Chatham Air Force Base Air Force Base, Georgia

In 1939, Congress instituted a program to improve the nation's airport infrastructure in the interest of national defense. If local governments provided the land, the federal government would fund construction. The City of Savannah purchased 600 acres at Cherokee Hill, one of the highest elevations in Chatham County, seven miles northwest of town, for $20,000. The CAA allocated up to $400,000 for construction of three 4,000-foot runways.

The U.S. Navy, looking for a blimp base in the area, attempted to gain control of the airfield. The Army Air Corps, on the other hand, wanted it as an auxiliary to Hunter Field, located 8 miles to the south. The Interdepartmental Air Traffic Control Board sided with the Air Corps, and the Navy eventually built its blimp base at Brunswick, Georgia, 75 miles to the south.

Work on Chatham proceeded slowly. The construction involved three concrete runways, several taxiways, a large parking apron, a control tower, and several large hangars. Most support buildings were constructed of temporary or semi-permanent materials, concrete foundations clad in little more than plywood and tarpaper, not meant for long-term use. Chatham Army Airfield officially activated on September 19, 1943, over two years after construction began.

Initially a sub-base of Hunter Field, Chatham was intended for use by Third Air Force, III Reconnaissance Command, and the Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command. In June 1943, the 100th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) was assigned, flying B-25 Mitchell bombers on antisubmarine patrols. However, in August, the antisubmarine patrol mission was transferred to the U.S. Navy. The base then shifted its mission, Chatham's new mission under Third Air Force became training for the B-29 Superfortress, with 29 B-29s on hand by July 1945.

With the end of the war in 1945, Chatham AAF was no longer needed and placed on inactive status on January 10, 1946. The reconstituted Georgia Air National Guard stationed its 158th Fighter Squadron there on October 13, 1946, flying P-47 Thunderbolts, until 1949 when it moved to Hunter AFB to accommodate the active-duty Air Force.

On March 1, 1949, Chatham Air Force Base was reopened by the U.S. Air Force Strategic Air Command. The 2nd Bombardment Group was reassigned from Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, bringing B-50 Superfortresses. However, the limited facilities at Chatham made the base unfit for permanent use, and plans were made to move elsewhere.

In order to keep SAC in the Savannah area, the city offered to exchange Hunter Field for Chatham Field. In September 1950 the switch occurred, Hunter Field became Hunter Air Force Base, while Chatham Field became the Savannah Municipal Airport.