Rare Vintage World War 2 Syracuse Army Air Base Officers Club Matchbook NY! WWII

Description: UP FOR SALE:Rare Vintage World War 2 Syracuse Army Air Base Officers Club Matchbook NY! WWII Fantastic Antique / Vintage American World War II Era Matchbook! Syracuse Army Air Base - Officers Club Location: Syracuse, New York (NY) Printed by: American Pullmatch Division Location: Westerville, Ohio Date: C.1940's INFO: "With the outbreak of World War II, many believed that the East Coast was vulnerable to enemy attack. On December 31, 1941, 24 days after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Office of the Chief of the Army Air Force authorized the construction of an air base at Syracuse, New York. A 3,500 acre parcel located north of the city was selected, displacing several inhabited farms. Authorized on 1 January 1942, three 5,500 foot runways were built, at a cost to the Army of more than $16,000,000. These runways were constructed over existing asparagus beds, which continue producing asparagus to this day. The first military personnel arrived on the airfield on 16 August 1942. Syracuse Army Air Base (a.k.a. Mattydale Bomber Base) was intended to be a First Air Force all-purpose station, but it became a personnel activation station instead and provided first phase training for recruits. Beginning in 1943, the First Concentration Command, later known as the Air Technical Service Command, used the base to assemble and test B-24 Liberator aircraft, and then were sent to fly bombing missions over England. The airfield had an extraordinary large number of hardstands were used for aircraft in transient status. The first airmen to train at this base were known as The Boys from Syracuse. They used the base as a staging and storage area, repairing and re-outfitting the B-17 and B-24 aircraft that had been used in World War II. One of the first units to pass through Syracuse was the 305th Bombardment Group, flying B-17s and led by Colonel Curtis E. Lemay, who later became the Air Force Chief of Staff. On July 22, 1946, the City of Syracuse took over the Mattydale Bomber Base on an interim lease. In 1948, the base was dedicated as a commercial airfield. The Clarence E. Hancock Airport opened to the public on September 17, 1949. The New York Air National Guard 174th Fighter Wing was formed at Hancock Field on October 28, 1947 as the 138th Fighter Squadron. The squadron was a re-designation of the World War II 505th Fighter Squadron, a component of the VIII Fighter Command 339th Fighter Group that had fought in the European Theater of Operations. The 138th FS was the first post-World War II New York Air National Guard flying unit. It initially flew P-47D Thunderbolts. Over the past 60 years, the unit has been based at Hancock Field, operating fighter aircraft." (WIKI) (MORE INFO: More information can be found at the end of the gallery images. This info is for Reference Only and does not come with the Matchbook) A great piece of 20th Century American Military Ephemera! Actual item pictured! Item comes as seen and as is! Please see all photos!Shipping includes insurance & tracking for both buyer and seller's protection!If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask! Thanks for stopping in! Scantic Antiques

Price: 25.49 USD

Location: East Longmeadow, Massachusetts

End Time: 2025-01-11T00:52:01.000Z

Shipping Cost: 0 USD