Cochran Army Airfield


 * See: Middle Georgia Regional Airport for civil airport information

Cochran Army Airfield is a closed World War II United States Army Air Forces base. It was initially used for the training of Royal Air Force flying cadets until 1943, then for USAAF pilot training. It was inactivated on 15 December 1945.

Today it is used as Middle Georgia Regional Airport.

Origins
Early in 1940, Macon's Chamber of Commerce began a campaign to bring war industries and defense installations to the City. Negotiations with the Army Air Corps resulted in a tract of land in a highly developed agricultural area nine miles (14 km) south of the City known as Avondale being selected by the Air Corps.

The City of Macon and Bibb County obtained options on the desired tracts of land. Once the Army Air Corps finally decided to build an airbase at the site, it required the base be built as soon as possible. An informal agreement with the Army stipulated that when the War Department had no further use for the property, the deed would revert to the City and the County. On 19 February 1941, the Army awarded a general contract for the construction of necessary temporary buildings, barracks, grading and paving of the runways and parking apron. Ground was broken on March 4, 1941. Construction proceeded at a rapid rate, only slowed at times by the delay in delivery of construction materials. The cantonment area, typical in size to other basic training schools of the war, had accommodations for 190 officers, 475 cadets, and 1,660 enlisted men. The original plan called for administration buildings, 13 cadet barracks, 35 enlisted barracks, four BOQs, six mess halls, and various other structures to support a complement of 216 airplanes.

The airfield was named Cochran Army Airfield in memory of Camilla, Ga native Lt. Robert J. Cochran of the 8th Aero Squadron. who lost his life in World War I. It was assigned to the AAF Southeast Training Center. Unlike other Army Airfields, Cochran only had two-paved runways, each 300 ft. wide by 4500 ft. long, provided on the 700 acre landing area. No hangars were provided by the original plan. The parking apron or ramp was 450 ft. by 2500 ft. In addition to the main airfield, the following sub-bases and auxiliary airfields were used:
 * Gunn Auxiliary Field 32.61861°N, -83.6975°W
 * Perry Auxiliary Field 32.45639°N, -83.655°W
 * Harris Auxiliary Field 32.57056°N, -83.84417°W
 * Byron Auxiliary Field 32.66306°N, -83.81361°W
 * Myrtle Auxiliary Field 32.50806°N, -83.76722°W

Royal Air Force cadet training
An original cadre consisting of an advanced detachment of three officers and 65 enlisted men arrived from Gunter Field, Alabama on April 15, 1941. These squadrons had been originally formed at Maxwell Field before being sent to Gunter for training in the various squadron functions. Although far from complete, the Army Air Force Pilot School (Basic) at Macon, Georgia activated on May 15, 1941.

The predominant aircraft used for basic training during the war was the Vultee BT-13 Valiant. The Valiant was a fixed gear monoplane powered by a 450 hp Pratt and Whitney R-985 radial engine. When Pratt and Whitney fell behind in R-985 production, Vultee substituted the Wright R-975 engine. The 1,693 Wright-powered models built received the designation BT-15. The official opening of the field occurred on May 31 when a formation of 50 BT-13s flew over downtown Macon before landing at Cochran. The press and the people of Macon celebrated the occasion. Of the 50 aircraft, one half remained on loan while the remainder returned to Gunter.

On August 17, 1941, the first class of British Royal Air Force cadets arrived at Cochran Field. Until June 1942, Cochran was used exclusively for British training. Liaison was maintained between the RAF and the Army Air Force through a Royal Air Force Administrative Officer. British cadets differed significantly from American cadets. Firstly, British physical requirements were much lower than for American cadets. The British were either from 17 to 21 years of age or over 27 years old. Many of the older cadets, married with children, worried about their families back home. The giving of tactical training and attendant discipline, along American lines and pursuant to traditional American policy, concerned and irritated the British cadets. They believed that if they had to be trained in the U.S., they should be subject to British discipline and be taught British tactics — the Americans should handle flight training only. In addition, unlike American cadets who grew up operating a farm tractor or automobile, the most complicated device operated by the average British cadet was a bicycle. Some training bases reportedly taught British cadets how to operate a motorcycle before attempting any flight training. The last British cadets completed training in the U.S. in March 1943.

USAAF pilot training
With the last British class graduating in early 1943, the War Department constituted and activated the 27th Flying Training Wing (Basic) at Cochran and assigned it to the (redesignated) AAF Eastern Flying Training Command as a flying training unit. Peak training took place during 1943. From the beginning of 1944 flight training steadily diminished. By early 1945, most of the Valiants were worn out after three years of constant use, declared obsolete, and replaced by the AT-6 Texan in the basic training role.

Cochran ended basic training on March 15, 1945. The AAF used the cantonment area as a convalescent hospital and as a separation center after the war ended. The Air Force inactivated the base on 15 December 1945. Cochran Field, however was used as communications base until finally being closed on 1 January 1947. It was then turned over to the City of Macon for civil use.