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Thomasville Regional Airport

January 01, 1970

Thomasville Regional Airport (IATA: TVI, ICAO: KTVI, FAA LID: TVI) is a city-owned, public-use airport located six nautical miles (7 mi, 11 km) northeast of the central business district of Thomasville, a city in Thomas County, Georgia, United States.[1] It is included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015, which categorized it as a general aviation facility.[2] The airport does not have scheduled commercial airline service.

Thomasville Regional Airport

Thomasville Army Airfield
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerCity of Thomasville
ServesThomasville, Georgia
Elevation AMSL264 ft / 80 m
Coordinates30°54′06″N 083°52′52″W / 30.90167°N 83.88111°W / 30.90167; -83.88111
Map
TVI
Location of airport in Georgia
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
4/22 6,004 1,830 Asphalt
14/32 4,999 1,524 Asphalt
Statistics (2021)
Aircraft operations12,500
Based aircraft46

History edit

During World War II, Thomasville Army Airfield was a United States Army Air Forces Third Air Force training base for reconnaissance and later fighter pilots.

In 1941, civic leaders applied to the Civil Aeronautics Administration to build a modern airport. A site was selected 8.5 miles ENE of the city. After the City and the County purchased 903 acres, the CAA awarded a $316,000 contract for the construction of two 4,000-foot (1,200 m) runways, fences, lighting, and a hangar. By the time the contract had been completed in September 1942, the City and County had leased the airport to the United States Army Air Forces for $1 per year for the duration of the war.

The Army planned to utilize Thomasville as a sub-base of Dale Mabry Army Airfield, Tallahassee, Florida for Third Air Force dive-bomber operational training. Work continued on extending the runways to 5,000 ft., and adding an apron, taxiways, and hardstands. The AAF purchased an additional 152.5 acres for the cantonment area. Eleven Civilian Conservation Corps buildings were moved from Halo, Florida and erected as the initial barracks and mess hall. Forty additional buildings were constructed to provide accommodations for 340 officers and 1000 men. Essentially, the buildings were shacks with 30# tarpaper on the exterior walls and 90# tarpaper on the roof. The structures had neither central heat nor indoor plumbing, requiring the use of potbellied stoves and outdoor latrines. A 50-man unit arrived from Dale Mabry on December 2, 1942, to guard the rising base.

World War II edit

 
Thomasville Army Airfield in 1943

The Army activated Thomasville Army Airfield on March 1, 1943. Shortly thereafter, the 59th Reconnaissance Group, consisting of the 9th, 104th, 119th, and 126th Reconnaissance Squadrons (Fighter) arrived from Fort Myers Army Airfield, Florida with P-39 Airacobras. The mission of the 59th RG was the training of replacement pilots. In actuality, only two of the squadrons were fully manned. Two of the squadrons were squadrons in name only as they had a strength of one man. In August, the 59th was redesignated as the 59th Fighter Group. In turn, the 9th, 104th, and 119th Squadrons became the 488th, 489th, and the 490th Fighter Squadrons. The 126th was redesignated as the 34th Reconnaissance Squadron and transferred to Peterson Army Air Field, Colorado Springs, Colorado. These changes were administrative in nature and the overall manning of the base remained as before.

On September 26, 1943, the base had an "Open House" attended by an estimated 25,000 people. Due to the distance from town, a local bus line provided scheduled service to the base. "Air Puffs" was the base newspaper. In the autumn of the year, additional construction took place at the area commonly referred to as, "Up on the Hill." This wooded area had been used for hunting by some of the men. The new construction provided headquarters, a mess hall, and barracks for the Base Detachment, which operated and maintained the base. The guard squadron, that had been living in tents, received new barracks as well. In November, the last squadron of the 59th FG, the 447th, formed.

On May 1, 1944, the Army redesignated the 59th Fighter Group as the Thomasville Replacement Training Unit. Support organizations included the 1333rd Guard Sq and 493rd Sub Depot. The same month, the P-39s were replaced by P-40 Warhawks. During mid-1944, a $52,000 project provided some additional buildings. Eventually, Thomasville had 128 buildings plus three hangars. Bombing, skip bombing, and strafing took place on a 6,900-acre leased range, 28 miles ESE near Quitman, Georgia.

In May 1945, all these units were replaced by the 339th AAF Base Unit (Combat Crew Training School, Fighter) which flew the P-51 Mustang, replacing the P-40s. On August 1, the Army held another "Open House" on the base. With the end of the war, Thomasville closed on September 30, 1945.

