Gardner Army Airfield auxiliary fields were a number of airfields used during World War II to support the Gardner Army Airfield. May 12, 1943 the US Army leased 1,396.36 acres for Gardner Field, located 9 miles southeast of Taft, California. Gardner Army Airfield was named after Major John H. Gardner, a World War I aviator hero. The Army built three runways to support training activities need for World War II. From Gardner Army Airfield the United States Army Air Corps's Western Flying Training Command started training the needed pilots. To support the training of the many pilots, Gardner Army Airfield operated a number of auxiliary airfields. Some auxiliary fields were no more than a landing strip, others were other operation airfield that supported the training at the Gardner Army Airfield. The Vultee BT-13 Valiant and Boeing-Stearman Model 75 were the most common planes used for training at Gardner Army Airfields, but large bombers were trained also. Gardner Army Airfield auxiliary fields were:[1][2]
Kern Field or Taft-Kern Field Auxiliary Field No. 2 or Taft-Kern Field Auxiliary Field No. 2 at
35°03′50″N119°05′40″W / 35.06389°N 119.09444°W / 35.06389; -119.09444 (Kern Field (Aux #2)) with an elevation of 444 feet. Kern Field was 25 miles south of Bakersfield and 198 miles east of Gardner Army Airfield. In 1941 the US Army built on the 250 acre site a landing mat that was 3,000 feet by 3,000. The Army built two runways in a unique cross shaped. Taft Field had many improvements and was used often for training in landing and take off. Kern Field closed on February 28, 1945. Kern Field was just north of what is now California State Route 166 and west of the Interstate 5 in Lakeview, California. The site is now back to farmland and no trace remains of the airfield.[5][6]
Conners Field or Conners Field Aux No. 4 was located 20 miles east of the City of Taft in Kern County at 35°11′00″N119°05′30″W / 35.18333°N 119.09167°W / 35.18333; -119.09167 (Conners Field (Aux #2)). Conners Field was 20 miles east of Gardner Army Airfield and 20 miles south of Bakersfield. In 1941 the Army leased the 250 acre land from the County and built a 3,000' square asphalt landing mat, so planes could land in almost any direction. Conners Field had few improvements and was mostly used for training in landing and take off. The Parker Field was closed in October 1950. Conners Field was just south of what is now California State Route 223 and east of Interstate 5. The site is now back to farmland and no trace remains of the airfield.[9]
Manning, Thomas A. (2005), History of Air Education and Training Command, 1942–2002. Office of History and Research, Headquarters, AETC, Randolph AFB, Texas OCLC71006954, 29991467
Shaw, Frederick J. (2004), Locating Air Force Base Sites, History’s Legacy, Air Force History and Museums Program, United States Air Force, Washington DC. OCLC57007862, 1050653629
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