![[Napier Field, Alabama, Flag]](../images/u/us-alnpf.gif)
image by Masao Okazaki, 27 September 2020
Last modified: 2020-12-08 by rick wyatt
Keywords: napier field | alabama | dale county |
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image by Masao Okazaki, 27 September 2020
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This flag was posted by Vanja last year at
https://www.facebook.com/groups/flagsoftheworld/permalink/2687559024592136.
Napier Field (503 inhabitants in 2016) is located in the southeastern
corner of Dale County in the southeastern corner of the state northwest of
Dothan.
In 1939, public officials in Dothan and surrounding Houston County sought to
have the Army Air Corps (AAC) establish a training school at the new Dothan
Airport. It was one of several established by the AAC in the state in prior to
U.S. entry in World War II. The Air Corps was not interested in locating an air
field that close to Dothan, however, and a 1,500-acre site northwest of town was
selected. Dothan and Houston County each pledged roughly $56,000 to purchase the
land, which lay in Dale County, and work to erect the Napier Field Air Base
began. The facility was used for advanced pilot training throughout World War
II. It was named in honor of Maj. Edward Napier, the first aviator from Alabama
to be killed in service to his country, in September 1923.
The U.S. Air Force
deactivated the field on October 31, 1945, and turned custodianship of the
property over to the city of Dothan and Houston County; Houston County
immediately sold its share in the air field to Dothan. The city began selling
the land to individuals and the former air base evolved into a town. The
airfield remained dormant for most of two decades, but in the early 1960s,
private investors began renovating the site, adding reinforced hard surfacing
for new jet runways, buildings, and other facilities. On February 15, 1965,
Napier Air Field became the new home of Dothan Regional Airport.
Napier Field
incorporated as a town in September 1968. In 2004, the Air Force returned to
Napier Field, establishing the 280th Combat Communications Squadron, a
non-flying unit that functions in a guard tower alongside the civilian airport.
http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-3790?printable=true
Encyclopedia of Alabama
The badge featured in the upper left part
belonged to the Southeast Army Air Forces Training Center.
https://www.ebth.com/items/1221781-world-war-ii-usaf-southeast-air-force-training-center-unit-pin
https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetails
https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetails
Aircraft No. 116709
featured in the upper right represents the former Napier Field Air Base and the
Army Air Forces Advanced Flying School
https://www.abebooks.com/Napier-Field-Alabama-Army-Air-Forces/19573070896/bd
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/1940s-napier-field-alabama-army-air-1858812568
The plane appears to be a North American T-6 'Texan', widely used by
Flying Schools during the Second World War.
I have not been able to identify the
building featured in the flag's lower part.
Ivan Sache, 27
September 2020