Thomasville Regional Airport edit

The former base was used for various purposes after the war including a technical college. The runways were used for drag racing and the "Up on the Hill" area became the local "lover's lane."

Very little evidence of the Army remains. Tucked away in a remote part of the airport can be found a taxiway with the base's former bore sighting range and revetment. Still in evidence is a small pit on the range's taxiway for a P-39's nose gear. The pit has a sloped entry that lowered the P-39's nose to allow the bore sighting of the guns. Taildraggers such as the P-40 and P-51 had to have the tail jacked up to bring the guns to bear. The original Army light beacon was also in evidence in 2004.

Facilities and aircraft edit

Thomasville Regional Airport covers an area of 1,301 acres (526 ha) at an elevation of 264 feet (80 m) above mean sea level. It has two asphalt paved runways: 4/22 is 6,004 by 101 feet (1,830 × 31 m) and 14/32 is 4,999 by 100 feet (1,524 × 30 m).[1]

For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2021, the airport had 12,500 aircraft operations, an average of 34 per day: 99% general aviation and 2% military. At that time there were 46 aircraft based at this airport: 30 single-engine, 4 multi-engine, 9 jet, and 3 glider.[1]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d FAA Airport Form 5010 for TVI PDF. Federal Aviation Administration. Effective October 5, 2023.
  2. ^ "Appendix A: List of NPIAS Airports with 5-Year Forecast Activity and Development Cost". . Federal Aviation Administration. October 4, 2010. Archived from the original on 2012-10-27.
  •   This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
  • Shettle, M. L. (2005), Georgia's Army Airfields of World War II. ISBN 0-9643388-3-1
  • Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-89201-092-4.
  • Maurer, Maurer (1969), Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II, Air Force Historical Studies Office, Maxwell AFB, Alabama. ISBN 0-89201-097-5

External links edit

  • Aerial image as of February 2000 from USGS The National Map
  • FAA Terminal Procedures for TVI, effective May 16, 2024
  • Resources for this airport:
    • FAA airport information for TVI
    • AirNav airport information for KTVI
    • ASN accident history for TVI
    • FlightAware airport information and live flight tracker
    • NOAA/NWS weather observations: current, past three days
    • SkyVector aeronautical chart, Terminal Procedures


