Charlotte County Airport - Punta Gorda Army Air Field
Planning by government officials for Punta Gorda Army Air Field began in 1941 for a combat pilot training field, and by 1944, reached its peak in housing 1,000 persons, including two squadrons of student pilots.
The base had forty Curtis P-40 "Warhawk" aircraft and later changed to North-American P-51 "Mustang" aircraft which were a part of the 3rd Air Force, 3rd Fighter Command at Drew Field (Now Tampa International Airport). The Base also had C-45 and C-47 transports. The C-45 and C-47 transport aircraft were assigned to the then Punta Gorda Army Air Field.
The Curtis P-40 "Warhawk" and the North-American P-51 "Mustang" were assigned as part of the final flight training for pilots who were soon sent overseas to fight the war in these famed aircraft.
All base officers and some upper NCO's lived in Punta Gorda while all student officers and most enlisted men lived in tent structures. Buildings included operation headquarters, classrooms, supply, fire station, dispensary, chapel and the control tower. The base had nose hangars, where just the nose of the plane was under shelter for repairs.
The Army airfield closed shortly after WWII and reverted to the Country's jurisdiction.
Planning by government officials for Punta Gorda Army Air Field began in 1941 for a combat pilot training field, and by 1944, reached its peak in housing 1,000 persons, including two squadrons of student pilots.
The base had forty Curtis P-40 "Warhawk" aircraft and later changed to North-American P-51 "Mustang" aircraft which were a part of the 3rd Air Force, 3rd Fighter Command at Drew Field (Now Tampa International Airport). The Base also had C-45 and C-47 transports. The C-45 and C-47 transport aircraft were assigned to the then Punta Gorda Army Air Field.
The Curtis P-40 "Warhawk" and the North-American P-51 "Mustang" were assigned as part of the final flight training for pilots who were soon sent overseas to fight the war in these famed aircraft.
All base officers and some upper NCO's lived in Punta Gorda while all student officers and most enlisted men lived in tent structures. Buildings included operation headquarters, classrooms, supply, fire station, dispensary, chapel and the control tower. The base had nose hangars, where just the nose of the plane was under shelter for repairs.
The Army airfield closed shortly after WWII and reverted to the Country's jurisdiction.
