Didn’t NASA once consider Hunter Army Airfield as an alternate landing site for the Space Shuttle orbiters? Hunter Army Airfield is a key military installation in Savannah Georgia. It stands as a testament to the city’s rich military history. This airfield plays a vital role in national defense. It is subordinate to Fort Stewart.
Hunter Army Airfield began as Savannah Municipal Airport in 1929. The city council chose the Belmont Tract for its location. The land cost the city $35000. By September, the runway and buildings were ready. The airport officially opened.
In May 1940, it was renamed Hunter Municipal Airfield. This was to honor Lieutenant Colonel Frank O’Driscoll Hunter. He was a Savannah native and a World War I flying ace. Lt. Col. Hunter made a surprise visit during Savannah Aviation Week. He was en route to France. He was to serve as a United States Military Air Attaché.
The United States Army Air Corps approved a base at Hunter Municipal Airfield on August 30 1940. The official dedication as Savannah Army Air Base occurred on February 19 1941. The Army Air Corps assigned Savannah AAB to the Southeast Air District. This later became the Third Air Force.
The 27th Bombardment Group was the first unit assigned. They were equipped with Douglas B-18 Bolo medium bombers. In 1941, they reequipped with Douglas A-24 Banshee Dive Bombers. The group was ordered to the Philippine Islands on October 21 1941. This was in response to the growing Pacific crisis. The 27th returned to Hunter on May 4 1942. They had been severely depleted in strength during combat. The unit reequipped with A-20 Havocs and retrained. They then deployed for combat in North Africa in July 1942.
Savannah AAB became a base for Antisubmarine groups after the Pearl Harbor attack. Their mission was to patrol the Atlantic coast. They located and attacked German U-boats. Light bomber and dive bomber groups received combat training at Savannah AAB throughout 1942.
Savannah AAB became a training base for Martin B-26 Marauder crews after mid-1943. At the end of the war, it served as a Separation Center. Service members returning from Europe were discharged here. The airfield was returned to the City of Savannah in June 1946.
The United States Air Force reopened Chatham Air Force Base on March 1 1949. The 2d Bombardment Group was reassigned from Davis-Monthan AFB. Savannah offered to exchange airfields. Hunter became Hunter Air Force Base on September 29 1950. It was the only U.S. military installation named for a living American at the time. That American was Major General Frank Hunter.
Hunter AFB was assigned to the Strategic Air Command’s Second Air Force. Two major SAC medium bombardment wings were assigned to Hunter during the 1950s. On March 11 1958, a B-47E accidentally dropped a Mark 6 fission bomb near Florence South Carolina.
The Military Air Transport Service reassigned the base in 1963. The 63d Troop Carrier Wing flew C-124 Globemaster II cargo aircraft. Air Defense Command designated Hunter AFB as part of a planned deployment of mobile radar stations in 1955.
The radar site was renamed Savannah Air Force Station in 1967. The station was deactivated on June 5 1979. In December 1966, the Department of the Army announced an increase in Army helicopter pilots to be trained. Hunter Air Force Base was turned over to the Army. It operated with Fort Stewart.
Brigadier General Frank Meszar accepted the base on April 1 1967. The facility was renamed Hunter Army Air Field. The United States Army Flight Training Center was re-designated on July 28 1967. In 1973, Hunter AAF was deactivated. It reopened in 1975. It served as a support facility for the 24th Infantry Division.
Today, Hunter Army Airfield supports various units. It includes the 3rd Infantry Division and the Coast Guard Air Station Savannah. The airfield has a runway that is 11375 feet long. The aircraft parking area covers more than 350 acres. Hunter remains a vital asset for military readiness and rapid deployment. It stands ready to defend our nation’s interests both home and abroad.