During the war, Keystone AAF was the home of the AAFSAT Strategic Reconnaissance School. The 432d Tactical Reconnaissance Group was moved in early March 1943 from Alachua as the Operational Training Unit (OTU), although its component, 3d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron was assigned to Keystone in January in an attached status from the AAFSAT Air Support Department.
At Keystone, students flew the F-3A Havoc (a version of the A-20 Havoc attack aircraft), and the P-39D-3 Reconnaissance version of the Airacobra fighter. The L-2 and L-3 Grasshopper light observation aircraft were also utilized. Pilots were trained in battlefield reconnaissance as well as long-range strategic reconnaissance photography, evasion techniques and other skills necessary for the unarmed combat reconnaissance missions to assist fighter, bombardment, and ground units.
In November 1943, the 313th Fighter Squadron was moved from Alachua with P-40 Warhawks. The 313th was part of the AAFSAT 50th Fighter Group which trained single-engine pilots in combat maneuvers. Crowded conditions at Alachua and the phasedown of the photo-reconnaissance school at Keystone were the reasons necessitating the move of the 313th. The 313th FS was upgraded to P-47D Thunderbolts in July 1943.
Phase-down of Keystone AAF began in late 1943 when the 432d was inactivated on 1 November 1943, and the 3d TRS was moved back to Orlando Army Air Base in early February 1944. The 313th FS was moved back to Orlando in January in preparation for its parent 50th Fighter Group being sent to the European Theater of Operations (ETO) as an operational fighter group under Ninth Air Force.
Closureedit
With the operational squadrons leaving, a caretaker unit was assigned and the flying mission at the airfield was reduced to the support of transient aircraft using Keystone for landings and cross-country flights. The number of personnel were reduced, being reassigned to other bases.
In January 1945, AAFSAT sent down orders to close the facility, and it was placed on inactive status on 1 February 1945. Jurisdiction of the airfield was transferred to Air Technical Service Command (ATSC), whose mission was the transfer of any useful military equipment to other bases around the country. Under ATSC, buildings and equipment were sold and any useful military equipment was transferred to other bases around the country. The base was declared as surplus in 1946 and was turned over to the War Assets Administration (WAA) for disposal and return to civil use.
The City of Keystone Heights acquired the property from the federal government in 1947.
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II(PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.
Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947–1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN0-912799-12-9.
Shaw, Frederick J. (2004), Locating Air Force Base Sites History’s Legacy, Air Force History and Museums Program, United States Air Force, Washington DC, 2004.
AFHRA search Keystone Army Airfield
External linksedit
April 14, 2024
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For the civil airport use of this facility see Keystone Heights Airport Keystone Army Airfield was a World War II United States Army Air Forces airfield located 4 2 miles 6 8 km north northwest of Keystone Heights Florida Keystone Army AirfieldPart of Army Air Force Training CommandLocated near Keystone Heights FloridaKeystone Army Airfield 1943Keystone Army AirfieldCoordinates29 50 41 N 082 02 51 W 29 84472 N 82 04750 W 29 84472 82 04750Site historyIn use1940 1945 Contents 1 History 1 1 Strategic Reconnaissance School 1 2 Closure 1 3 Major units assigned 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksHistory editThe airport was constructed in 1942 as Crystal Lake Airfield and was commissioned in December 1942 as Keystone Army Airfield AAF by the United States Army Air Forces It was used as part of the Air University s Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics AAFSAT tactical combat simulation school in Central and Northern Florida Kaystone AAF was assigned as a sub base of Alachua Army Airfield near Gainesville Strategic Reconnaissance School edit During the war Keystone AAF was the home of the AAFSAT Strategic Reconnaissance School The 432d Tactical Reconnaissance Group was moved in early March 1943 from Alachua as the Operational Training Unit OTU although its component 3d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron was assigned to Keystone in January in an attached status from the AAFSAT Air Support Department At Keystone students flew the F 3A Havoc a version of the A 20 Havoc attack aircraft and the P 39D 3 Reconnaissance version of the Airacobra fighter The L 2 and L 3 Grasshopper light observation aircraft were also utilized Pilots were trained in battlefield reconnaissance as well as long range strategic reconnaissance photography evasion techniques and other skills necessary for the unarmed combat reconnaissance missions to assist fighter bombardment and ground units In November 1943 the 313th Fighter Squadron was moved from Alachua with P 40 Warhawks The 313th was part of the AAFSAT 50th Fighter Group which trained single engine pilots in combat maneuvers Crowded conditions at Alachua and the phasedown of the photo reconnaissance school at Keystone were the reasons necessitating the move of the 313th The 313th FS was upgraded to P 47D Thunderbolts in July 1943 Phase down of Keystone AAF began in late 1943 when the 432d was inactivated on 1 November 1943 and the 3d TRS was moved back to Orlando Army Air Base in early February 1944 The 313th FS was moved back to Orlando in January in preparation for its parent 50th Fighter Group being sent to the European Theater of Operations ETO as an operational fighter group under Ninth Air Force Closure edit With the operational squadrons leaving a caretaker unit was assigned and the flying mission at the airfield was reduced to the support of transient aircraft using Keystone for landings and cross country flights The number of personnel were reduced being reassigned to other bases In January 1945 AAFSAT sent down orders to close the facility and it was placed on inactive status on 1 February 1945 Jurisdiction of the airfield was transferred to Air Technical Service Command ATSC whose mission was the transfer of any useful military equipment to other bases around the country Under ATSC buildings and equipment were sold and any useful military equipment was transferred to other bases around the country The base was declared as surplus in 1946 and was turned over to the War Assets Administration WAA for disposal and return to civil use The City of Keystone Heights acquired the property from the federal government in 1947 Major units assigned edit 432d Reconnaissance Group 1 March 1 November 1943 3d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron 21 January 1943 3 February 1944 313th Fighter Squadron 17 November 1943 28 January 1944See also editFlorida World War II Army Airfields Army Air Force School of Applied Tactics Wings of DreamsReferences edit nbsp This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency Maurer Maurer ed 1982 1969 Combat Squadrons of the Air Force World War II PDF reprint ed Washington DC Office of Air Force History ISBN 0 405 12194 6 LCCN 70605402 OCLC 72556 Ravenstein Charles A 1984 Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947 1977 Maxwell AFB Alabama Office of Air Force History ISBN 0 912799 12 9 Shaw Frederick J 2004 Locating Air Force Base Sites History s Legacy Air Force History and Museums Program United States Air Force Washington DC 2004 World War II airfields database Florida AFHRA search Keystone Army AirfieldExternal links edit Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Keystone Army Air Field amp oldid 1210415899, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
