Near Lawrenceville in Lawrence County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
George Field Army Air Corps Base
1942-1946
The first class of cadets arrived at George Field on October 10. Six days later, Major General Ralph Royce officially dedicated the field before a crowd of 25,000 residents and Army personnel. Colonel Edwin B. Bobzien took command of the field in November.
Cadets assigned to George Field were ready for advanced two engine school training in Beech AT-10s, having already completed pre-flight, primary, and basic training. The school graduated 1,934 cadets in its first year alone. The nineteenth and final class graduated on August 4, 1944.
George Field served as a glider-towing school after August 15, 1944, for C-47s towing CG4-A gliders designed to carry up to twenty-four men. The 805th troop carrier command and Colonel Tracy K. Dorsett assumed control of the field until the Army closed it on January 31, 1946. The federal government deeded the land and the facility to the City of Lawrenceville in 1948.
Erected 1999 by George Field Association and the Illinois State Historical Society.
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 Illinois State Historical Society series list. A significant historical date for this entry is January 31, 1946.
Location. 38° 44.861′ N, 87° 37.065′ W. Marker is near Lawrenceville, Illinois, in Lawrence County. Marker is at the intersection of County Route 1570E and County Route 1200N, on the right when traveling east on County Route 1570E. Marker is near the entrance to the Lawrenceville-Vincennes International Airport (Mid-American Air Center). Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1570E, Lawrenceville IL 62439, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Golden Rule Insurance Company, inc. 1940 (approx. 3.7 miles away); Lincoln in Lawrenceville (approx. 3.7 miles away); Millstones From Smallsburg (approx. 3.7 miles away); Revolutionary Soldiers Buried in Lawrence County Memorial (approx. 3.7 miles away); Life on the Square (approx. 3.7 miles away); Lawrence County Courthouse (approx. 3.7 miles away); Fort Knox II (approx. 6.2 miles away in Indiana); Welcome to the Site of Fort Knox II (approx. 6.2 miles away in Indiana). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lawrenceville.
Also see . . .
1. George Field on Wikipedia. More detailed history of the former World War II military airfield. (Submitted on July 28, 2021, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.)
2. Lawrenceville-Vincennes International Airport on Wikipedia. The site is now a public-use airport, serving southern Illinois and Indiana. (Submitted on July 28, 2021, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.)
Credits. This page was last revised on July 28, 2021. It was originally submitted on July 28, 2021, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 536 times since then and 187 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 28, 2021, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.