page_title: Bainbridge Air Base
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Bainbridge Air Base / History
caption_attribution_description: English: Flightline of Bainbridge Army Airfield, Georgia, 1944
context_page_description: Bainbridge Air Base is a closed United States Air Force base. It was inactivated on 31 March 1961.
context_section_description: Following entry of the United States into World War II, the Chief of the Army Air Corps directed the Air Corps Flying Training Command Southeast Training Center to immediately take action to select air base sites needed to increase its pilot training rate to meet anticipated wartime demands.
  A level area near Bainbridge, seven miles (11 km) northwest of the City adjacent to the Seaboard Air Line Railroad was selected by the Air Corps, and the City of Bainbridge and Decatur County purchased 2,070 acres (8.4 km²) for $66,800 and then leased the property to the Army for $1 per annum  for a basic flight training base authorizing 89.9 million for its construction.
  The contractor broke ground on 3 April 1942, for Bainbridge Army Airfield.  The immediate construction involved runways and airplane hangars, with concrete runways, several taxiways and a large parking apron and a control tower. Several large hangars were also constructed. Buildings were ultimately utilitarian and quickly assembled. Most base buildings, not meant for long-term use, were constructed of temporary or semi-permanent materials. Although some hangars had steel frames and the occasional brick or tile brick building could be seen, most support buildings sat on concrete foundations but were of frame construction clad in little more than plywood and tarpaper.  In addition to the main facility, several sub-bases and auxiliaries were established to support the training mission.
  Donalsonville Auxiliary Field 31°00′30″N 84°52′23″W
  Reynoldville Auxiliary Field 30°50′03″N 84°47′19″W
  Faceville Auxiliary Field 30°42′11″N 84°37′49″W
  Vada Auxiliary Field 31°03′36″N 84°26′19″W
  Babcock Auxiliary Field 31°07′03″N 84°37′01″W
  Commodore Decatur Auxiliary Field 30°54′56″N 84°36′33″W
  The first troops moved in on 4 July 1942. Initial construction reached completion on 25 August.
caption: Flightline of Bainbridge Army Airfield, Georgia, 1944
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