Brazil bases list:
--@--@-O-@--@--
Army Air Corps Ferrying Command
South Atlantic Wing (re-designated South Atlantic Division)
BASES LIST
Waller Army Airfield Trinidad
Trinidad 10°36′48″N 061°12′48″W 1107th AAFBU. 674 miles (1,085 km) from Borinquen, Puerto Rico, Built after basing rights in Trinidad obtained as part of 1940 Destroyers for Bases agreement with British. Part of Antilles Air Command. Refueling/servicing stop on route south to Brazil.[12] Became Waller Air Force Base, Caribbean Air Command after the war. Closed 1 July 1949
Atkinson Field
Hyde Park, British Guiana.
From: [email protected] Subject: RE: [H-WAR] QUERY: Atkinson Field, British Guyana Date: February 11, 2009 3:22:23 PM EST To: [email protected] Mr. Biegel, My understanding is that Atkinson Field was commanded and operated by U.S. personnel. The senior officer in the area was the officer in charge of the British Guiana Base Command (BGBC) who also was in charge of the local British garrison as well. This was a ground officer until May 13, 1943, when an Army Air Forces officer, Col. G. F. Campbell, took charge of the base and the BGBC. The primary base units from October 1941 until August 1943 were detachments from the 35th Bombardment Group which flew anti-submarine operations Field using Douglas B-18B "Bolo" twin-engine bombers. The place seems to have had a U.S. Navy blimp unit, as well. Atkinson served as a way-station for aircraft deploying to North Africa and Europe, as you noted. It was built on a site the rights to which were obtained through the "Destroyer for Bases" deal between the U.S. and Great Britain arranged in 1940. The field began operations in 1941 under USAAF Ferrying Command, which delivered U.S. aircraft to the British under Lend-Lease. In June 1942, Ferrying Command became Air Transport Command (ATC). ATC's South Atlantic Wing had jurisdiction for Atkinson Field and had its headquarters there for a time. When the South Atlantic Wing moved to Natal, Brazil, Atkinson became the responsibility of the Caribbean Wing. Roger G. Miller, Ph.D., YA-3 Senior Historian Air Force Historical Studies Office Bolling AFB, Washington, D.C.
Amapa Field
Amapá, Brazil 03°51′06″N 051°47′51″W 1160th AAFBU Opened 1941. 480 miles (770 km) from Atkinson Field. Was Pan American Airways refueling stop, became intermediate ferrying refueling/servicing stop on route south to Natal.[15] Closed May 1946.
Val de Caes Field
Belém, Brazil 01°22′46″S 48°28′35″W 1153d AAFBU 868 miles (1,397 km) from Atkinson Field. Built by Panair do Brasil, a Pan American subsidiary, with funds appropriated for the Airport Development Program of 1940, opened for United States military use in 1941.[16] Primary refueling/servicing stop on route south to Natal. Americans construed two new runways measuring 1500 x 45 meters with concrete and asphalt surface to accommodate ferrying traffic.[17] Eventually one of the largest and best equipped Army Airfields in the world. Returned to civil control October 1946
São Luís Airport
São Luís, Brazil 02°35′07″S 044°14′03″W 1154th AAFBU. 304 miles (489 km) from Belém. Was Pan American Airways refueling stop, became intermediate ferrying refueling/servicing stop on route south to Natal. Closed May 1946.[18]
Adjacento Field
Fortaleza, Brazil 03°46′35″S 38°31′57″W 1155th AAFBU. Opened July 1944. 706 miles (1,136 km) from Belém. Was joint AAF/US Naval Air Station. Intermediate ferrying refueling/servicing stop on route south to Natal. Closed April 1946.[19]
Parnamirim Field
Natal, Brazil 05°54′41″S 035°14′51″W HQ, ATC South Atlantic Division, 1150th AAFBU. 965 miles (1,553 km) from Belém. Built by Panair do Brasil, a Pan American subsidiary, with funds appropriated for the Airport Development Program of 1940, opened for United States military use in 1941. Was primary airfield for trans-Atlantic crossing of ferried aircraft to Africa. (to Roberts Field, Liberia or British controlled territory). Eventually one of the largest and best equipped Army Airfields in the world.[16] Closed October 1946.[20]
Ibura Field
Recife, Brazil 08°07′35″S 34°55′24″W 1152d AAFBU. 1,043 miles (1,679 km) from Belém. Opened 1941. Was secondary airport for trans-Atlantic crossing to Africa. Closed May 1946.[21]
Fernando de Noronha Airfield
Fernando de Noronha Island, Brazil 03°51′17″S 32°25′24″W Construction began 15 September 1942. Was planned third jumping off point for trans-Atlantic Ferrying to Africa. construction and other issues led to abandonment of airfield by Air Transport Command, turned over to United States Navy in September 1944.[22]
Wideawake Airfield
Ascension Island 7°58′10″S 14°23′38″W 1150th AAFBU. 1,438 miles (2,314 km) from Natal, 1,405 miles (2,261 km) from Recife. Prewar British cable station. Opened March 1942. Named after bird colony on island, bird eggs constant source of menace to plane and pilot, for every time a plane started down the runway the roar of the motors brought a huge flock of birds into the air right in its path. Located in the South Atlantic approximately midway between the Brazilian and the African Atlantic coasts. Construction work got under way by 13 April, and less than three months later, on 10 July, the 6,000-foot runway was open for traffic. Made it possible for two-engine planes to cross the South Atlantic in two fairly easy jumps with a normal gas load, single engine fighters used external wing tanks.[16] Now RAF Ascension Island.
