Near Decatur in Limestone County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
Southeast Air Forces Training Center
(Pryor Field)
Photographed By Lee Hattabaugh, November 30, 2013
1. Southeast Air Forces Training Center Marker
Marker is located behind the airfield fence, and not accessible for a better photo the day of my visit.
Inscription.
Southeast Air Forces Training Center. (Pryor Field). The Southeast Air Forces Training Center operated by Southern Aviation Training School, also known as Pryor Field, was constructed in 1941. These two aircraft hangars and beacon tower are the remaining artifacts of one of only a few World War II Army Air Forces Training Centers that have remained in continuous use as airplane hangars since 1941. The school provided primary flight training for Army Air Forces pilots. The facility was deactivated on December 28, 1944 and turned over to the Army Corps of Engineers in September 1945. The training center was eventually discharged to the War Assets Administration as surplus and became a civil airport. The hangars were then used to convert surplus Army aircraft for commercial airline use for the Southern Airways Company which became part of Delta Airlines., The facility was listed in the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in 2010.
The Southeast Air Forces Training Center operated by Southern Aviation Training School, also known as Pryor Field, was constructed in 1941. These two aircraft hangars and beacon tower are the remaining artifacts of one of only a few World War II Army Air Forces Training Centers that have remained in continuous use as airplane hangars since 1941. The school provided primary flight training for Army Air Forces pilots. The facility was deactivated on December 28, 1944 and turned over to the Army Corps of Engineers in September 1945. The training center was eventually discharged to the War Assets Administration as surplus and became a civil airport. The hangars were then used to convert surplus Army aircraft for commercial airline use for the Southern Airways Company which became part of Delta Airlines.
The facility was listed in the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage in 2010.
Erected by Alabama Historical Commission.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Education • War, World II. In addition, it is included in the Alabama Historical Commission series list. A significant historical month for this entry is September 1945.
Location. 34° 38.994′ N, 86° 56.882′ W. Marker is near Decatur
Click or scan to see this page online
, Alabama, in Limestone County. Marker can be reached from Bee Line Highway (U.S. 31) 0.6 miles south of Thomas L Hammons Road, on the left when traveling south. Marker is located between the two historical hangars on the grounds of Calhoun Community College, south of the Machine Tool Technology building and east of the new Energy Technology Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6250 US Hwy 31, Tanner AL 35671, United States of America. Touch for directions.
4. Southeast Air Forces Training Center beacon tower
Located immediately south of the 'south' hangar (in background)
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on November 30, 2013, by Lee Hattabaugh of Capshaw, Alabama. This page has been viewed 1,111 times since then and 64 times this year. Last updated on July 13, 2015, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 30, 2013, by Lee Hattabaugh of Capshaw, Alabama. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
