Cut Bank Army Airfield

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Cut Bank Army Airfield (1942-1943) - A World War II era U.S. Army Airfield established in 1942 near Cut Bank, Glacier County, Montana. Named Cut Bank Army Airfield after the location. Deactivated in 1943 and returned to civil control in 1948.

Cut Bank Army Airfield - October 1942

In early 1941 the city of Cut Bank and Glacier County established a municipal airport at Cut Bank and by 1 Jun 1941, Western Airlines had established commercial service at the airport.

World War II

With the declaration of war in December 1941 the airfield was offered to the government and in June 1942 plans were implemented for the construction of the Cut Bank Army Airfield. The new airfield was activated on 11 Nov 1942. Commercial air service continued through the war years.

The new Cut Bank Army Airfield was used by the Second Air Force as an auxiliary heavy bomber training airfield under the Great Falls Army Airfield. Several squadrons trained at Cut Bank in B-17 Flying Fortresses. Known squadrons were:

WWII Cut Bank Training Squadrons
Group Squadron Dates Location State Notes
2nd BG 429th BS Nov 42 to Mar 43 Cut Bank MT
385th BG 550th BS Mar 43 to Jun 43 Cut Bank MT
390th BG 569th BS Jun 43 to Jul 43 Cut Bank MT
401st BG 613th BS Jul 43 to Oct 43 Cut Bank MT

Post WWII

The airport remained leased to the U.S. government until 1 Jul 1948 when the lease was terminated and additional land was purchased for runway extensions. The remaining government buildings, equipment, and tools were deeded to the City of Cut Bank and Glacier County.

Cold War

During the Cold War, Cut Bank saw use as an interceptor base, part of Air Defense Command.

Current Status

Now Cut Bank Municipal Airport. The airfield was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008. The listing included eight contributing buildings, 27 contributing structures, and four contributing sites on 1,460 acres.


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Location: Near Cut Bank in Glacier County, Montana.

Maps & Images

Lat: 48.608333 Long: -112.376111


GPS Locations:

See Also:

Sources:

  • US Army Owned, Sponsored and Leased Facilities Report, AMD-1, Office of the Chief of Engineers, 31 Dec 1945, CDSG Pdf
  • Shaw, Frederick J. Ed., Locating Air Force Base Sites: History's Legacy, updated 2014, Air Force History and Museums Program, USAF, Washington DC, 2004, 268 pages

Links:

Fortification ID:

  • MT0048 - Cut Bank Army Airfield

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