--@--@--O--@--@--
CLICK "BACK" TO EXIT
Army Air Corps Ferrying Command
South Atlantic Wing (re-designated South Atlantic Division)
BASES LIST
Waller Army Airfield Trinidad
Trinidad 10°36′48″N 061°12′48″W 1107th AAFBU. 674 miles (1,085 km) from Borinquen, Puerto Rico, Built after basing rights in Trinidad obtained as part of 1940 Destroyers for Bases agreement with British. Part of Antilles Air Command. Refueling/servicing stop on route south to Brazil.[12] Became Waller Air Force Base, Caribbean Air Command after the war. Closed 1 July 1949
Atkinson Field
Hyde Park, British Guiana.
From: [email protected] Subject: RE: [H-WAR] QUERY: Atkinson Field, British Guyana Date: February 11, 2009 3:22:23 PM EST To: [email protected] Mr. Biegel, My understanding is that Atkinson Field was commanded and operated by U.S. personnel. The senior officer in the area was the officer in charge of the British Guiana Base Command (BGBC) who also was in charge of the local British garrison as well. This was a ground officer until May 13, 1943, when an Army Air Forces officer, Col. G. F. Campbell, took charge of the base and the BGBC. The primary base units from October 1941 until August 1943 were detachments from the 35th Bombardment Group which flew anti-submarine operations Field using Douglas B-18B "Bolo" twin-engine bombers. The place seems to have had a U.S. Navy blimp unit, as well. Atkinson served as a way-station for aircraft deploying to North Africa and Europe, as you noted. It was built on a site the rights to which were obtained through the "Destroyer for Bases" deal between the U.S. and Great Britain arranged in 1940. The field began operations in 1941 under USAAF Ferrying Command, which delivered U.S. aircraft to the British under Lend-Lease. In June 1942, Ferrying Command became Air Transport Command (ATC). ATC's South Atlantic Wing had jurisdiction for Atkinson Field and had its headquarters there for a time. When the South Atlantic Wing moved to Natal, Brazil, Atkinson became the responsibility of the Caribbean Wing. Roger G. Miller, Ph.D., YA-3 Senior Historian Air Force Historical Studies Office Bolling AFB, Washington, D.C.
Amapa Field
Amapá, Brazil 03°51′06″N 051°47′51″W 1160th AAFBU Opened 1941. 480 miles (770 km) from Atkinson Field. Was Pan American Airways refueling stop, became intermediate ferrying refueling/servicing stop on route south to Natal.[15] Closed May 1946.
Val de Caes Field
Belém, Brazil 01°22′46″S 48°28′35″W 1153d AAFBU 868 miles (1,397 km) from Atkinson Field. Built by Panair do Brasil, a Pan American subsidiary, with funds appropriated for the Airport Development Program of 1940, opened for United States military use in 1941.[16] Primary refueling/servicing stop on route south to Natal. Americans construed two new runways measuring 1500 x 45 meters with concrete and asphalt surface to accommodate ferrying traffic.[17] Eventually one of the largest and best equipped Army Airfields in the world. Returned to civil control October 1946
São Luís Airport
São Luís, Brazil 02°35′07″S 044°14′03″W 1154th AAFBU. 304 miles (489 km) from Belém. Was Pan American Airways refueling stop, became intermediate ferrying refueling/servicing stop on route south to Natal. Closed May 1946.[18]
Adjacento Field
Fortaleza, Brazil 03°46′35″S 38°31′57″W 1155th AAFBU. Opened July 1944. 706 miles (1,136 km) from Belém. Was joint AAF/US Naval Air Station. Intermediate ferrying refueling/servicing stop on route south to Natal. Closed April 1946.[19]
Parnamirim Field
Natal, Brazil 05°54′41″S 035°14′51″W HQ, ATC South Atlantic Division, 1150th AAFBU. 965 miles (1,553 km) from Belém. Built by Panair do Brasil, a Pan American subsidiary, with funds appropriated for the Airport Development Program of 1940, opened for United States military use in 1941. Was primary airfield for trans-Atlantic crossing of ferried aircraft to Africa. (to Roberts Field, Liberia or British controlled territory). Eventually one of the largest and best equipped Army Airfields in the world.[16] Closed October 1946.[20]
Ibura Field
Recife, Brazil 08°07′35″S 34°55′24″W 1152d AAFBU. 1,043 miles (1,679 km) from Belém. Opened 1941. Was secondary airport for trans-Atlantic crossing to Africa. Closed May 1946.[21]
Fernando de Noronha Airfield
Fernando de Noronha Island, Brazil 03°51′17″S 32°25′24″W Construction began 15 September 1942. Was planned third jumping off point for trans-Atlantic Ferrying to Africa. construction and other issues led to abandonment of airfield by Air Transport Command, turned over to United States Navy in September 1944.[22]
Wideawake Airfield
Ascension Island 7°58′10″S 14°23′38″W 1150th AAFBU. 1,438 miles (2,314 km) from Natal, 1,405 miles (2,261 km) from Recife. Prewar British cable station. Opened March 1942. Named after bird colony on island, bird eggs constant source of menace to plane and pilot, for every time a plane started down the runway the roar of the motors brought a huge flock of birds into the air right in its path. Located in the South Atlantic approximately midway between the Brazilian and the African Atlantic coasts. Construction work got under way by 13 April, and less than three months later, on 10 July, the 6,000-foot runway was open for traffic. Made it possible for two-engine planes to cross the South Atlantic in two fairly easy jumps with a normal gas load, single engine fighters used external wing tanks.[16] Now RAF Ascension Island.
--@--@--O--@--@--
CLICK "BACK" TO EXIT