Lockbourne AAF
Airfield Identification
June 1942 to present
United States of America
CITY: Columbus, OH
IATA/ICAO CODES: LCK / KLCK
COORDINATES: 39°49'N / 82°56'W
OTHER NAMES: Lockbourne AAF (1942-1948), Lockbourne AFB (1948-1974), Rickenbacker AFB (1974-1980), Rickenbacker ANGB (1980-1994), Rickenbacker ANGS (since 1994), Rickenbacker International (civilian)
Right: an aerial view of the airfield, 1945
Photo credit: USAF
Commando Operations
Lockbourne AAF was opened in June 1942 just south of Colombus, OH. Named the Northeastern Training Center of the Army Air Corps, it provided basic pilot training and military support. In addition, the training center provided B-17 flight training to the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs), and training for glider pilots in the CG-4A Waco glider. It is believed that some Commandos may have been used to tow the gliders.
During the Cold War, Lockbourne was turned over to the USAF Strategic Air Command. Today, it is an Ohio Air National Guard base and a secondary airport to Colombus.
Units & operators based
114th AAF Base Unit (Lockbourne AAF)
Left: an ostensibly staged picture of Air Force personnel in front of 114th AAF Base Unit HQ in 1945
Photo credit: USAF
Commandos based at 114th AAF Base Unit
- Curtiss C-46A-50-CU Commando: 42-96805
Last edited: 09/08/2020