History
Paine Air Force Base was originally constructed in 1936 as a Works Progress Administration project known as Snohomish County Airport. At the time of development, it was envisioned that the Airport would create jobs and economic growth in the region by becoming one of the ten new "super airports" around the country.
The large commercial airport that was planned for in the 1930s never happened. When the United States entered into World War II, there was a need to protect the large Bremerton Navy Yard and the Boeing aircraft plant and airfield in Seattle, which produced the B-17 Flying Fortress bombers. In 1940, the United States Army Air Corps leased the airport and named it Everett Army Air Field.
At that time of its acquisition in 1941, Paine Army Airfield consisted of little more than two paved runways in the common cross-section pattern, set off at different angles to take advantage of the most favorable winds. The airfield was expanded by the Air Corps to consist of a 6,300' east/west main runway and three secondary runways of 5,000' (NW/SE), 5,000' (NE/SW) and a 5,000' N/S runway. A large parking apron was constructed to accommodate the aircraft with maintenance hangars and supporting buildings. East of the airfield, a ground support station was constructed consisting of about several hundred buildings based on standardized plans and architectural drawings. The buildings were designed to be the "cheapest, temporary character with structural stability only sufficient to meet the needs of the service which the structure is intended to fulfill during the period of its contemplated war use". To conserve critical materials, most facilities were constructed of wood, concrete, brick, gypsum board and concrete asbestos. Metal was sparsely used. Perrin Field was designed to be nearly self-sufficient, with not only hangars, but barracks, warehouses, hospitals, dental clinics, dining halls, and maintenance shops were needed. There were libraries, social clubs for officers, and enlisted men, and stores to buy living necessities
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