During World War II, the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) established numerous airfields in New York for training pilots and aircrews of USAAF fighters and bombers.
Most of these airfields were under the command of First Air Force or the Army Air Forces Training Command (AAFTC) (A predecessor of the current-day United States Air Force Air Education and Training Command). However the other USAAF support commands (Air Technical Service Command (ATSC); Air Transport Command (ATC) or Troop Carrier Command) commanded a significant number of airfields in a support roles.
It is still possible to find remnants of these wartime airfields. Many were converted into municipal airports, some were returned to agriculture and several were retained as United States Air Force installations and were front-line bases during the Cold War. Hundreds of the temporary buildings that were used survive today, and are being used for other purposes.
Major airfields
Air Technical Service Command Buffalo MAP, Buffalo Joint use USAAF/Civil AirportAircraft modification center. Also contract flying school operated by Curtiss-Wright Corp. Now: Buffalo Niagara International Airport Farmingdale AAF, Farmingdale 436th Army Air Force Base Unit Used by Republic Aircraft Now: Republic Airport Niagara Falls MAP, Niagara Falls Aircraft modification center Niagara Falls International Airport and Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station Rome AAF, Rome 420th Army Air Force Base Unit (Rome ASC) Was: Rome Air Force Base (1948) Was: Griffiss Air Force Base (1948-1991) Now: Rome Laboratory (1991-Pres) Wheeler Sack Field AAF, Deferiet Sub-base of Rome AAF Supported Fort Drum Now: Wheeler-Sack Army Airfield, Active US Army Airfield. Syracuse AAB, Syracuse 393d Army Air Force Base Unit (Rome ASC) Now: Syracuse Hancock International Airport Hancock Field Air National Guard Base
Air Transport Command La Guardia Field, New York City 523d Army Air Force Base Unit (Reduced) Joint use USAAF/Civil Airport Now: La Guardia Airport Albany MAP, Albany Joint use USAAF/Civil Airport Now: Albany International Airport
First Air Force Mitchel AAF, Garden City 1st Army Air Force Base Unit Was: Mitchel Air Force Base (1947-1961) Now: Non-flying facility part of greater NYC urbanised area. Suffolk County AAF, Westhampton Beach 437th Army Air Force Base Unit Was: Suffolk County Air Force Base (1947-1969) Was: Suffolk County Airport (1969-1991) and Suffolk County Air National Guard Base (1970-1991) Now: Francis S. Gabreski Airport and Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base
Air Education and Training Command Stewart AAF, Newburgh 320th Army Air Force Base Unit Supported United States Military Academy, West Point Was: Stewart Air Force Base (1947-1970) Now: Stewart International Airport and Stewart Air National Guard Base
References Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. . Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. . Thole, Lou (1999), Forgotten Fields of America : World War II Bases and Training, Then and Now - Vol. 2. Pictorial Histories Pub. Military Airfields in World War II - New York