Forgotten chapters in the rich history of Kingman, Arizona are shared through Jim Hinckley’s America. But sharing America’s story and inspiring road trips by telling people where to go is what we do with out network, and with projects such as Kingman Tours.

The story of the Kingman Army Airfield is not exactly a forgotten chapter. After all, tangible links to this history are still found at the Kingman Airport and Industrial Park. They are also found in Kingman, Yucca, and Lake Havasu. But like an old photograph that fades with the passing of time, this chapter is fast becoming a distant memory. The years have taken a toll. There are not many living witnesses to tell the story.

A Forgotten Chapter

The Kingman Army Airfield stands as a testament to the pivotal role that training bases in the desert southwest played during World War II. Established in 1942, this airfield was one of the largest aerial gunnery training bases in the United States. Thousands of gunners trained for combat in the skies over Europe and the Pacific at this base. Navigators were also schooled at the Kingman airfield.

The base along Route 66 was activated on August 4, 1942, as the Army Air Force Flexible Gunnery School at Kingman. It sprawled over 4,000 acres of the Neal Ranch and Hualapai Valley. It included a hospital, library, theater, machine shop, repair facilities, and a gunnery range.

Dawn of New Era

The first class of gunners graduated in January 1943, and the base was renamed Kingman Army Air Field. The military installation transformed Kingman, a dusty desert crossroads that seemed little changed from the territorial era.

Initially, as the base was being constructed, the Harvey House was used as the headquarters. The Transcontinental Air Transport airfield established by Charles Lindbergh in the late 1920s was used for training. Troops poured in by rail and soon there were almost as many soldiers as there were residents.

One of the most contentious issues to arise from the bases development was the African American troops. Kingman was a sundown town and only one motel, the White Rock Court, was listed in the Negro Motorist Green Book. Military needs trumped tradition and deeply rooted prejudices. A “colored” USO club was established along Route 66 at the corner of Second and Front Street.

Aresnal of Democracy

The training at Kingman was rigorous and comprehensive. Gunnery cadets began with an intense schedule of classroom instruction. Classes included lgun installation and familiarisation, aircraft recognition, and aerial tactics. They then progressed to hands-on training.

They started with BB guns and stationary targets. Next came shotguns for skeet shooting. This was followed by actual .30-caliber and .50-caliber machine guns used on the gunenry range against moving targets. The goal was to make each student proficient in all gunner positions aboard the B-17 Flying Fortress, a bomber that would become legendary for its durability and firepower.

A Small Town in A Small Town

But Kingman Army Airfield wasn’t just about training. The base was a community where an emphasis was placed on building morale. Bugs Bunny was made the official mascot. USO shows with entertainers like Bob Hope and the Three Stooge were regular programs. The famous “Memphis Belle” B-17 flew into Kingman for a visit with the crew. The crew also particiapted in a Kingman bond drive, and spoke at the local high school.

As the war drew to a close, the airfield’s mission shifted from training to reclamation. After cessation of hostilities i was designated a storage depot. An Arizona Highways magazine article published in 1948 noted that one of the world’s largest collection of military aircraft was located along Route 66 near Kingman. Within a few years he heavy bombers had been salvaged and melted into aluminum ingots.

Dawn of A New Era

This post-war period marked the beginning of a transformation for Kingman Army Airfield. It transitioned from a military installation to a public airpor. This opened new opportunities for civilian aviation and economic development.

The legacy of Kingman Army Airfield is intertwined with the histories of auxiliary airfields in the region. Most notable of these auxiliary fields was Yucca and Site Six. Yucca Army Airfield, located about 25 miles south of Kingman, served as a satellite field for gunnery training. It featured two 6,000-foot asphalt runways and a range of support buildings. Several years after the war this base was declared surplus. It was sold to Ford Motor Company and transformed into a proving grunds for new cars and trucks.

Site Six, now the island in Lake Havasu City, was originally a dirt runway built in 1942 for emergency landings. It evolved into a subbase with barracks, a mess hall, and officers’ quarters. It served as a practice range for Kingman’s gunnery school and as a recreational site for military personnel. After the war, the site was closed.

Resulting from a land ownership dispute, the property was sold. It was then transformed into a fly in fishing resort that is considered to be the cornerstone for Lake Havasu City. And as a bit of trivia, an epsiode of the television program Route 66 was filmed at this resort.

Reflection

Today, these airfields remind us of the sacrifices and contributions of the Greatest Generation. They stand as monuments to the past, while continuing to serve the present and inspire the future. The Kingman Army Airfield, along with its auxiliary fields in Yucca and Site Six, represents a chapter of history that is rich with stories of courage, innovation, and transition from wartime to peacetime pursuits.