View source for Iowa World War II Army Airfields

{{Use American English|date=March 2025}}
{{no footnotes|date=May 2016}}
{{Infobox military structure
|name=Iowa World War II Army Airfields
|ensign=Us army air corps shield.svg
|ensign_size=50px
|partof = World War II
|location=
|coordinates=
|image=
{{Location map+|Iowa|width=300|float=center
 |marksize=6|mark=Red_pog.svg
 |places=
  {{Location map~|Iowa|lat_dir=N|lat_deg=41|lat_min=32|lon_dir=W|lon_deg=093|lon_min=39|position=left|background=#FFFFFF|label=Des Moines AAF}}  
  {{Location map~|Iowa|lat_dir=N|lat_deg=42|lat_min=23|lon_dir=W|lon_deg=096|lon_min=22|position=right|background=#FFFFFF|label=Sioux City AAB}}  
  {{Location map~|Iowa|lat_dir=N|lat_deg=43|lat_min=09|lon_dir=W|lon_deg=095|lon_min=12|position=left|background=#FFFFFF|label=Spencer AAF}} 
 |caption=Map Of Iowa World War II Army Airfields
}}
|caption=
|type=Army Airfields
|code=
|built=1940-1944
|builder=
|materials=
|height=
|used= 1940-present
|demolished=
|condition=
|ownership=
|controlledby=
|garrison=
|commanders=
|occupants=
|battles=
|events=
}}
During [[World War II]], the [[United States Army Air Forces]] (USAAF) established three airfields in [[Iowa]].

Most of these airfields were under the command of [[First Air Force]] or the [[Army Air Forces Training Command]] (AAFTC). However [[Air Technical Service Command]] (ATSC) used the Des Moines airfield.

It is still possible to find remnants of these wartime airfields. Two were converted into municipal airports, some were returned to agriculture. Hundreds of the temporary buildings that were used survive today, and are being used for other purposes.

== Major Airfields ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! scope="col" width="300" | USAAF Name<BR>Current Name
! scope="col" width="200" | Mission
! scope="col" width="250" | Host Unit
! scope="col" width="100" | Location
! scope="col" width="250" | Coordinates
! scope="col" width="450" | Notes
|- valign="top"  
| [[Des Moines International Airport]]<BR>[[Des Moines Air National Guard Base]] 
| Joint Use USAAF/Civil Airport<BR>Air Technical Services Command<BR>1st Concentration Command 
| [[842d Army Air Forces Specialized Depot]] 
| [[Des Moines, Iowa|Des Moines]] 
| {{Coord|41|32|18|N|093|39|34|W|name=Des Moines Airport}}
| Used by ATSC as an Aircraft/Crew processing center for heavy bomber crews.  Remained in use by Iowa Air National Guard after war ended and now a joint civil-military airport.  
|- valign="top"  
| Sioux City Army Air Base<BR>[[Sioux Gateway Airport]]<BR>[[Sioux City Air National Guard Base]]  
| [[II Bomber Command]]<BR>B-17/B-24 Bomber Training   
| [[354th Army Air Force Base Unit]]
| [[Sioux City, Iowa|Sioux City]]
| {{Coord|42|23|54|N|096|22|19|W|name=Sioux City AAB}}
| Closed 1945.  Used by Air Defense Command as an Interceptor base, 1946-1968; Ground Control Radar station, 1959-1970. Now joint-use civilian airport and Iowa ANG base for [[KC-135]] air refueling aircraft.
|- valign="top"  
| [[Spencer Field]]<BR>[[Spencer Municipal Airport]]
| [[Army Air Forces Training Command]]<BR> Contract Flying Instruction 
| [[Hunter Flying Service School]], Primary Flight Instruction 
| [[Spencer, Iowa|Spencer]]
| {{Coord|43|09|56|N|095|12|10|W|name=Spencer Field}}
| The mission of the school was to train glider pilot students in proficiency in operation of gliders in various types of towed and soaring flight, both day and night, and in servicing of gliders in the field.  Inanctivated 1944 
|-
|}
{{kml}}

==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}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140517043623/http://www.airfieldsdatabase.com/ww2/ww2.htm Military Airfields in World War II - Iowa]

{{USAAF Training Bases World War II}}
{{USAAF 1st Air Force World War II}}

[[Category:Airfields of the United States Army Air Forces in the United States| 01]]
[[Category:Airports in Iowa]]
[[Category:Military installations in Iowa]]
[[Category:1940s in Iowa|World War II]]
[[Category:Military history of Iowa|WWII]]
[[Category:Iowa history-related lists|WWII]]