January 01, 1970
thomasville, regional, airport, iata, icao, ktvi, city, owned, public, airport, located, nautical, miles, northeast, central, business, district, thomasville, city, thomas, county, georgia, united, states, included, national, plan, integrated, airport, systems. Thomasville Regional Airport IATA TVI ICAO KTVI FAA LID TVI is a city owned public use airport located six nautical miles 7 mi 11 km northeast of the central business district of Thomasville a city in Thomas County Georgia United States 1 It is included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011 2015 which categorized it as a general aviation facility 2 The airport does not have scheduled commercial airline service Thomasville Regional AirportThomasville Army AirfieldUSGS 2006 orthophotoIATA TVIICAO KTVIFAA LID TVISummaryAirport typePublicOwnerCity of ThomasvilleServesThomasville GeorgiaElevation AMSL264 ft 80 mCoordinates30 54 06 N 083 52 52 W 30 90167 N 83 88111 W 30 90167 83 88111MapTVILocation of airport in GeorgiaRunwaysDirection Length Surface ft m 4 22 6 004 1 830 Asphalt 14 32 4 999 1 524 AsphaltStatistics 2021 Aircraft operations12 500Based aircraft46Source Federal Aviation Administration 1 Contents 1 History 1 1 World War II 1 2 Thomasville Regional Airport 2 Facilities and aircraft 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory editDuring World War II Thomasville Army Airfield was a United States Army Air Forces Third Air Force training base for reconnaissance and later fighter pilots In 1941 civic leaders applied to the Civil Aeronautics Administration to build a modern airport A site was selected 8 5 miles ENE of the city After the City and the County purchased 903 acres the CAA awarded a 316 000 contract for the construction of two 4 000 foot 1 200 m runways fences lighting and a hangar By the time the contract had been completed in September 1942 the City and County had leased the airport to the United States Army Air Forces for 1 per year for the duration of the war The Army planned to utilize Thomasville as a sub base of Dale Mabry Army Airfield Tallahassee Florida for Third Air Force dive bomber operational training Work continued on extending the runways to 5 000 ft and adding an apron taxiways and hardstands The AAF purchased an additional 152 5 acres for the cantonment area Eleven Civilian Conservation Corps buildings were moved from Halo Florida and erected as the initial barracks and mess hall Forty additional buildings were constructed to provide accommodations for 340 officers and 1000 men Essentially the buildings were shacks with 30 tarpaper on the exterior walls and 90 tarpaper on the roof The structures had neither central heat nor indoor plumbing requiring the use of potbellied stoves and outdoor latrines A 50 man unit arrived from Dale Mabry on December 2 1942 to guard the rising base World War II edit nbsp Thomasville Army Airfield in 1943 The Army activated Thomasville Army Airfield on March 1 1943 Shortly thereafter the 59th Reconnaissance Group consisting of the 9th 104th 119th and 126th Reconnaissance Squadrons Fighter arrived from Fort Myers Army Airfield Florida with P 39 Airacobras The mission of the 59th RG was the training of replacement pilots In actuality only two of the squadrons were fully manned Two of the squadrons were squadrons in name only as they had a strength of one man In August the 59th was redesignated as the 59th Fighter Group In turn the 9th 104th and 119th Squadrons became the 488th 489th and the 490th Fighter Squadrons The 126th was redesignated as the 34th Reconnaissance Squadron and transferred to Peterson Army Air Field Colorado Springs Colorado These changes were administrative in nature and the overall manning of the base remained as before On September 26 1943 the base had an Open House attended by an estimated 25 000 people Due to the distance from town a local bus line provided scheduled service to the base Air Puffs was the base newspaper In the autumn of the year additional construction took place at the area commonly referred to as Up on the Hill This wooded area had been used for hunting by some of the men The new construction provided headquarters a mess hall and barracks for the Base Detachment which operated and maintained the base The guard squadron that had been living in tents received new barracks as well In November the last squadron of the 59th FG the 447th formed On May 1 1944 the Army redesignated the 59th Fighter Group as the Thomasville Replacement Training Unit Support organizations included the 1333rd Guard Sq and 493rd Sub Depot The same month the P 39s were replaced by P 40 Warhawks During mid 1944 a 52 000 project provided some additional buildings Eventually Thomasville had 128 buildings plus three hangars Bombing skip bombing and strafing took place on a 6 900 acre leased range 28 miles ESE near Quitman Georgia In May 1945 all these units were replaced by the 339th AAF Base Unit Combat Crew Training School Fighter which flew the P 51 Mustang replacing the P 40s On August 1 the Army held another Open House on the base With the end of the war Thomasville closed on September 30 1945 Thomasville Regional Airport edit The former base was used for various purposes after the war including a technical college The runways were used for drag racing and the Up on the Hill area became the local lover s lane Very little evidence of the Army remains Tucked away in a remote part of the airport can be found a taxiway with the base s former bore sighting range and revetment Still in evidence is a small pit on the range s taxiway for a P 39 s nose gear The pit has a sloped entry that lowered the P 39 s nose to allow the bore sighting of the guns Taildraggers such as the P 40 and P 51 had to have the tail jacked up to bring the guns to bear The original Army light beacon was also in evidence in 2004 Facilities and aircraft editThomasville Regional Airport covers an area of 1 301 acres 526 ha at an elevation of 264 feet 80 m above mean sea level It has two asphalt paved runways 4 22 is 6 004 by 101 feet 1 830 31 m and 14 32 is 4 999 by 100 feet 1 524 30 m 1 For the 12 month period ending December 31 2021 the airport had 12 500 aircraft operations an average of 34 per day 99 general aviation and 2 military At that time there were 46 aircraft based at this airport 30 single engine 4 multi engine 9 jet and 3 glider 1 See also editGeorgia World War II Army Airfields List of airports in Georgia U S state References edit a b c d FAA Airport Form 5010 for TVI PDF Federal Aviation Administration Effective October 5 2023 Appendix A List of NPIAS Airports with 5 Year Forecast Activity and Development Cost National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems NPIAS Reports Federal Aviation Administration October 4 2010 Archived from the original on 2012 10 27 nbsp This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency Shettle M L 2005 Georgia s Army Airfields of World War II ISBN 0 9643388 3 1 Maurer Maurer 1983 Air Force Combat Units Of World War II Maxwell AFB Alabama Office of Air Force History ISBN 0 89201 092 4 Maurer Maurer 1969 Combat Squadrons of the Air Force World War II Air Force Historical Studies Office Maxwell AFB Alabama ISBN 0 89201 097 5External links editAerial image as of February 2000 from USGS The National Map FAA Terminal Procedures for TVI effective May 16 2024 Resources for this airport FAA airport information for TVI AirNav airport information for KTVI ASN accident history for TVI FlightAware airport information and live flight tracker NOAA NWS weather observations current past three days SkyVector aeronautical chart Terminal Procedures Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thomasville Regional Airport amp oldid 1207290585, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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