Claim: Dyersburg AAB was the largest combat aircrew training school, it was the only inland B-17 Flying Fortress training base east of the Mississippi River which is the second-longest river and chief river of the second-largest drainage system on the North American continent.
Evidence: Dyersburg AAB was the largest combat aircrew training school built during the early war years. It was the only inland B-17 Flying Fortress training base east of the Mississippi River. The Mississippi River is the second-longest river and chief river of the second-largest drainage system on the North American continent, second only to the Hudson Bay drainage system.