Jump to content

Central Nebraska Regional Airport: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Bwmoll3 (talk | contribs)
137,292 edits
→History: edited and expanded
Bwmoll3 (talk | contribs)
137,292 edits
→History: edited and expanded
Line 47: Line 47:
During [[World War II]] the airport was known as '''Grand Island Army Airfield''', and it was was one of eleven [[United States Army Air Force]] training bases in [[Nebraska]] during [[World War II]]. The base was under the command of [[Second Air Force]] Headquarters, [[Colorado Springs]], [[Colorado]].
During [[World War II]] the airport was known as '''Grand Island Army Airfield''', and it was was one of eleven [[United States Army Air Force]] training bases in [[Nebraska]] during [[World War II]]. The base was under the command of [[Second Air Force]] Headquarters, [[Colorado Springs]], [[Colorado]].


The base's primary mission was to train pilots and aircrews of [[B-29|Boeing B-29 Superfortreses]] prior to their deployment to the South Pacific.
The base closed on [[31 December]] [[1945]] and the War Assets Administration declared the property surplus. However, the USAF stationed the 28th Bombardment Group/Wing at the base shortly after the war and apparently into 1947. The 28th deployed to the arctic for cold weather operations and never returned.


Known units that trained at Grand Island AAF were:
⚫
During the 1960's, Grand Island Regional Airport was utilized by Aerospace Defense Command as a F-106 interceptor dispersal base. These aircraft were deployed from Richards-Gebur Air Force Base outside of Kansas City, Missouri. These dispersal flights ended in 1968.

* '''6th Bombardment Group''' (18 May - 19 November 1944)<BR>Deployed to [[Twentieth Air Force]], Tinian (B-29)
* '''502d Bombardment Group''' (26 September 1944 - 7 April 1945)<BR>Deployed to [[Twentieth Air Force]], Guam (B-29)
* '''449th Bombardment Group''' (8 September 1945 - 4 August 1946)<BR>B-29 Group assigned to [[Strategic Air Command]] at Grand Island but deactivated due to postwar budget cuts.
* '''28th Bombardment Group''' (4 August 1946 - 6 October 1946)<BR>Activated at Grand Island AAF. transfered to Elmendorf AAF Alaska.

Wartime groups that deactivated at Grand Island AAF were:

* '''376th Bombardment Group''' (25 June - 10 November 1945)<BR>Returned from [[Fifteenth Air Force]], Italy (B-24)

The 242nd (Operational Training Unit, Very Heavy) of the 17th Bombardment Training Wing commanded the support elements at Grand Island AAF as part of Air Technical Service Command.

⚫
With the departure of the B-29s in late [[1946]], the USAAF closed Grand Island Army Airfield and the facility was turned over to local authorities to develop as a civil airport. However the military use of the base did not end entirely. During the 1960's, Grand Island Regional Airport was utilized by [[F-106|Convair F-106A Delta Darts]] of the 328th Fighter Wing (Air Defense) of [[Aerospace Defense Command]] as a dispersal base. These aircraft were deployed from [[Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base]] outside of [[Kansas City, Missouri]]. These dispersal flights ended in [[1968]].


== See Also ==
== See Also ==

Revision as of 17:24, 8 January 2007

Template:Airport frame Template:Airport title Template:Airport image Template:Airport infobox Template:Runway title Template:Runway Template:Runway Template:Airport end frame

Central Nebraska Regional Airport (IATA: GRI, ICAO: KGRI) is a public airport located three miles (5 km) northeast of the central business district (CBD) of Grand Island, a city in Hall County, Nebraska, USA. The airport covers 2,435 acres and has two runways. It is served by one commercial airline, with service subsidized by the Essential Air Service program.

Air Midwest, operating as U.S. Airways Express, commenced service on October 29, 2006, with two daily flights to Omaha Eppley Airfield and one daily flight to Kansas City International Airport. The nonstop flights to Omaha will continue on to Kansas City, allowing one-stop service to Kansas City on two additional flights.[1]

Central Nebraska Regional Airport was selected to be the site of a new Chinook Helicopter Base. The Nebraska National Guard has been on site since 2004, with ground scheduled to be broken in 2006 and the base opening in 2008.

Airline and destinations

Former airline and destination

History

During World War II the airport was known as Grand Island Army Airfield, and it was was one of eleven United States Army Air Force training bases in Nebraska during World War II. The base was under the command of Second Air Force Headquarters, Colorado Springs, Colorado.

The base's primary mission was to train pilots and aircrews of Boeing B-29 Superfortreses prior to their deployment to the South Pacific.

Known units that trained at Grand Island AAF were:

  • 6th Bombardment Group (18 May - 19 November 1944)
    Deployed to Twentieth Air Force, Tinian (B-29)
  • 502d Bombardment Group (26 September 1944 - 7 April 1945)
    Deployed to Twentieth Air Force, Guam (B-29)
  • 449th Bombardment Group (8 September 1945 - 4 August 1946)
    B-29 Group assigned to Strategic Air Command at Grand Island but deactivated due to postwar budget cuts.
  • 28th Bombardment Group (4 August 1946 - 6 October 1946)
    Activated at Grand Island AAF. transfered to Elmendorf AAF Alaska.

Wartime groups that deactivated at Grand Island AAF were:

  • 376th Bombardment Group (25 June - 10 November 1945)
    Returned from Fifteenth Air Force, Italy (B-24)

The 242nd (Operational Training Unit, Very Heavy) of the 17th Bombardment Training Wing commanded the support elements at Grand Island AAF as part of Air Technical Service Command.

With the departure of the B-29s in late 1946, the USAAF closed Grand Island Army Airfield and the facility was turned over to local authorities to develop as a civil airport. However the military use of the base did not end entirely. During the 1960's, Grand Island Regional Airport was utilized by Convair F-106A Delta Darts of the 328th Fighter Wing (Air Defense) of Aerospace Defense Command as a dispersal base. These aircraft were deployed from Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base outside of Kansas City, Missouri. These dispersal flights ended in 1968.

See Also

References

  1. ^ Mesa Air Group Announces Schedule and Fares for Grand Island, Nebraska as US Airways Express (Oct. 9, 2006)
Stub icon

This article about a United States airport is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Stub icon

This article about a building or structure in Nebraska is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Stub icon

This United States Air Force article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Central_Nebraska_Regional_Airport&oldid=99354906"