Arnold Field (Tennessee)
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| Arnold Field | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| IATA: none – ICAO: none – FAA: M31 | |||
| Summary | |||
| Airport type | Public | ||
| Owner | Town of Halls | ||
| Serves | Halls, Tennessee | ||
| Elevation AMSL | 292 ft / 89 m | ||
| Runways | |||
| Direction | Length | Surface | |
| ft | m | ||
| 18/36 | 4,700 | 1,433 | Concrete |
| Statistics (1996) | |||
| Aircraft operations | 7,290 | ||
| Source: Federal Aviation Administration[1] | |||
Arnold Field (FAA LID: M31) is a municipal public-use airport located two miles (3 km) northwest of the central business district of Halls, a town in Lauderdale County, Tennessee, United States.[1] The airport is named for a former Mayor, Sammie Arnold
The airport is operated on the grounds of the former Dyersburg Army Air Base. In the 1940s the Dyersburg Army Air Base was a training facility for World War II B-17 Flying Fortress bomber pilots and crews.
In 2007, Arnold Field is home to 15 general purpose aircraft and the Veterans' Museum.
Contents |
[edit] History of the Dyersburg Army Air Base
[edit] Construction begins 1942
The Dyersburg Army Air Base (DAAB), promoted by Congressman Jere Cooper and solicited by local officials of Dyersburg in 1941, was actually located near the edge of Halls, Tennessee since an Army study indicated that the Lauderdale County site was better suited for the base. Construction begun in March of 1942 on "what was to become one of the largest combat crew training schools built during the early war years."[2]
The Base was the largest combat crew training school built during the early war years. It was the only B-17 training base east of the Mississippi River. The base was located on 2,541 acres (10.28 km2), not including the practice range. Approximately 770 crewmen received their last phase training at DAAB. 114 crewmen lost their lives.
[edit] Life on the base
Three concrete runways, a hospital, libraries, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, and a 600 seat movie theatre were hurriedly built on the former crop fields.
Although barracks were moved from other sites and many built for the soldiers, very little housing was available for families. Citizens in Brownsville, Ripley, Halls and Dyersburg made room for the influx of wives, mothers and children who wanted to spend a short time with their soldiers before they went to combat. Attics, garages, and closets were transformed into sleeping areas.
President Harry Truman visited the base during the war as did Roy Acuff and Governor Jim McCord.[2]
[edit] Deactivation of the base 1946
In 1946, with World War II over, the DAAB was deactivated, and the base was hastily dismantled, land was sold, and barracks and guard shacks were moved to private property. The former morgue was moved and became a two bedroom residence later occupied by a mayor of Halls. The Army left as quickly as it arrived. Today, the only evidence of the base's location is the configuration of crumbling runways, a Norden bombsight storage building, one hangar out of the original five, tall chimneys where the theatre and other sites were located, and a 95 acres (.38 km2) apron.
To quote Lt. Colonel Robert Little (Ret.), "Our job was to give about one hundred more hours of flying — we would give them instrument flying, a lot of take offs and landings, some formations, and a little bit of navigation — to men coming from camps like Roswell, New Mexico, and a transition school for B17s."[3]
Remaining on the site are chimneys and concrete foundations, two buildings, Norden Bombsite, Storage Vaults, one hangar and pocked runways.
[edit] Veterans' Museum
[edit] Foundation and purpose
The Veterans' Museum, located on the site of the former air base, was built in 1997. It is owned and operated by The Dyersburg Army Air Base Memorial Association, a non-profit organization.
The purpose of the museum is the preservation and documentation of materials related to military activities from World War I to the Iraq war, as well as documenting the history of the air base itself.
RV parking is available at no charge and admittance to the museum is is free.
[edit] Exhibits
The exhibits of the Veterans' Museum stem mostly from donations by organizations and individuals.
Outbuildings include a hangar, barracks, and various annexes. Outside exhibits of the museum are a A-7 Corsair II and military vehicles.
The 8,900 sq. ft. (827 m2) indoor exhibition displays items ranging from military vehicle displays and uniforms to photographs, personal and official letters, diaries, technical publications, divisional histories, videos and other military memorabilia.
Murals painted by Ernie Berke and Photographs of 72 crews are also displayed.
Special exhibits:
- World War I - A complete uniform and field gear of local resident C.C Sumrow is from the collection of Tommy Simmons.
- Memphis Belle Exhibit - The exhibit tells the story of the Memphis Belle, its crew, postwar history of the Belle, and a look at the Altus Crew who flew it to Memphis, Tennessee in 1946.
- Home Front Exhibit - Pictures and uniforms of area veterans who served are on display. Also included in this exhibit are pictures of weddings where local ladies married soldiers in training at the Base.
- At Home Exhibit - A living room looking like "at home" during the 1940s is shown. From the radio and the coal stove, to the buffet and other items, it provides a real look at rural homes.
[edit] Air shows
In irregular intervals, the museum organizes and houses air shows on Arnold Field.
[edit] Other facilities
The museum houses conference facilities for up to 35 people and the Sammie Arnold Lending Library, with books covering the topics documented in the museum.
[edit] Facilities and aircraft
Arnold Field covers an area of 29 acres (12 ha) which contains one concrete paved runway (18/36) measuring 4,700 x 75 ft. (1,433 x 23 m). For the 12-month period ending December 3, 1996, the airport had 7,290 aircraft operations, an average of 19 per day: 99% general aviation and 1% military.[1]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c FAA Airport Master Record for M31 (Form 5010 PDF), effective 2007-12-20
- ^ a b Fulbright, Jim, "The Aviation History of Tennessee", Bicentennial Production of the Tennessee Department of Transportation, Aeronautics Division, page 80
- ^ Toplovich, Ann, "The Tennessean's War: Life on the Home Front", Tennessee Historical Quarterly, Spring 1992, Page 23
[edit] External links
- Airport page at Town of Halls web site
- Veterans' Museum website
- Resources for this airport:
- AirNav airport information for M31
- FlightAware airport information and live flight tracker
- SkyVector aeronautical chart for M31
