News

What’s in a Name: Columbus Air Force Base

  • Published
  • By Dr. Doris Crusoe
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Historian
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  Did you know that the name of Columbus Air Force Base has changed six times since its establishment on June 26, 1941?

The base was originally established with the purpose to construct a local airport as a means to secure worthwhile projects for its local communities, while simultaneously supporting the war efforts.

However, that plan changed as the United States forces geared up for war. As a direct result of an inevitable world conflict, the Army Air Forces activated new flying schools which supported the Air Corps pilot production goals that soared from 300 in 1939 to 93,000 in 1943. A total of 99 military and civilian contract flying schools operated at one time or another during the war.

In light of these changes, Columbus civil leaders shifted their focus from that of simply obtaining a local airport, to that of acquiring a military flying field. Council members realized the benefits of an Army Air Corps base, which would serve both the nation and their community.

On Aug. 6, 1941, the newly established base was named Air Corps Advanced Flying School, synonymous with its World War II mission to train military pilots. The following month, on Sept. 15, 1941, the base became known as Columbus Airfield.

No one designated or suggested a name for the new military installation until Jan. 22, 1942. Then, on Feb. 24, 1942, the War Department announced the installation would be named Kaye Field in honor of Capt. Samuel Kaye Jr., a World War I flying ace.

Kaye was born in Columbus, Mississippi, on November 8, 1895. He enlisted in the Air Service in World War I and served in the 94th Aero Squadron, commanded by Captain Eddie Rickenbacker. In the course of his many successful combat missions, he was credited with shooting down eight German planes. Kaye died March 12, 1939, after an extended illness.

Later, on March 27, 1942, the War Department announced that the base name had been changed from Kaye Field to Columbus Army Flying School. The name change was made to correct an issue of confusion which resulted from a similar sounding name of a nearby base, Key Field in Meridian, Mississippi. Planes often flew to the wrong airfield, and mail was even delivered to the wrong base.

Then, on April 28, 1943, headquarters at Maxwell Field, Alabama, notified the base that the name would be changed once again.  In the interest of uniformity in the names of Army Air Forces Air Field schools which operated under the Southeastern Air Corps Training Center, the Columbus Army Flying School was changed to Columbus Army Air Field.

Columbus Army Air Field's name was changed to Columbus Army Air Field Pilot School on July 31, 1943. At that time, the base operated under the Army Air Forces Eastern Flying Training Command.

Shortly after the Air Force became a separate service on Sept. 18, 1947, the base name was changed to the present-day, Columbus AFB, on June 24, 1948. Columbus AFB was named for the city of Columbus, Mississippi, a small town that inspired an immeasurable dream. 

What's in a name? Columbus AFB is rooted in an honorable history, reflected in humble beginnings of a mission to train military pilots, which continues over 40 years later with its present-day assignment, to train Air Force pilots in support of the United States' Global Air Power missions.


This telegram is the official document stating a new $4.2 million Air Corps training school would be coming to Columbus, Mississippi. The new school started with around 2,800 personnel and was charged with training military pilots.