Garden City Army Air Field

History

Garden City Army Airfield was a World War II training base of the United States Army Air Forces Central Flying Training Command (CFTC). It is currently the city-owned Garden City Regional Airport. The Garden City, Kansas, Chamber of Commerce did most of the effective work in getting an airfield established in their area. At first, all of its energies were concentrated on acquiring one of the RAF training fields which were to be established in the United States during 1941–1942. In June 1941, the Chamber of Commerce sent representatives with an elaborate booklet to the War Department, setting forth the advantages of locating a flying school in Finney County, Kansas, buttressed by photographs of the area, and containing information on water and natural gas resources, and weather conditions.

Text adapted from Wikipedia: Garden City Army Airfield (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Timeline

1. 8 April 1942
   The first knowledge of a firm intention to construct a base in the Garden City area came to the local civic leaders on 8 April 1942, with a telegram from Washington announcing the imminent arrival of a board of officers to choose a site for the base.
   Wikipedia
2. 16 June 1942
   On 16 June 1942, surveying crews began work at the site outlining runways and staking buildings.
   Wikipedia
3. 21 December 1942
   The field was officially activated on 21 December 1942.
   Wikipedia
4. 15 March 1943
   As originally planned, the first class was to arrive on 15 March 1943, but this schedule was moved up to 15 January 1943.
   Wikipedia
5. 25 May 1943
   Construction was officially completed on 25 May 1943 when the Project Completion Report was signed by the Area Engineer.
   Wikipedia
6. 1944
   For a time during 1944, a few Women's Air Force Service Pilots (WASPs) were stationed at the field, serving as engineering test flight pilots.
   Wikipedia
7. 15 December 1944
   Garden City AAF was transferred to the jurisdiction of the Oklahoma City Air Technical Service Command on 15 December 1944 and placed on a standby status.
   Wikipedia
8. 27 February 1945
   On 27 February 1945, authority was granted to place the base on an active status as a storage depot for strategic aircraft of Class I, from which aircraft were kept in a short-term ready state and could be flown out within 72 hours.
   Wikipedia
9. July 1945
   After July 1945, the primary mission was reversed, that is, the major activity became the preparation of aircraft to be flown away from the base.
   Wikipedia