPW) | civil airport | 2.9 WNW Spencer | 43-09-45 095-11-30 | Hunter Flying Service | Glider |
| Stillwater | MN | unknown | unknown | Stillwater | North Aviation Company | Glider | |
| Taylor Field | FL | unknown | non-aviation | 1.25 SW Ocala | 29-10 082-10 | Greenville Aviation School | |
| Thompson-Robbins Field | AR | Thompson-Robbins (HEE) | civil airport | 34-35 090-40 | Akron Airways, Helena Aeronautics Tech. | ||
| Thunderbird Apt. #1 | AZ | unknown | non-aviation | 12 NW Phoenix | 33-36 112-10 | Southwest Airways, Inc. | |
| Thunderbird Apt. #2 | AZ | Scottsdale (SDL) | civil airport | 15 NE Phoenix | 33-37 111-55 | Hayward and Connelly | |
| Tucumcari | NM | Tucumcari (TCC) | civil airport | 7 E Tucumcari | 35-11 103-36-15 | Cutter-Carr Flying Service | Glider |
| Tulsa Mun. Apt. | OK | SW Part, Tulsa International (TUL) | civil airport | 6 NE Tulsa | 36-11 095-54 | Spartan Aircraft Co. Spartan School of Aeronautics |
|
| Union Airport | NE | unknown | non-aviation | 4.8 NNE Lincoln | 40-52-30 096-37-45 | Lincoln Airplane & Flying School | |
| Union City Mun. Apt. | TN | Everett-Stewart (UCY) | civil airport | 4.5 SE Union City | 36-23 088-59 | Riddle-McKay Co. of Tennessee Riddle Aeronautical Institute |
|
| Van de Graaff Field (NOTE 3) | AL | Tuscaloosa Municipal (TCL) | civil airport | 3 NW Tuscaloosa | 33-13-30 087-36-30 | Alabama Institute of Aeronautics | |
| Ventura County Apt. | CA | Oxnard (OXR) | civil airport | 1 W Oxnard | 34-12 119-11-30 | Mira Loma Flight Academy | |
| Victory Field | TX | unknown | non-aviation | 9 S Vernon | 34-04-30 099-17-30 | Hunter Flying Service Richey Flying Service |
|
| Vinita | OK | unknown | unknown | Vinita | Burke Aviation Service | Glider | |
| War Eagle Field | CA | unknown | non-aviation | 5 W Lancaster | 34-42 118-14 | Polaris Flight Academy, Inc. Mira Loma Flight Academy |
RAF |
| Echeverria Field | AZ | Forepaugh Airport (44E) | civil airport | 17 W Wickenburg | 33-57 112-59-30 | Arizona Gliding Academy Claiborne Flight Academy |
Glider |
| Woodward Field | SC | Woodward Field (CDN) | civil airport | 3 E Camden | 34-17 080-34-30 | Southern Aviation School | RAF |
| Fort Morgan | CO | Fort Morgan Muni (3V4) | civil airport | 4 N Fort Morgan | 40-18 103-48 | Plains Airways, Inc. | Glider |
NOTE 1 - This flying school was located at the Mobile Municipal Airport. After the flying school closed, the airport--known as Bates Field--listed as an Army Air Forces airfield under Air Transport Command. Therefore, it also appears in my list of WWII Army Air Fields. NOTE 2 - Later in WWII, after the flying school ceased operations, Thirty-Sixth Street Airport was listed as Miami Army Air Field, a Transport-Service & Maintenance base under Miami Area Technical Service Command. For this reason, it also appears in my list of WWII Army Air Fields. NOTE 3 - Starting in 1944, Van de Graaff Field was listed as a CAA Intermediate Field--Site 59, FV-AG. This was after the flying school closed. NOTE 4 - I initially used the spelling "Robbins" since 14 of the 17 primary sources I consulted used two b's instead of one. Steve Hickok obtained an official history showing the spelling as "Robins," named after General Augustine Warner Robins.
References
This work draws from the same references I used for my paper of WWII Army Air Fields. Additional references specific to this paper are these articles written by retired USAF Colonel Robert F. Schirmer: Schirmer, Robert F. (1991, Spring). AAC & AAF Civil Primary Flying Schools 1939-1945, Part 1. Journal American Aviation Historical Society. Schirmer, Robert F. (1991, Summer). AAC & AAF Civil Primary Flying Schools 1939-1945, Part II Chicago Primary. Journal American Aviation Historical Society. Schirmer, Robert F. (1991, Fall). AAC & AAF Civil Primary Flying Schools 1939-1945, Part III San Diego Primary. Journal American Aviation Historical Society. Schirmer, Robert F. (1991, Winter). AAC & AAF Civil Primary Flying Schools 1939-1945, Part IV Tuscaloosa Primary. Journal American Aviation Historical Society. Schirmer, Robert F. (1992, Spring). AAC & AAF Civil Primary Flying Schools 1939-1945, Part V Lincoln Primary. Journal American Aviation Historical Society. Schirmer, Robert F. (1992, Summer). AAC & AAF Civil Primary Flying Schools 1939-1945, Part VI Glendale Primary. Journal American Aviation Historical Society. Schirmer, Robert F. (1992, Fall). AAC & AAF Civil Primary Flying Schools 1939-1945, Part VII Dallas Primary. Journal American Aviation Historical Society. Schirmer, Robert F. (1992, Winter). AAC & AAF Civil Primary Flying Schools 1939-1945, Part VIII Santa Maria Primary. Journal American Aviation Historical Society. Schirmer, Robert F. (1993, Spring). AAC & AAF Civil Primary Flying Schools 1939-1945, Part IX Tulsa Primary. Journal American Aviation Historical Society.Updated January 26, 2025
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