Historic California
Posts, Camps, Stations and Airfields
Sacramento Municipal
Airport
(Sacramento Army
Air Field, Sutterville Auxilary Field)
Sacramento Municipal Airport, then four
miles south of Sacramento, was used as a sub-base to Chico
Army Air Field. It was used jointly by the 4th Air Force
and the Western Training Flying Command. It also served as an
auxiliary field for Hamilton Field.
Source: World War II Sites
in the United States: A Tour Guide and Directory by Richard E.
Osbourne
Corps of
Engineers Data
Property Description: The airport is approximately 6 miles south of Sacramento.
The site comprises 566.67 acres and is located at 38N30'75"
and 121W29'61". Original construction included the airport,
hangars, 28 buildings, a bomb storage area, and other infrastructure.
Property History: Between July 1942 and November 1944,
663.52 acres were acquired (8.12 fee acres from private owners,
1.13 acres by declaration of taking, 566.67 acres leased from
the city of Sacramento, and 87.29 acres leased from private owners).
The War Department used the site from 1942 to 1947 as an Army
Air Forces camp for the 4th Air Force to support a military air
terminal.
Source: Corps of Engineers
Public FUDS GIS Site
History
By Justin M. Ruhge
Sacramento Municipal Airport was used
as a sub-base to Chico Army Air Field. It was used jointly by
the 4th Air Force and the Western Training Flying Command.
Sacramento Municipal Airport, located
approximately six miles south of the City of Sacramento, consisted
of 663.52 acres. There were 8.12 acres acquired in fee from private
owners, 566.67 acres leased from the City of Sacramento, 87.29
acres leased from private owners, and 1.13 acres from a private
owner by Declaration of Taking (D/T) between July 1942 and November
1944. The 0.31-acre license was acquired from a private owner
on November 28, 1942.
Sacramento Municipal Airport, also known as Sacramento Executive
Airport, Sacramento Army Air Field and Sutterville Auxiliary
Field, a subbase of Hamilton Field, was used by the War Department
as an Air Corps camp for the 4th Air Force to support a military
air terminal. The leased section of the premises consisted of
the airport; original hangars; 28 Government constructed buildings,
(including housing); a bomb storage area; gas and oil storage
and distribution; refueling systems; water supply storage; and
a sewage and disposal system. Improvements to the airport included:
runways (NW & SE); taxiways; apron hardstands; field drainage;
marking and lighting systems; fencing; and a beacon attached
to a tower building.
On December 20, 1945, 663.21 acres were reported as excess. The
9.25 fee acres were transferred to the War Assets Administration
(WAA) on March 4, 1947 along with 566.67 acres of leased property.
The government, acting through WAA, conveyed the 566.67 acres
to the City of Sacramento to be used for public airport purposes
subject to the terms and conditions of the transfer document
dated November 19, 1948. The remaining 87.29 acres leased from
private owners was terminated between June 30, 1946 and September
30, 1946. A release for the right-of-way license to the government
for a drainage ditch from private party (0.31 acres) released
the property to the original owners effective July 1, 1947.
Units That
Served at Sacramento Municipal Airport in World War II
Reference
Date(s)
Units
Remarks
ArmyAirForces.com
October-December
1943
Army Air Forces:
363rd Fighter Group:
380-382nd Fighter Squadrons
All
squadrons eqipped with Ball P-39 "Aircobras".
Army
Station List
7
April 1945
Army Air Forces:
404th Army Air Force Base Unit
(Bombardment, Heavy) (320th Wing)
Headquarters and Headquarters
Squadron
405th Army Air Forces Base Unit
(Special) (321st Wing)
Headquarters and Headquarters
Squadron
Extract,
US Army Air Forces Directory of Airfields, January 1945
Extract, War
Department Inventory of Owned, Sponsored and Leased Facilities,
December 1945
Combat Crew Training Station
Capacity:
Enlisted:
Permanent:
Mobilization (Quartermaster Corps 700-Series
or Corps of Engineers 800-Series):
Theater of Operations: 478
Hutments:
Tents:
Total: 478
Officers: 96
Station Hospital:
Acreage
Owned: 27
Leases: 567
(1 lease)
Total:
594
Storage:
Covered: 2,910
sq ft
Open: 243,473
sq ft
Cost to Government Since 1 July 1940:
Annual Lease Payment(s): $1.00
Land Purchase:
$16,375.00
Construction:
$810,958.00
Total (Less Lease Payments): $827,333.00
Remarks: Government
owned land acquired as aviationeasements.
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