History
During World War I, 624 acres (253 ha) of land near Belleville, Illinois became a new airfield. The government announced it would name the field after Corporal Frank S. Scott on July 20, 1917; Scott was the first enlisted person to be killed in an aviation crash. Scott remains the only base in the United States named after an enlisted member.
In September 1917, the training of airplane pilots began. Most training took place in Curtiss JN-3D “Jennies.” These aircraft were used to develop air ambulances. This early aeromedical evacuation later become a primary role for Scott Air Force Base. At the end of World War I, the field’s squadrons were demobilized. In 1919 the War Department purchased Scott Field and turned it over to the lighter-than-air branch of the Air Corps. This lasted until May 14, 1937, when all lighter-than-air craft were withdrawn from use.
The field was designated as the new home of the general headquarters of the Air Forces of the entire United States Army on June 2, 1938. To prepare for the new role, the old buildings on Scott Field had to come down; demolition began July 18, 1938. The huge airship hangar, now useless to the army, was sold to the wreckers for $20,051.00. The airship mooring mast, the old wooden barracks, and the administration buildings were all demolished. Colonial style administration buildings; family quarters; barracks; new hangars; and other buildings (in all 73 major buildings); were erected in a $7,500,000.00 building program.
On June 1, 1939, Scott was designated as the Scott Field branch of the Army Air Corps Technical Schools and the basic section of the school, which was located at Chanute Field, Rantoul, Illinois, was transferred to Scott Field.
An allotment of $1,710,150.00 was made in August 1941 for the construction of 160 new buildings, because with the designation of Scott as the communications training center of the Army Air Force, more housing was needed for students. Cantonment areas were constructed in the southeast and northeast sections of the field. A short time later, the Army built an induction center on the other side of adjacent railroad tracks. This area was later annexed to Scott Air Force Base.
In 1952, two additional housing areas were added; Pagelow Apartments (80 units for officers) and a 1,000-unit "city" north of the base were erected under the provisions of the Wherry Housing Act. Also in 1952 a modernization program was begun to provide quarters for bachelor officers and bachelor non-commissioned officers; training areas; and warehouse space; at a cost in excess of $14,000,000.00.
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