Rice Army Air Field: Difference between revisions
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'''{{PAGENAME}}''' (1942-1944) - A [[World War II]] U.S. Army Air Field established in 1942 near Rice, San Bernardino County, California. Named [[Rice Army Air Field]] after the nearby hamlet of Rice. Closed toward the end of WWII in 1944. | '''{{PAGENAME}}''' (1942-1944) - A [[World War II]] U.S. Army Air Field established in 1942 near Rice, San Bernardino County, California. Named [[Rice Army Air Field]] after the nearby hamlet of Rice. Closed toward the end of WWII in 1944. | ||
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|width="50%"|[[Image:.jpg|350px|thumb|left|Rice Army Air Field]] | |width="50%"|<!--[[Image:.jpg|350px|thumb|left|Rice Army Air Field]]--> | ||
|width="50%"|[[Image:.jpg|350px|thumb|right|Rice Army Air Field]] | |width="50%"|<!--[[Image:.jpg|350px|thumb|right|Rice Army Air Field]]--> | ||
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|colspan="2"|[[ | |colspan="2"|[[File:Rice AAF 1942.jpeg|795px|thumb|center|Rice Army Air Field Plan 1942.]] | ||
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== History == | == History == | ||
Rice Army Air Field was used to train pilots and crews of aircraft whose mission | Rice Army Air Field was used to train pilots and crews of aircraft whose mission was to support ground troops and to familiarize those ground troops with air operations. | ||
The airfield consisted of two paved 5,000' runways and numerous dispersal pads extending off the runways to the south. The two runways were connected at the south end and extended to the northeast and northwest at a 90 degree angle to each other forming a "V", each runway was 150' wide. | The airfield consisted of two paved 5,000' runways and numerous dispersal pads extending off the runways to the south. The two runways were connected at the south end and extended to the northeast and northwest at a 90-degree angle to each other forming a "V", each runway was 150' wide. | ||
In order to house the more than 3,000 men at the airfield, the Army constructed temporary barracks, recreation and mess halls, | In order to house the more than 3,000 men at the airfield, the Army constructed temporary barracks, recreation and mess halls, powerhouses, hangars, and dormitories at the north end of the airfield. By 1943, 4,000 men were reportedly stationed there. | ||
Unlike the DTC/C-AMA camps with their tent structures the airfield had more substantial but still temporary buildings and some of the concrete pads for these | Unlike the DTC/C-AMA camps with their tent structures, the airfield had more substantial but still, temporary buildings, and some of the concrete pads for these structures are still visible. Specific buildings included the Base headquarters, Airfield Operations Building, Mess hall, Lavatories, 700 Series buildings as barracks, Shower buildings, Storehouses, Officer’s lavatory, and shower building and a Power/pump house. | ||
By 1944, the airfield was assigned to [[March Army Air Field]] as a | By 1944, the airfield was assigned to [[March Army Air Field]] as a sub base. Operations at Rice Field ended on 2 Aug 1944 and the field was declared surplus on 31 Oct 1944. | ||
== Current Status == | == Current Status == | ||
Abandoned. | Abandoned, foundational remains only. | ||
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'''Links:''' | '''Links:''' | ||
* [https://www.militarymuseum.org/RiceAAF.html Historic California Posts, Camps, Stations and Airfields:Rice Army Air Field] | * [https://www.militarymuseum.org/RiceAAF.html Historic California Posts, Camps, Stations, and Airfields:Rice Army Air Field] | ||
* [https://en.wikipedia.org Wikipedia - Rice Army Air Field] | * [https://en.wikipedia.org Wikipedia - Rice Army Air Field] | ||
* [https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/AAF/VI/AAF-VI-4.html The Army Air Forces in World War II, Part 6, men and Planes, Chapter 4.] | * [https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/AAF/VI/AAF-VI-4.html The Army Air Forces in World War II, Part 6, men and Planes, Chapter 4.] | ||
Revision as of 16:58, 11 January 2023
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HistoryRice Army Air Field was used to train pilots and crews of aircraft whose mission was to support ground troops and to familiarize those ground troops with air operations. The airfield consisted of two paved 5,000' runways and numerous dispersal pads extending off the runways to the south. The two runways were connected at the south end and extended to the northeast and northwest at a 90-degree angle to each other forming a "V", each runway was 150' wide. In order to house the more than 3,000 men at the airfield, the Army constructed temporary barracks, recreation and mess halls, powerhouses, hangars, and dormitories at the north end of the airfield. By 1943, 4,000 men were reportedly stationed there. Unlike the DTC/C-AMA camps with their tent structures, the airfield had more substantial but still, temporary buildings, and some of the concrete pads for these structures are still visible. Specific buildings included the Base headquarters, Airfield Operations Building, Mess hall, Lavatories, 700 Series buildings as barracks, Shower buildings, Storehouses, Officer’s lavatory, and shower building and a Power/pump house.
Current StatusAbandoned, foundational remains only.
See Also: Sources:
Links:
Fortification ID:
Visited: 27 Nov 2022
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