Great Bend Army Airfield

Great Bend Army Airfield was a World War II training facility featuring three concrete runways each measuring 8,000 feet in length and over 200 buildings designed to support B-29 Superfortress bomber operations.

Established in 1942 as part of the United States Army Air Forces expansion, the airfield served as the primary training base for the 58th Bombardment Wing, the first B-29 combat unit deployed against Japan in 1944.

The airfield represents a significant chapter in American military aviation history, symbolizing the technological advancement and strategic bombing capabilities that helped shape the outcome of the Pacific Theater during World War II.

Today the site operates as Great Bend Municipal Airport with two asphalt runways serving general aviation, while some original military structures remain preserved including hangars and the B-29 Memorial Plaza commemorating its wartime heritage.

The airfield's northern runway was later converted into a drag strip that hosted the inaugural 1955 National Hot Rod Association U.S. Nationals, marking the first nationwide NHRA drag racing championship event in American motorsports history.

Location: Kansas

Inception: 1942

GPS coordinates: 38.34640,-98.86530

Latest update: July 24, 2025 13:09