Richmond Army Air Field, Virginia

Richmond Army Air Field was a United States Army Air Forces installation near Richmond, Virginia, active during World War II. It served as a key training and maintenance center supporting the First Air Force and later became a major postwar airfield that evolved into today's Richmond International Airport.

Constructed in 1942 amid U.S. military expansion, the airfield provided facilities for fighter-group training, aircraft repair, and logistical support on the East Coast. Its proximity to Richmond's industrial base and transportation network made it a strategic site for equipping and maintaining combat aircraft such as P-39 Airacobras and P-47 Thunderbolts.

Richmond Army Air Field hosted numerous squadrons under the First Air Force, including pursuit and replacement training units. It also operated a sub-depot for aircraft overhaul and supply distribution. The field's maintenance operations were integral to ensuring steady fighter readiness for the European and Pacific theaters.

Following World War II, the base briefly supported reserve and Air National Guard activities. By the early 1950s, most military operations ceased, and the property transferred to civilian authorities, forming the core of what became Richmond International Airport. Portions of the original runways and hangars remain in use for commercial aviation and cargo operations today.