Atterbury AAB

  December 1942 to present

  United States of America

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CITY: Columbus, IN

IATA/ICAO CODES: CLU / KBAK

COORDINATES: 39°16'N / 85°54'W

OTHER NAMES: Atterbury AAF (1942-1943), Atterbury AAB (1943-1948), Atterbury AFB (1948-1954), Bakalar AFB (1954-1970), Columbus Municipal (1982-present)

Atterbury AAF was established as a USAAF installation during World War II. The first large contingent of military personnel arrived at the new airfield in February 1943. The airfield was named Atterbury AAF in April 1943 and renamed Atterbury AAB in June 1943

In May 1944, jurisdiction of the new base was assigned to the I Troop Carrier Command. Atterbury's mission was to train and organize C-47 Skytrain and Commando transport aircrews. Many Waco CG-4 glider pilots also received training at Atterbury. Atterbury AAF was a distinct base from the nearby US Army's training facility at Camp Atterbury, which was finished in summer of 1942. The military camp was located a few miles north of where the air base would be laid out. As originally conceived, Atterbury AAF was intended to allow ground troops from Camp Atterbury and air troops of Atterbury AAF to learn to work together in combat. By late summer 1943, most of I Troop Carrier command's transport and glider training was being phased down at Atterbury. In September, the airfield became a bomber training base.

After the war, most facilities at Atterbury were vacant. In December 1945, it was closed and turned over to the War Assets Administration for disposal. From 1946 to 1949, the base remained on stand-by status. In May 1949 the USAF announced its intention to reopen the World War II-era airfield. The 2466^th Air Force Reserve Combat Training Center moved to Atterbury from Evansville, IN. The bulk of the rehabilitation work on the base facilities was completed in June 1949. The 434th Troop Carrier Wing was established and activated on 1 July 1949 in the Air Force Reserve at the Atterbury AFB. The Indianapolis-based 434^th Troop Carrier Group moved to Atterbury on 1 July 1949, and was assigned as the wing's operational component. The group had four C-47 Skytrain squadrons: the 71^st, 72^nd, 73^rd and 74^th Troop Carrier Squadrons, but it converted to Commandos in August 1949. The 434^th Troop Carrier Wing served as a training organization at Atterbury for Air Force Reservists, with most of the training was accomplished on weekends. Training for the most part consisted of transition flying. The Group also spent two weeks (8–22 July 1950) on active duty in a summer encampment. The 434th returned to its previous training role upon its return from the Korean War.

On 13 November 1954, Atterbury AFB was renamed Bakalar AFB. Throughout the 1950's, the 434^th Troop Carrier Wing performed routine reserve training at Bakalar. In 1957, the wing transitioned from Commandos to the C-119 Flying Boxcars. When the 434^th Troop Carrier Group was inactivated on 14 April 1959, its squadrons were assigned directly to the 434^th Wing. The 2466^th Air Force Reserve Combat Training Center was inactivated on 1 July 1959, due to budget reductions, and its mission was folded into the 434^th's.

2466^th Air Force Reserve Training Center (June 1949 to July 1959)

434^th Troop Carrier Wing (July 1949 to January 1952 & February 1953 to April 1959)

434^th Troop Carrier Wing, 72^nd Troop Carrier Squadron (February 1953 to January 1970)