| Welcome To Remembering Turner Air Force Base |
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Turner Field, later Turner Air Force Base, went through tremendous changes from the reactivation in September of 1947 to the Air Force leaving in 1967. It opened with the field as it was left when deactivated in August 1946 after WWII. Many physical changes were made to the base from reactivation to USAF closure in 1967. Some of these included Turner City housing area, permanent HQ building, permanent quarters buildings, new control tower, new fire station, new NCO club, Bowling alley, and other permanent type buildings. It also included an expanded apron with maintenance buildings, several nose hangars, complete fencing of the flight line with guard towers when under SAC, a greatly expanded main runway, an alert pad for B-52s, new fuel storage facilities, new ammo dump, mad many more not mentioned here. Many of you who were stationed here at various times have been a witness to some of these changes. These are also some of the things I am interested in and I would like to hear from you concerning them. Other changes that took place are of a different nature. The different organizations, missions, and individuals involved. Fighter, reconnaissance, photo mapping, bomber, and bomb scoring wings and organizations. Individuals who passed this way as well. There were thousands of military members who were stationed at Turner throughout the 20 years it was an Air Force Base. The course of many lives were changed by this tour of duty. Some married and stayed in Albany, some married and took their Albany wife to their home town, while others pursued their military career and came back to Albany, while others were single and stayed that way, yet others had families and moved on after reassignment or discharge. Whatever the case, Turner Field was a chapter in their lives. There were WWII Aces and other well known Commanders who called Turner home as well. Col. William L. Lee started the procession in 1947 as commander of the 31st Fighter Wing. (Bulldog Lee) as some of the troops called him. Others followed including Col. David C. Schilling, third leading ace in the ETO during WWII. Many able commanders followed throughout the years to come.
Some of the units to serve at Turner were: There were too many Operations and Exercises participated in by the troops at Turner to mention here lest I leave some out. But a couple come to mind such as the six month TDY to Manston, England in 1951 by the 31st Fighter Wing, Fox Peter One, Operation Longstride, Coca Alfa Two, Gunnery TDYs to Eglin AFB, William Tell Gunnery meets at Nellis AFB, And Operation Arc Light. My intent is to record for posterity in a permanent form (not online) the story of Turner Air Force Base. Military history of all forms is important to preserve. To those of you no longer in the Albany area, the base would not be recognizable. In the middle of the main runway once used by B-52s, stands a huge Miller’s Brewery building. The permanent barracks buildings are now dorms for Job Corp students. Small businesses and storage facilities occupy many of the other buildings and much is fenced off and no longer accessible. The former NCO Club now houses a senior citizens center. Most of my information is coming from US Air Force archive records but I would like to find some photos of buildings and other installations at Turner through the years. Also any anecdotal happenings would be appreciated. Photos if used would have proper attribution to the sender. Information from any of the Unit Books would also be appreciated. If you have any of the above mentioned items I would appreciate hearing from you and we could discuss the possibilities. If you know of any other former Turner (inmates) please pass this information to them. Thank you for your help in this endeavor. Frank A. Gossett
I can be contacted at:
fagossett@hotmail.com
Frank A. Gossett |