Letter to the Editor: Orlando's forgotten WWII heroes

Dear Mr. Babcock,

I was interested in your story about Baldwin Park’s Naval history commemorative statue in your April 28th edition. Baldwin Park does have a long and proud history of United States military service.

However, let’s not forget that from 1940 through World War II, the site was known as Orlando Army Air Base. During the war, we were having U-boat threats. The Base was used to fly anti-submarine patrols along the East coast and over the Gulf of Mexico.

Orlando Army Air Base later became the home of the Army Air Force’s Tactical Center. From 1943 to 1946, they trained units in night fighter operations. After completion of training, the airmen were sent overseas to either the Pacific or European theaters for combat.

When the United States Air Force became a separate service in 1947, the installation was renamed Orlando Army Air Force Base. It served as a technical training facility for the Air Training Command and Tactical Air Command. It was also the headquarters of the Military Air Transport Service and the Air Rescue Service.

Almost 10 years after the base opened, Air Force headquarters in Washington decided to close the base and transfer the 14th Air Force Orlando headquarters to Warner Robins Field in Macon, Georgia. This decision was supposed to be in the interest of government economy.

President Truman head an outpouring of urgent requests from our area to keep the base in Orlando. The Orlando Morning Sentinel dated September 29, 1949 stated that “Orlando is fighting with its back to the wall.” Florida’s two U.S. Senators [Spessard] Holland and [Claude] Pepper urged a six months’ delay in the removal. Martin Andersen, publisher, called Secretary of the Air Force Symington urging that he intervene to save the base. The Mayor, City Council, Greater Orlando Chamber of Commerce and retired Generals George Brett and Edward House (a former commander of the base) contacted Washington to no avail.

On October 4, 1949, an advanced contingent of a 36 truck convoy was seen heading north. On October 9, 1949, the Sentinel stated that “all efforts to save our base are futile. The 14th Air Force is definitely on the way out.” A telegram to the Mayor, Martin Andersen and Chamber of Commerce President Buell Duncan state: “Reference to our wire of October 4th, regret news from Air Force is unfavorable regarding retention of 14th AF at Orlando for additional six months. There is ample and satisfactory housing and administrative space at Warner Robins Air Field to handle the 14th AF.” The finality of this announcement was a blow to the many Orlandoans who had used every possible means to keep Orlando Air Force Base open.

President Duncan said: “We will be sorry to lose many of the officers and men who have become citizens of our town. The loss of the $7 million payroll will be felt in Orlando’s economic life.”

On October 19, 1949, all personnel, equipment, furniture and files of the 14th Air Force were moved to Warner Robins Air Force Base near Macon, Ga. As a secretary in the Inspector General’s office, I was among the individuals who were relocated.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Patricia Patterson Allen