Harvard Army Air Force Base
It was in mid-September 1942 that
construction began on the air base north of
Harvard on 1640 acres. Workers began
pouring into town and housing facilities were
immediately overtaxed so a trailer camp was
erected at the athletic field.
The population of Harvard doubled and the
school was filled with extra students and extra
teachers were hired. More telephones had to
be installed and a railroad track was laid to
the base. This was the construction boom
phase of the Harvard Army Air Force Base.
The Army took over the base on December
15, 1942. From the day the doors opened at
Harvard Air Force Base, military and civilian
personnel at this station worked hard to
prepare the bomber groups assigned to this
base for action during World War II.
Opened as a satellite base for the Kearney
Army Air Force, Harvard was soon scheduled
for full time operation as independent Air
Force station. By early 1943, the base was on
a 24-hour program of training B-24 Liberator
and B-17 Flying Fortress crews for the
European theater against the German
Luftwaffe.
In March 1944, the B-29 Super Fortress made
its way to Harvard Air Base for training. From
mid-1944 until May 1946, Super Fortresses
from this Air Force base trained over
Nebraska's countryside before they were sent
to the Pacific theater.
In 1946, the Public Relations Office of the
Army Air Force stated that, "All in all, the
Harvard Army Air Force base was responsible
for the training of three heavy groups, four
very heavy groups and three air service
groups. This is an exceptional record for any
base in the Air Forces."
The Harvard Army Air Field was declared
surplus property on May 21, 1946 and turned
over to the State of Nebraska. At that time, all
Army material was packed and shipped out.
Other than the four hangars, most of the
buildings, including barracks, gymnasium,
picture show, Service Club, chapel, weather
station, post exchange and many other
building were either moved away or
dismantled and sold for the lumber.
At its peak, approximately 6,000 officers and
enlisted men were stationed at the base for
training purposes. In addition, many civilian
workers from Harvard and several
surrounding communities worked at the base
in support of this gigantic training undertaking.
Most of the area that was once the Harvard
Army Air Force Base has reverted back to
agricultural purposes. The housing erected by
the federal government on the northeast edge
of Harvard for personnel stationed at the base
has been a residential village for the citizens
of Harvard for many years. Today, the bustle
of the Harvard Air Base has long been quiet.
