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Aiken Army Airfield

Aiken Air Force Station
Airdefensecommand-logo.jpg
Aiken Army Air Field
Part of Air Defense Command (ADC)
Aiken Air Force Station - SC - 1964.jpg
1964 USAF Photo
Aiken AFS is located in South Carolina
Aiken AFS
Aiken AFS
Coordinates 33°38′46″N 081°40′36″W / 33.64611°N 81.67667°W / 33.64611; -81.67667 (Aiken AFS SM-159)Coordinates: 33°38′46″N 081°40′36″W / 33.64611°N 81.67667°W / 33.64611; -81.67667 (Aiken AFS SM-159)
Type Air Force Station
Code ADC ID: SM-159, NORAD ID: Z-159
Site information
Controlled by  United States Air Force
Site history
Built 1955
In use 1955-1975
Garrison information
Garrison 861st Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron

Aiken Air Force Station is a closed United States Air Force General Surveillance Radar station. It is located 6.4 miles (10.3 km) north-northeast of Aiken, South Carolina. It was closed in 1975.

During World War II, the site was originally constructed by the United States Army Air Forces as Aiken Army Air Field.

The facility was originally constructed during World War II by the United States Army Air Forces and named Aiken Army Air Field. The airfield was constructed with three 5'000 foot bituminous runways in an "A" pattern. No known auxiliary airfields were constructed. The airfield and station opened on 24 December 1942 as a satellite airfield of Morris Army Airfield, North Carolina.

On 23 June 1943 the airfield was formally activated and the 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Group arrived. Two subordinate units, the 97th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron and 19th Liaison Squadron arrived the previous day. The 118th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron replaced the 97th on 29 August 1943. The Warner Robins Air Service Command (WRASC) established a service group training center at the field in the fall of 1943. The training was conducted under the auspices of the 387th Air Service Group, Daniel Field, Georgia.

In May 1944 the 359th Army Air Force Base Unit was assigned host unit. It was assigned to Third Air Force, III Tactical Air Command 13 September 1944 as a group training airfield for reconnaissance units. The airfield became a replacement training airfield for single-engine fighter pilots, training on P-40 Warhawk and P-51 Mustang aircraft, beginning on 19 October 1944. Active flying at the airfield ended on 28 February 1945, and jurisdiction of the base was transferred from Third Air Force to Air Technical Service Command for disposition on 31 March 1945.


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