This video production made for the Edward J. Peterson Air and Space Museum at Peterson Space Force Base, Colo., May 2, 2025, gives an overview of Peterson Airfield, highlighting it's roles in supporting U.S. Army Air Corps missions and programs during the war. (U.S. Space Force Video by Senior Airman William Pugh)
00:00After Lieutenant Peterson's tragic passing, training for F-4 and F-5 pilots of the installation continued uninterrupted.
00:09His loss did not halt the critical work being done at what was now called Peterson Field.
00:15And in fact, the mission would expand in new and unexpected ways.
00:19Just two months later, in September, the Women's Air Force Service Pilots program was established.
00:26This groundbreaking organization trained civilian female pilots to support U.S. combat aviators, filling a crucial gap left by the stretched manpower of the Army Air Forces.
00:37About a dozen WASP members were stationed at Peterson Airfield during the war, marking a significant step towards women contributing more actively in military aviation, even though they weren't considered formal members of the armed forces at that time.
00:52WASP tested and transported aircraft and helped train new pilots, playing a vital role in the overall war effort.
00:59The details of the WASP program and its members contributions were classified until the late 1970s.
01:06When the files were finally unsealed, the recognition of these women as pioneers in military aviation began to surface.
01:13At Peterson Field, WASP pilots didn't just ferry planes, they also served as instructors, helping the train the next wave of aviators who would enter combat zones overseas.
01:24As the war progressed into 1943, the demand for bomber crews increased, and Peterson Field was selected as a prime location for training them.
01:34The 383rd Bombardment Group was transferred from Geiger Field in Washington, bringing with them their heavy B-24 Liberator bombers.
01:42The airfield became a hub for 10-man bomber crews, training them for the dangerous overseas combat sorties that they would face in the coming months.
01:51The 383rd initially functioned as a replacement training unit, preparing individual air crews to fill in for casualties suffered by overseas units engaged in combat with Axis forces.
02:03However, the replacement system proved to be inefficient and insufficient for the fast-paced demands of wartime aviation.
02:10Recognizing this, leadership at the time reorganized the 383rd into the 214th Army Air Force Base unit, transforming Peterson Field into a dedicated combat crew training school for heavy bombers.
02:24The bomber crews trained at the airfield would eventually find themselves based in Guam, flying critical missions targeting Japanese oil refineries throughout the South Pacific.
02:33As the bomber training concluded, fighter aircraft soon took their place.
02:38The 268th Army Air Force's base unit transitioned Peterson Field into a fighter training station, focusing on the Curtis P-40 Warhawks.
02:49Following Japan's surrender in September 1945, the military began to scale down its operations.
02:56The Army Air Corps returned control of Peterson Field to the city of Colorado Springs, integrating it into the local airport.
03:03The airfield had played an indispensable role during the war, from training bomber crews and fighter pilots to supporting programs like WASP.
03:12Its legacy of service would leave a lasting mark on the region, even as the planes and the personnel moved on.
03:18Just three years later, in 1947, a new chapter would begin with the activation of a new branch of the armed forces, the U.S. Air Force.
03:26And Peterson Field would receive a renewed purpose that would shape its future.
