Harvard Army Air Field
Nebraska bomber-training base where the 505th and 501st Bomb Groups readied for the B-29 war.
History
Harvard State Airport (FAA LID: 08K) (Harvard State Airfield) is two miles northeast of Harvard, in Clay County, Nebraska. It has no airline flights. Harvard Army Airfield was built in 1942 as a United States Army Air Forces training airfield. It is in a farming area, and covered 1,704 acres (6.90 km2). It was one of eleven training airfields in Nebraska during World War II. On 2 September 1942, an announcement was made to the community that a satellite Army Airfield would be built just northeast of Harvard. By September 17 construction began, farmers were removed from their properties, and by November 19, the work was nearly completed with 277 buildings and structures were built. It was a major World War II training center for bomber crews of the 2nd Air Force. Complete engine and air-frame repairs were available for B-17, B-24 and B-29 bombers at the five hangars on the field.
Text adapted from Wikipedia: Harvard State Airport (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Timeline
- 1 April 1944505th Bomb Group arrives at Harvard
- 1 July 1944505th starts flying training in B-17s while waiting for B-29s
- 22 August 1944501st Bomb Group arrives from Dalhart
- 6 November 1944505th leaves Harvard for Tinian