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Dunnellon Army Airfield, was a World War II United States Army Air Forces airfield, located east of Dunnellon, Florida. ==History== Originally set on 500 acres (2 km²) that was purchased in 1942 by Marion County. It was opened in August 1942 as Dunnellon Army Airfield. The new base was designated as a sub-base to the Orlando Army Airbase, and assigned to the Air University Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics (AAFSAT) tactical combat simulation school in Central and Northern Florida. AAFSAT used the base as its Air Support School. Once sufficient construction was completed, the I Troop Carrier Command 10th Troop Carrier Group was moved from Pope Field, North Carolina, as a combat cargo training unit. Pilots and aircrew received training in advanced combat simulation based on what could be expected in the overseas combat theaters in short field landings, cargo drops and other tactics. In addition, personnel received training in towing British-designed Horsa glider and gilder pilots received training in advanced combat flying. Graduates saw duty in North Africa, Europe, and the China-Burma-India Theater in this capacity. As part of the training, Canal Air Force Auxiliary Field, () was used for rough short field dirt landings and takeoffs. By the end of 1943, the Troop Carrier training was ended and the 10th TCG moved to Lawson Army Airfield, Georgia to support Army airborne forces at Fort Benning. In mid-1943, AAFSAT reassigned the 420th Night Fighter Squadron, a night fighter Operational Training Unit (OTU) to Dunnellon due to overcrowding at Kissimmee Army Airfield. Its mission to train pilots with night fighting skills for defensive missions against enemy night intruder aircraft. The squadron was equipped with modified Douglas A-20 Havocs for night fighter operations, designated P-70s. Night fighter training was undertaken until January 1944, when the USAAF program was reassigned to IV Fighter Command, and the school was moved to Hammer Field, California. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Dunnellon Army Air Field」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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