Numerous units would rotate through for training sessions. During the summer of 1949, several of the former Army buildings were discovered to have been stripped of useful equipment. Harris Neck airfield closed to the public on 1 January 1942 when the Civil Air Patrol began anti-submarine flights. ***** ***** Second Lieutenant Bachhuber served with the 85th Fighter Bomber Squadron, 499th Fighter Bomber Squadron, Harris Neck Army Airfield, Georgia. Harris Neck Road, Townsend, Ga, Savannah, GA 31331. Moran suspects the community's relative prosperity didn't sit well with local whites and helped lead to the selection of Harris Neck for the airfield. of Commerce. ISBN 0-89201-092-4. The nearest town is South Newport, six miles (10 km) to the west. Wildlife Drive slices through the middle of the former airbase and from your vehicle you can see the long expanses of asphalt broken by scrub and trees. Originally named Dickinson's Neck, the peninsula was renamed when William Thomas Harris became the principal land owner in the mid 18th century. Some areas of the refuge may be closed off at certain times of the year to protect nesting birds and other wildlife. To successfully operate an airport, there must be a need. Maurer, Maurer (1983). The three 5,400-foot (1,600 m) concrete runways were laid out in a triangle that enclosed 15 revetments. The land was deeded to a former slave in 1865 by a plantation owner. Known units assigned to the airfield were: A typical complement of aircraft consisted of 32 P-40s and five BT-13s. Harris Neck is a coastal peninsula located 30 miles (48 km) south of Savannah, Georgia in McIntosh County. In October 1946, the War Assets Administration deeded the 2,687 acres (10.87 km2) of the Harris Neck airbase to McIntosh County for use as a county airport. The Army's decision to add a third runway required the acquisition of additional land. Old military airfield … In March 1944, a Noorduyn UC-64, was also assigned to the airfield. Synthetic training devices present included two Link trainers, two Gunairstructors, and one deflection gunnery trainer. Harris Neck is a coastal peninsula located 30 miles (48 km) south of Savannah, Georgia in McIntosh County. The nearest town is South Newport, six miles (10 km) to the west. It was named "Harris Neck Intermediate Field Site #8", it was an emergency airfield for commercial planes on the Richmond-Jacksonville air route. It was evidently abandoned when in 1942 the new military airfield was built a half-mile north. The Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge was formerly a largely African-American settlement taken over by the Department of Defense in 1942 for use as an airfield in World War II. Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1962 by transfer of federal lands formerly managed by the Federal Aviation Administration as a WWII Army airfield. Accommodations were eventually provided for 120 officers and 400 enlisted men. Motion pictures were shown in the post theater three nights a week. Harris Neck NWR was established in 1962 by transfer of federal lands formerly managed by the Federal Aviation Administration as a WWII Army airfield. Numerous units would rotate through for training sessions. Former residents of the displaced community and their descendants are attempting to work out a compromise with the federal government to allow them to return to their land, without significantly disrupting the wildlife refuge.[1][2]. Fighter Bomber Squadron, Harris Neck Army Airfield, Georgia. Address 5000 Wildlife Drive NE, Townsend, GA. See on map HoursThe refuge is open daily, sunrise to sunset. In 1943, Harris Neck became an auxiliary-base of Dale Mabry Field in Tallahassee and was assigned to the III Fighter Command. The 86th FBG was inactivated at Waycross AAF and The 346th Army Air Force Base Unit (Replacement Training Unit, Fighter), was activated on 1 May 1944. Shettle, M. L. (2005), Georgia's Army Airfields of World War II. Robert Wilson recalled, “I learned to fly at this airport. This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. Construction totaled eleven prefabricated buildings and included a 37×99 ft combination theater, a recreation building and chapel, a 20×100 ft combination service club and exchange, and a 20×60 ft office building. The sign at the old Harris Neck Army Airfield reads: On December 7, 1941, when Pearl Harbor was attacked and the United States was drawn into World War II, a detachment of air guardsmen from Hunter Field in Savannah took over the existing runway and support buildings at … After the war, the War Assets Administration transferred 2,686.94 acres to McIntosh County. Harris Neck Army Airfield, 32.7 miles (52.6 km) south-southwest of Savannah; 346th Army Air Force Base Unit (Replacement Training Unit, Fighter), Sub-base of: Dale Mabry Field, Florida Transferred to: United States Navy (1945) Now: Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge Third Air Force [edit | edit source] The land was expropriated and families were given two weeks to remove themselves. The property was then turned over to the US Bureau of Sport Fisheries & Wildlife (forerunner of the USFWS) in 1962. The original plan provided for two runways. Harris Neck Army Air Field. Harris Neck Army Airfield is an abandoned military airfield located in the Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge, McIntosh County, Georgia. Maurer, Maurer (1983). This abandoned airfield is located on an island along the Atlantic coast, barely a few feet above sea level. Review Highlights “Wonderful drive threw nature preserve! Harris Neck is a coastal peninsula located 30 miles (48 km) south of Savannah, Georgia in McIntosh County. Today, there is very little left to show that the area was once an airfield. Construction totaled eleven prefabricated buildings and included a 37×99 ft combination theater, a recreation building and chapel, a 20×100 ft combination service club and exchange, and a 20×60 ft office building. Harris Neck NWR was established in 1962 by transfer of federal lands formerly managed by the Federal Aviation Administration as a WWII Army airfield. The first air strip was an emergency landing field for commercial airlines built around 1930. The state turned the abandoned WWII airfield into a public wildlife refuge/park. Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. The secret history of Harris Neck is that it once belonged to a thriving community of Geechee folk descended from freed slaves until the government, passing over thousands of uninhabited acres, seized the Neck to build an Army airfield. There are three remaining brick buildings from the former airbase; all three are … Later the government decided to build the airfield near that air strip. It was restricted in its military use, as it was closed to all traffic except on prior approval. For additional information, call 912-832-4608 or visit the official website. The venture was doomed before it even started. The original Harris Neck airfield was built sometime between 1929-32. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. There is no trace of the CAA airfield existence today but its outline by property fencing on the southern boundary. It was listed as Harris Neck OLF and as a sub-base of Glynco NAS in Brunswick, Georgia. It consists of 2,762 acres (11.18 km 2) of saltwater marsh, grassland, mixed deciduous woods, and cropland located on an abandoned military airfield in McIntosh County, Georgia, north of the intersection of Route 131 and Harris Neck Airport Road, about 30 miles (48 km) southwest of Savannah, Georgia. Today, the airfield is a small but important national wildlife refuge where hawks, egrets, herons, and ducks cruise above abandoned runways. Located in McIntosh County, Georgia, the refuge serves as an important link in the chain of refuges along the Atlantic seaboard, and is the inland base for two neighboring barrier island refuges, Blackbeard Island and Wolf Island … The refuge consists of 2,762 acres (11.18 km 2) of saltwater marsh, grassland, mixed deciduous woods, and cropland. This included the 225-acre (0.91 km2) Livingston estate which included the Lorillard mansion and a deep-water dock. Harris Neck Army Air Field Harris Neck Army Airfield is an abandoned military airfield located in what is now the Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge, McIntosh County, Georgia. Save. The U.S. Government filed condemnation proceedings for tracts on the north end of Harris Neck to establish an Army Airfield. It was restricted in its military use, as it was closed to all traffic except on prior approval. Located in McIntosh County, Georgia, the refuge serves as an important link in the chain of refuges along the Atlantic seaboard, and is the inland base for two neighboring barrier island refuges, Blackbeard Island … To successfully operate an airport, there must be a need. [1] Construction was started on 15 July 1942 by the United States Army Air Forces First Air Force. Harris Neck Army Airfield is an abandoned military airfield located in what is now the Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge, McIntosh County, Georgia. Both squadrons were assigned to the 85th Fighter-Bomber Group at Waycross AAF, Georgia. 1942 July - The Federal government, via Eminent Domain, confiscates the 2687 acres of Harris Neck for the stated purpose of national security to build an Army airfield. The area is very overgrown, access is limited by 'keep out' signs. Former residents of the displaced community and their descendants are attempting to work out a compromise with the federal government to allow them to return to their land, without significantly disrupting the wildlife refuge.[1][2]. Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge is one of the seven refuges administered as part of the Savannah Coastal Refuges Complex. Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge [Fig. Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1962. Harris Neck Army Airfield Bunker, 1942 This structure served as the munitions bunker for Harris Neck Army Airfield. It is located located north of the intersection of Route 131 & Harris Neck Airport Road, about 30 miles southwest of Savannah, Georgia. The increase necessitated enlarging the parking apron by 19,000 sq yd (16,000 m2). The 86th FBG was inactivated at Waycross AAF and The 346th Army Air Force Base Unit (Replacement Training Unit, Fighter), was activated on 1 May 1944. In March 1944, a Noorduyn UC-64, was also assigned to the airfield. On 5 January 1945, the airfield was turned over to the United States Navy and remained under its control until 1962. In mid-1942, the Army Air Force decided to build a base at Harris Neck. That is presumably when the airfield was closed. Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 510: Unable to find the specified location map definition: "Module:Location map/data/USA Georgia" does not exist. A review of contemporary U. S. Geological Survey maps indicates that this was likely the only one ever built on site. 15(1)] During World War II, P-39 and P-40 fighter planes were common in the skies over Harris Neck when the refuge served as an U.S. Army Air Force base. Harris Neck Airfield is in the middle of nowhere. The water fountain and pool near Thomas Landing were dependencies of Livingston House, formerly the estate of Pierre Llorilard. Harris Neck Airfield is in the middle of nowhere. The site served as a gunnery training facility for World War II fighter pilots serving in Europe. Harris Neck has both. Local law enforcement made several arrests. During World War II, the federal government needed Harris Neck for an airstrip to protect the U.S. coast from U-boats. Due to county mismanagement of the land resources, Harris Neck Airport was transferred at some point to the Federal Aviation Administration. It was listed as Harris Neck OLF and as a sub-base of Glynco NAS in Brunswick, Georgia. In March 1943, the Army enlarged the project to provide facilities for one dive-bomber squadron of 24 airplanes and an oversized fighter Replacement Training Unit of 36 aircraft. It is located north of the intersection of Route 131 and Harris Neck Airport Road, about 30 miles (48 km) southwest of Savannah, Georgia. Pilots receiving training were normally organized into two classes, (an upper and a lower), of thirty pilots each. The original Harris Neck airfield was built in 1930 and leased from Courtney Thorpe by the US Dept. The original plan provided for two runways. This page was last edited on 30 December 2020, at 09:29. It was home to the single-seat Bell P-39 Airacobra, which was replaced during February, 1944, by the Curtiss P-40E Kittyhawk. 13(1), Fig. The nearest town is South Newport, six miles (10 km) to the west. A detachment of men from the 855th Guard Squadron, stationed at Hunter Army Air Field occupied the Harris Neck facility on 7 December 1942. Harris Neck Army Airfield is an abandoned military airfield located in what is now the Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge, McIntosh County, Georgia. The planes and the people are gone, as are most of the buildings. That is presumably when the airfield was closed. There is no trace of its existence today. Both squadrons were assigned to the 85th Fighter-Bomber Group at Waycross AAF, Georgia. Earthworks surround three sides. During the summer of 1949, several of the former Army buildings were discovered to have been stripped of useful equipment. It is now a wildlife refuge in McIntosh County. The population of McIntosh County totaled only 5,200 in 1940. In October 1946, the War Assets Administration deeded the 2,687 acres (10.87 km2) of the Harris Neck airbase to McIntosh County for use as a county airport. He was killed piloting P-39Q Airacobra #42-20793, in a mid-air collision and crash at the Townsend Bombing and Gunnery Range, Georgia. It was home to the single-seat Bell P-39 Airacobra, which was replaced during February, 1944, by the Curtiss P-40E Kittyhawk. 1962 The P-40 was known as the “Kitty Hawk” and was associated with Chenault’s “Flying Tigers” in China. The field consisted of a cross-shaped 93-acre (380,000 m2) sod parcel, with two sod runways 2,600' east/west & 2,550' north/south. US Geological Survey aerial photo in 2006. Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. During the war years, this airfield was known as CAP Field, Savannah. The property was then declared a migratory bird refuge. It is located north of the intersection of Route 131 and Harris Neck Airport Road, about 30 miles (48 km) southwest of Savannah, Georgia. Accommodations were eventually provided for 120 officers and 400 enlisted men. Harris Neck Site 8 airfield was secured by an army detachment from Hunter airfield in Savannah on Dec. 7, 1941 and closed to the public on 1 January 1942 when the Civil Air Patrol began anti-submarine flights. Harris Neck NWR was established in 1962 by transfer of federal lands formerly managed by the Federal Aviation Administration as a WWII Army airfield. Harris Neck Army Airfield is an abandoned military airfield located in what is now the Harris Neck National Wildlife Refuge, McIntosh County, Georgia. Harris Neck AAF was used primarily for the training of fighter pilots. They maintain a 4 mile paved road around the park with various historic stops (w/markers) along the route. It never had 5 runways. Fish and Wildlife Service, Georgia. Residents were given a pittance and two weeks to clear out before their homes got torched. US Geological Survey aerial photo in 2006, Articles incorporating text from the Air Force Historical Research Agency, Articles incorporating text from Wikipedia, 1942 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state), USAAF First Air Force Group Training Stations, Airfields of the United States Army Air Forces in Georgia (U.S. state), Buildings and structures in Georgia (U.S. state). Since the closest town of any significance, Brunswick was 45 miles (72 km) away, one might surmise that the officer's club must have gotten a lot of use. In mid-1942, the Army Air Force decided to build a base at Harris Neck. Originally named Dickinson's Neck, the peninsula was renamed when William Thomas Harris became the principal land owner in the mid 18th century. The field was said to be illuminated, but to offer no services. The property was then declared a migratory bird refuge. It was closed for military use in 1943 when the new expanded military airfield was opened a half-mile north. There are also many roads and things to see that aren't on the map. The land was expropriated and families were given two weeks to remove themselves.
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