Walla Walla Army Air Base
| Walla Walla Regional Airport Walla Walla Army Air Base |
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2006 USGS Orthophoto
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| Summary | |||||||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||||||
| Owner | Port of Walla Walla | ||||||||||||||
| Serves | Walla Walla, Washington | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
Walla Walla County, near Walla Walla, Washington |
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| Elevation AMSL | 1,194 ft / 364 m | ||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 46°05′41″N 118°17′20″W / 46.09472°N 118.28889°W | ||||||||||||||
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 ALW
ALW
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Source: Federal Aviation Administration
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| Aircraft operations | 28,516 |
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| Based aircraft | 134 |
Walla Walla Regional Airport (IATA: ALW, ICAO: KALW, FAA LID: ALW) is a public airport in the western United States, located in Walla Walla County, Washington, three miles (5 km) northeast of the central business district of the city of Walla Walla. It is owned by the Port of Walla Walla.
The airport was the location of the U.S. Army Air Forces' Walla Walla Army Air Base in World War II.
The War Department announced they would be spending over $7.5 million to construct an Army Air Corps training airfield adjacent to the existing airfield at Walla Walla. With the old 200-acre (0.81 km2) municipal airport as a nucleus, they commenced development of the Walla Walla Army Air Base, which ultimately comprised 2,164 acres (8.76 km2) of land. Over 300 buildings were constructed and equipped to house, feed and train approximately 6,000 men at one time.
The 91st Bomb Group lays claim to being the first Army Air Forces outfit to utilize the Walla Walla base. They had initially trained in Florida and upon arrival, they trained in B-17 Flying Fortress airplanes. The 91st Bomb Group went on to distinguish itself in combat over Europe. Several of these crews made outstanding records during their tour of duty and were well publicized upon their return to the states with names such as Jack the Ripper, Memphis Belle, and Delta Rebel. Memphis Belle was the first B-17 to complete 25 missions in Europe.
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