Orlando in Orange County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Orlando Army Air Base
Photographed By Paul Crumlish, March 14, 2012
1. Orlando Army Air Base Marker
Orlando Municipal Airport opened in 1928 on 65 acres of land north of Lake Underhill. In 1940, with Europe at war, the United States Army took over the airport for defense purposes, activating it as the Orlando Army Air Base on September 1, 1940. The first Army Air Corps planes arrived on September 5, 1940. The Base provided a training center for pilots and fighter and bomber groups. The United States entered World War II on December 7, 1941, after the attack on Pearl Harbor. In 1942, B-17 bombers and their crews moved to the newly-completed Pine Castle Air Force Base, now the Orlando International Airport, and the Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics moved to the Orlando Army Air Base, by then grown to 1000 acres with 6 runways. The size and importance of the Orlando base, where pilots tested new aircraft, including P-26 and P-40 fighter planes, brought notable visitors such as Chief of the Army Air Force General Hap Arnold and entertainer Bob Hope. At the end of World War II the base became a separation center for thousands of servicemen and women resuming civilian life. It was returned to the city of Orlando in 1946. Renamed Herndon Airport in 1961, it became the Orlando Executive Airport in 1982.
A Florida Heritage Landmark
Erected 2008 by The City of Orlando, the Greater Orlando
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Industry & Commerce • War, World II. A significant historical date for this entry is September 1, 1940.
Location. 28° 32.878′ N, 81° 20.72′ W. Marker is in Orlando, Florida, in Orange County. Marker is at the intersection of Maguire Boulevard and East Livingston Street, on the right when traveling north on Maguire Boulevard. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Orlando FL 32803, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Votes For Women (approx. 0.7 miles away); H. H. Dickson Azalea Park / Washington Street Bridge (approx. 0.8 miles away); The Soldiers, The Sailors, The Statesmen Monument (approx. 1.3 miles away); Eppes-Shine Plot Greenwood Cemetery (approx. 1.3 miles away); G.A.R. Memorial (approx. 1.3 miles away); John R. Mott House Site (approx. 1˝ miles away); J. P. Musselwhite & Family (approx. 1˝ miles away); Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge (approx. 1.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Orlando.
Regarding Orlando Army Air Base. Land to the north of the civilian airport continued in government usage long after the facility was returned to local authorities. First as the Orlando
Photographed By Paul Crumlish, March 14, 2012
2. Wide view of the Orlando Army Air Base Marker
Most of the Army Air Base-era buildings have been replaced over the years as civilian airport has expanded to accommodate growing air travel.
Also see . . .
1. Orlando Executive Airport (ORL). Airport website homepage (Submitted on April 1, 2012, by PaulwC3 of Northern, Virginia.)
2. Former Orlando Army Air Base honored with historical marker - Orlando Sentintel. Wearing their old uniforms and polished medals, about a dozen World War II veterans joined local dignitaries and a 25-piece military band Monday morning to honor a place where thousands of America's "Greatest Generation" learned to fly in combat: the Orlando Army Air Base. (Submitted on April 2, 2012, by PaulwC3 of Northern, Virginia.)
Additional commentary.
1. The aircraft in photo number 3
The aircraft in photo 3 is a C-47 Skytrain transport, the Army Air Corps version of the Douglas DC-3, one of the most famous and recognizable planes of all time. Production numbers totalled 16,079, of which 10,048 were Skytrains. Source - Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_DC-3
— Submitted October 16, 2014, by Ray King of Jacksonville, Florida. 
Photographed By Paul Crumlish, March 14, 2012
3. A memory of Orlando Army Air Base
Credits. This page was last revised on December 3, 2021. It was originally submitted on April 1, 2012, by PaulwC3 of Northern, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,917 times since then and 146 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 1, 2012, by PaulwC3 of Northern, Virginia. 3. submitted on April 2, 2012, by PaulwC3 of Northern, Virginia.
