Military Use
In 1943-44, the US Army Air Forces acquired 2,284 acres (9.24 km2) to build a satellite airfield for the use of Kingman AAF & its Gunnery School. Activated on 1 December 1941, the facility consisted of two 6,000' asphalt runways, taxiways, control tower, a total of 45 buildings, roads, a railroad spur, electrical utilities, water utilities, and a sewage disposal plant.
Yucca AAF was commanded by the 3019th Army Air Force Base Unit, as part of AAF Western Flying Training Command. It primarily was a Flexible Gunnery School, with the adjoining Yucca Air to Air Gunnery Range being located to the southwest of Yucca AAF. It consisted of a total of 550,000 acres (2,200 km2), and the range had four runways. Bell P-39 & P-63 fighters were used as gunnery targets at Yucca Aux AAF. B-26 bombers were also used as target tugs at Yucca AAF.
In addition to the main base, the adjoining Yucca Air to Air Gunnery Range was located to the southwest of Yucca AAF. It consisted of a total of 550,000 acres, and the range had 4 airfields. The civil Port Kingman Airport was also utilized as an auxiliary landing field:
- Cyclopic Army Auxiliary Airfield #1 35°44′22″N 114°04′39″W / 35.73944°N 114.07750°W / 35.73944; -114.07750 (Cyclopic AAAF)
- Hackberry Army Auxiliary Airfield #3 35°26′02″N 113°47′59″W / 35.43389°N 113.79972°W / 35.43389; -113.79972 (Hackberry AAAF)
- Topock Army Auxiliary Airfield #5 34°43′46″N 114°26′20″W / 34.72944°N 114.43889°W / 34.72944; -114.43889 (Topock AAAF)
- Lake Havasu Auxiliary Army Airfield #6 34°27′36″N 114°21′36″W / 34.46000°N 114.36000°W / 34.46000; -114.36000 (Lake Havasu AAAF)
- Signal Auxiliary Army Airfield #7 34°22′18″N 113°54′42″W / 34.37167°N 113.91167°W / 34.37167; -113.91167 (Signal AAAF)
- Port Kingman Airport 35°13′21″N 114°01′09″W / 35.22250°N 114.01917°W / 35.22250; -114.01917 (Port Kingman Airport)
Yucca AAF was closed and turned over to the Army Division Engineers on 23 December 1945. It declared surplus in 1946 and responsibility for it was given to the War Assets Administration.
Read more about this topic: Yucca Army Airfield
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