Shemya Army Air Base (Site)

 Second World War 1939-1945, former air force base

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Established late in the Second World War to serve primarily as a bomber base, Shemya Army Air Base was expanded and enlarged continuously through 1944 and into 1945 in preparation for the planned assault of mainland Japan in late 1945-early 1946 as a base for long-range bombers. Known USAAF units assigned to Shemya during and after the Second World War were:

28th Bombardment Group (February 26, 1944 – October 20, 1945)
21st Bombardment Squadron (July 27 – September 19, 1943)
404th Bombardment Squadron (February 28, 1944 – January 5, 1947)
343d Fighter Group (October 5, 1945 – August 15, 1946)
54th Fighter Squadron (October 18 – November 20, 1943)
344th Fighter Squadron (June 25, 1943 – August 15, 1946)

Following Japan's surrender, the large and modern airbase was kept in operation due primarily to its proximity to the Soviet Union. As jet fighters and bombers replaced their piston forebears, the WWII-era airfield was abandoned in favor of the more modern facility now knows as Eareckson Air Station to the Southeast and today the site is unused.

www.pacificwrecks.com/airfields/usa/shemya/index.html