In late December 1941 this
field, 4.5 miles northwest of town, was one of seven in California
to receive combat-ready Army Air Forces fighter units assigned
to defend California against an enemy attack. After the threat
of such attacks subsided the field was taken over by the 4th Air
Force for use as a sub-base to Hammer
Field in Fresno
and used for elementary pilot training. The Naval Air Transport
Service (NATS) also operated here.
In early 1945, the tenth, eleventh, and
twelfth of the new jet powered YP-80As, were delivered to the
31st Fighter Squadron of the 412th Fighter Group at Bakersfield
Municipal Airport in California for service tests. The first production
P-80A was accepted by the Army Air Forces in February of 1945.
The group relocated to Santa Maria Army Air Field in July of 1945
Source: World War II Sites
in the United States: A Tour Guide and Directory by Richard E.
Osbourne
Corps of Engineers History
A 543.7-acre site was acquired by the
US Army during World War II as a sub-base for Hammer
Field. On 14 December 1941, the 280-acre Kern County Airport
was leased from the County of Kern by the US Army. Shortly thereafter,
23.6-acres were leased from the Kern County Union High School
District. Through Declarations of Taking, 240.1 acres were acquired
by the US Army on 18 January 1943.
The US Army assigned the site to the Army
Air Forces' 4th Air Force for use as a military airfield. The
site was used to support Hammer Field. Improvements to the airport
included construction of living quarters, administration buildings,
and repair facilities.
On 15 November 1945, the 543.7-acre site
was declared surplus. Beginning 1 April 1946, 23.6 acres were
transferred to the Federal Public Housing Authority via a Transfer
of Lease between the War Department and the Kern County Union
High School District. On 24 May 1949, 220.6. acres were quitclaimed
to the County of Kern. In addition, the 280-acre airport was
also released back to the County of Kern through the same quitclaim
deed. As for the remaining 19.5 acres, no real estate information
was found. However, the 19.5 acres is currently owned by Teachers
Management and Investment Corporation (TMI), and is part of a
total 52 acres owned by TMI. The site is now known as Kern County
Airport No. 1-Meadows Field.
Source US Army Corps of Engineers,
Sacramento District
Known Units at Bakersfield
Municipal Airport
Present 7 December 1941
Hq, Air Corps Basic Flying School
324th School Squadron
325th School Squadron
326th School Squadron
327th School Squadron
525th School Squadron
526th School Squadron
Hq and Hq Sq, 72nd Air Base Group (Special):
78th Material Squadron (Special)
64th Air Base Squadron (Special)
Air Force Band
Sub Depot
Det, 1st Communications Squadron
Det, 1st Weather Squadron
Det, 853rd Ordnance Service Company (Aviation)
Company L, 34th Quartermaster Regiment (Truck)
Det, Company A, 93rd Quartermaster Battalion (Lt Maint)
Det, 858th Signal Service Company (Aviation)
California State Military
Department