Keystone Army Air Field: Difference between revisions
→History: edited and expanded |
→History: edited and expanded |
||
| Line 41: | Line 41: | ||
During the war, Keystone AAF was the home of the AAFSAT Strategic Reconnaissance School. The [[432d Tactical Reconnaissance Group]] was moved in early March 1943 from Alachua as the Operational Training Unit (OTU), although its component, [[3d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron]] was assigned to Keystone in January in an attached status from the AAFSAT Air Support Department. |
During the war, Keystone AAF was the home of the AAFSAT Strategic Reconnaissance School. The [[432d Tactical Reconnaissance Group]] was moved in early March 1943 from Alachua as the Operational Training Unit (OTU), although its component, [[3d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron]] was assigned to Keystone in January in an attached status from the AAFSAT Air Support Department. |
||
At Keystone, students flew the [[F-3A Havoc]] (a version of the A-20 Havoc attack aircraft), and the [[P-39D]]-3 Reconnaissance version of the Aircobra fighter. Pilots were trained in battlefield reconnaissance as well as long-range strategic reconnaissance photography, evasion techniques and other skills necessary for the unarmed combat reconnaissance missions to assist fighter, bombardment, and ground units. |
At Keystone, students flew the [[F-3A Havoc]] (a version of the A-20 Havoc attack aircraft), and the [[P-39D]]-3 Reconnaissance version of the Aircobra fighter. The L-2 and L-3 Grasshopper light observation aircraft were also utilized. Pilots were trained in battlefield reconnaissance as well as long-range strategic reconnaissance photography, evasion techniques and other skills necessary for the unarmed combat reconnaissance missions to assist fighter, bombardment, and ground units. |
||
In November 1943, the [[313th Fighter Squadron]] was moved from Alachua with [[P-40 Warhawk]]s. The 313th was part of the AAFSAT 50th Fighter Group which trained single-engine pilots in combat maneuvers. Crowded conditions at Alachua and the phased-own of the photo-reconnaissance school at Keystone were the reasons necessitating the move of the 313th. The 313th FS was upgraded to P-47D |
In November 1943, the [[313th Fighter Squadron]] was moved from Alachua with [[P-40 Warhawk]]s. The 313th was part of the AAFSAT 50th Fighter Group which trained single-engine pilots in combat maneuvers. Crowded conditions at Alachua and the phased-own of the photo-reconnaissance school at Keystone were the reasons necessitating the move of the 313th. The 313th FS was upgraded to [[P-47D Thunderbolt]]s in July 1943. |
||
Phase-down of Keystone AAF began in late 1943 when the 432d was inactivated on 1 November 1943, and the 3d TRS was moved back to Orlando AAB in early February 1944. The 313th FS was moved back to Orlando in January in preparation for its parent 50th Fighter Group being sent to the European Theater of Operations ETO as an operational fighter group under Ninth Air Force. |
Phase-down of Keystone AAF began in late 1943 when the 432d was inactivated on 1 November 1943, and the 3d TRS was moved back to Orlando AAB in early February 1944. The 313th FS was moved back to Orlando in January in preparation for its parent 50th Fighter Group being sent to the [[European Theater of Operations]] (ETO) as an operational fighter group under [[Ninth Air Force]]. |
||
===Closure=== |
|||
With the operational squadrons leaving, a caretaker unit was assigned and the flying mission at the airfield was reduced to the support of transient aircraft using Keystone for landings and cross-country flights. The number of personnel were reduced, being reassigned to other bases. In January 1945, AAFSAT sent down orders to close the facility, and it was placed on inactive status on 1 February 1945. |
|||
The City of Keystone Heights acquired the property from the federal government in 1947. |
The City of Keystone Heights acquired the property from the federal government in 1947. |
||
Revision as of 12:46, 8 August 2012
Keystone Army Airfield
 | |
|---|---|
| Part of Army Air Force Training Command | |
| Located near: Keystone Heights, Florida | |
 Keystone Army Airfield - 1943   Keystone Army Airfield | |
| Coordinates | 29°50′41″N 082°02′51″W / 29.84472°N 82.04750°W |
| Site history | |
| In use | 1940-1945 |
Keystone Army Airfield, was a World War II United States Army Air Force airfield, located 4.2 miles (6.8 km) north-northwest of Keystone Heights, Florida.
History
The airport was constructed in 1942 as Crystal Lake Airfield, and was commissioned in December 1942 as Keystone Army Airfield (AAF) by the United States Army Air Forces. It was used as part of the Air University's Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics (AAFSAT) tactical combat simulation school in Central and Northern Florida. Kaystone AAF was assigned as a sub-base of Alachua Army Airfield, near Gainesville.
During the war, Keystone AAF was the home of the AAFSAT Strategic Reconnaissance School. The 432d Tactical Reconnaissance Group was moved in early March 1943 from Alachua as the Operational Training Unit (OTU), although its component, 3d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron was assigned to Keystone in January in an attached status from the AAFSAT Air Support Department.
At Keystone, students flew the F-3A Havoc (a version of the A-20 Havoc attack aircraft), and the P-39D-3 Reconnaissance version of the Aircobra fighter. The L-2 and L-3 Grasshopper light observation aircraft were also utilized. Pilots were trained in battlefield reconnaissance as well as long-range strategic reconnaissance photography, evasion techniques and other skills necessary for the unarmed combat reconnaissance missions to assist fighter, bombardment, and ground units.
In November 1943, the 313th Fighter Squadron was moved from Alachua with P-40 Warhawks. The 313th was part of the AAFSAT 50th Fighter Group which trained single-engine pilots in combat maneuvers. Crowded conditions at Alachua and the phased-own of the photo-reconnaissance school at Keystone were the reasons necessitating the move of the 313th. The 313th FS was upgraded to P-47D Thunderbolts in July 1943.
Phase-down of Keystone AAF began in late 1943 when the 432d was inactivated on 1 November 1943, and the 3d TRS was moved back to Orlando AAB in early February 1944. The 313th FS was moved back to Orlando in January in preparation for its parent 50th Fighter Group being sent to the European Theater of Operations (ETO) as an operational fighter group under Ninth Air Force.
Closure
With the operational squadrons leaving, a caretaker unit was assigned and the flying mission at the airfield was reduced to the support of transient aircraft using Keystone for landings and cross-country flights. The number of personnel were reduced, being reassigned to other bases. In January 1945, AAFSAT sent down orders to close the facility, and it was placed on inactive status on 1 February 1945.
The City of Keystone Heights acquired the property from the federal government in 1947.
Major units assigned
- 432d Reconnaissance Group, 1 March-1 November 1943
- 3d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 21 January 1943-3 February 1944
- 313th Fighter Squadron, 17 November 1943-28 January 1944
See also
References
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Mauer, Mauer (1969), Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II, Air Force Historical Studies Office, Maxwell AFB, Alabama. ISBN 0-89201-097-5
- 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.
- Shaw, Frederick J. (2004), Locating Air Force Base Sites History’s Legacy, Air Force History and Museums Program, United States Air Force, Washington DC, 2004.