You might be surprised to learn that Alaska was quite active during World War 2. In fact, the list of airfields built in Alaska during the war years is quite an impressive one. Well, at Aces High we aren’t surprised because World War II is our life and we devour this information so we can make Aces High the best combat flight simulator on the market.
Since much of the European Theater was fought in mountainous terrain with cold temperatures, Alaska was the perfect location for training flight crews and pilots. The colder temperatures allowed for training to occur in simulated conditions so that gear and equipment could be tested before being used in actual combat.
Here, then, is a partial list of the airfields built in Alaska from 1941-1945 and what they are used for today.
- Akak Army Airfield; now Naval Air Station Adak
- Amchitka Army Airfield; now Amchitka Air Force Bace, currently abandoned.
- Alexai Point Army Airfield; now closed and abandoned.
- Casco Cove Coast Guard Station; now the same.
- Annette Island Army Airfield; now Annette Island Airport
- Todd Army Airfield; now Bethel Airport
- Big Delta Army Airfield; now Fort Greely
- Cordova Airport; now Cordova Municipal Airport
- Gakona Landing Strip; now part of Alaska Highway 1.
- Galena Airport; now part of the Alaskan Air Command
- Gambell Army Airfield; now Gambell Airport
- Juneau Airport; now the same
- Kiska Island AAF; now closed.
- Ladd Army Airfield; now part of Alaskan Air Command
This is just a partial list; we will complete the list next week as we continue this series. What perhaps is the most interesting fact about the airfields built in Alaska is that a fairly high proportion of them are no longer in use. That is highly unusual as we tour the airfields built during WW2. We have spoken earlier about the fact that the investment made during the 40’s has paid back many times over because most of these airfields are being used for civilian use today. Not so in Alaska! Perhaps because of the brutal weather or the remote location, but whatever the reason many of these airstrips are no longer in use.
Whatever the reason, the point still remains that a massive civilian and military effort was made in Alaska to prepare pilots and flight crews for the war.
We hope you are enjoying this series about airfields. Every bit of information that we can gather helps us to make Aces High that much better of a flight sim game. Our goal, after all, is to make the best World War 2 Flight Simulator on the market.
Welcome to summer! What better way to spend your summer vacation than playing Aces High, the best darn combat flight simulator on the market? And you might as well sign up for our Special Events so you can take on the best of the world in head-to-head competition.
Today, June 19th, we have another AHXARL, or Aces High XTreme Air Racing League and then tomorrow, the 20th, we will be having another Snapshot event. Read about them, sign up and then strap on your helmet and fly the online skies with Aces High.
In our continuing series about airfields that were built during World War 2, today we at HiTech Creations, makers of Aces High, will be taking a look at the State of Ohio! We do this because as the makers of the number one World War 2 Flight Simulator we are interested in all things involving World War II. By adding to our knowledge we are able to make our game more realistic with each new version. When we do that we make Aces High the most exciting flight sim game on the market. We have been at the top for thirteen years now so what we are doing must be working.
Without further delay, here are the airfields that were built in Ohio after the onset of the war.l
- Bricker APT; now Wood Country Airport
- Lockbourne AAB; now Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base and Rickenbacker International Airport
- Eastern Flight Training Center; now Kenton County Airport
- Eastern Flight Training Center; now Cincinnati International Airport
- Lunken APT; now Cincinnati Municipal Lunken Airpot
- Cleveland MAP; now Cleveland Hopkins International Airport
- Patterson Field AAF; now Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
- Dayton AAF; now Dayton International Airport
- Clinton County AAF; now Airborne Airpark
All across the nation, after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, states sprang into action, hastily building airfields and constructing buildings to house the flight crews who would be in training. This was a massive effort that spanned our nation and it is remarkable how much was accomplished in such a short period of time. Within one year of Pearl Harbor most airfields had been constructed and were operational and within two years the nation’s defense contracts were the number one industry in the country and third largest in the world. That, my friends, is Yankee ingenuity at its best.
At each of these airfields flight crews and pilots were trained quickly and efficiently and then sent off to Europe and the Pacific to do battle for our country.
And here we are, seventy years later, writing about that massive effort and doing everything in our power to make the most life-like flight sim game that we can. We know that combat flight simulator players expect thrills. They expect tough decisions and they expect their aircraft and ground vehicles to have accurate skins and appearance. That’s what we give them here at Aces High and that’s why they keep coming back year after year.
Strap on your helmet and fly the skies of Aces High.
As another weekend approaches we find two more Special Events that are a must if you are serious about Aces High. Any flight sim player worth their salt would want to take on the best players in the world and that’s what the Special Events are all about.
On the 15th we have an FSO, Frame 3, and on the 16th we have the ever-popular Saturday King Of The Hill. Sign up alone or with your friends but don’t miss the action and challenge of taking on the best combat flight sim players. You won’t be disappointed.
What would a week at Aces High be if there wasn’t a full schedule of Special Events? Take a look at these two and then sign up now so you can compete against the best combat flight sim players in the world.
Today, the 12th, we have an AHXARL going on. That’s an Aces High Xtreme Air Racing League to the un-initiated and you won’t want to miss it. On the 13th we are having another Snapshot being offered.
Sign up alone or get a group of friends and form a squadron. You really need to partake in these special events to get the full experience of Aces High.