United States Air Force Academy in El Paso County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Santa Ana Army Air Base
1942 - 1946
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., October 17, 2020
1. Santa Ana Army Air Base Marker
and the men and women, military and civilian, who contributed
to its mission. The base, located in the Western Flying
Training Command of the 4th Air Force, was responsible
for the classification and pre-flight training of
125,000 Aviation Cadets as Pilots, Navigators or Bombardiers
from 1942 to 1944. The base then served briefly as a
rehabilitation and relocation center for returning
Army Air Force veterans before closing its gates
forever in March 1946.
In keeping with the spirit of beating the swords of war
into the plows of peace, the Santa Ana Army Air Base has
been transformed into schools, parks, fair grounds,
housing and a city hall that serve the citizens of
Costa Mesa, County of Orange, State of California
Erected by SAAAB Wing, Costa Mesa Historical Society.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Patriots & Patriotism • War, World II. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1946.
Location. 39° 0.978′ N, 104° 51.321′ W. Marker is in United States Air Force Academy, Colorado, in El Paso County. It can be reached from Parade Loop. Marker is in
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Colorado’s Front Range and in Pikes Peak Region. It is also in the American Mountain West. Globally, it is in North America, the Rocky Mountains, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Comancherνa.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Pearl Harbor Survivors Association (here, next to this marker); 357th Fighter Group (here, next to this marker); 474th Fighter Group (here, next to this marker); P51 Mustang Pilots Association (here, next to this marker); 5th Bombardment Group (H) (here, next to this marker); 19th Troop Carrier Squadron (here, next to this marker); 64th Fighter Squadron (here, next to this marker); 48th Fighter-Bomber Wing (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in United States Air Force Academy.
More about this marker. Must have a valid ID to enter the USAF Academy grounds.
Also see . . .
1. Santa Ana Army Air Base. Costa Mesa Historical Society website entry (Submitted on December 31, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
2. Santa Ana Army Air Base. American Society of Civil Engineers website entry (Submitted on December 31, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
via Costa Mesa Historical Society, unknown
2. Santa Ana Army Air Base front gate
via Online Archive of California, unknown
3. Aerial view of the Santa Ana Army Air Base and surrounding farms.
The site of the Air Base became Orange Coast College, Costa Mesa, Orange County around 1948.
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., October 17, 2020
4. Santa Ana Army Air Base Marker on Memorial Wall
Credits. This page was last revised on December 28, 2024. It was originally submitted on December 31, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 683 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on December 31, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. 2. submitted on May 5, 2024, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 3. submitted on December 28, 2024, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 4. submitted on December 31, 2020, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
