Montana World War II Army Airfields

Montana World War II Army Airfields
Part of World War II
Cut Bank AAF Glasgow AAF Great Falls AAF Lewistown AAF Gore AAF Helena AAF class=notpageimage| Map of Montana World War II Army Airfields
Type	Army airfields
Site history
Built	1940-1944
In use	1940–present

During World War II, the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) established numerous airfields in Montana for training pilots and aircrews of USAAF fighters and bombers.

Most of these airfields were under the command of Second Air Force or the Army Air Forces Training Command (AAFTC) (a predecessor of the current-day United States Air Force Air Education and Training Command). However, the other USAAF support commands (Air Technical Service Command (ATSC); Air Transport Command (ATC) or Troop Carrier Command) commanded a significant number of airfields in support roles.

It is still possible to find remnants of these wartime airfields. Many were converted into municipal airports, returned to agriculture, or retained as United States Air Force installations that served as front-line bases during the Cold War. Hundreds of the temporary buildings that were used survive today, and are being used for other purposes.

Major airfields

Second Air Force

• Cut Bank Army Airfield, Cut Bank

II Fighter Command

Now: Cut Bank Municipal Airport (IATA: CTB, ICAO: KCTB)

• Glasgow Army Airfield, Glasgow

II Fighter Command

Now: Glasgow International Airport (IATA: GGW, ICAO: KGGW)

Note: Glasgow Air Force Base (1957-1976) is NOT the World War II Airfield.

• Great Falls Army Airfield, Great Falls

352d Army Air Force Base Unit

Was: Great Falls Air Force Base (1947-1955)

Now: Malmstrom Air Force Base (1955–present; runway inactive since 1997, limited to rotary-wing ops)

• Lewistown Army Airfield, Lewistown

II Bomber Command

Now: Lewistown Municipal Airport (IATA: LWT, ICAO: KLWT)

Air Transport Command

• Gore Army Airfield, Great Falls

Joint use USAAF/Civil Airport

7th Ferrying Group

385th Army Air Force Base Unit

Now: Great Falls International Airport (IATA: GTF, ICAO: KGTF)

And: Great Falls Air National Guard Base

• Helena Army Airfield, Helena

Joint use USAAF/Civil Airport

Now: Helena Regional Airport (IATA: HLN, ICAO: KHLN)

References

• Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-89201-092-4.
• Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.
• Thole, Lou (1999), Forgotten Fields of America : World War II Bases and Training, Then and Now - Vol. 2. Pictorial Histories Pub . ISBN 1-57510-051-7
• Military Airfields in World War II - Montana