Location
34° 53' 56N 120° 27' 27W  Santa Maria Army Air Field was located near Camp Cooke roughly four miles south of Santa Maria in Santa Barbara County of California in the United States of America (USA). Also known as Santa Maria AAF. Still in use today as Santa Maria Public Airport.

Construction
Built during the early 1940s by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers purchased 160 acres of land from the Toy Family for $79 per acre. The areas was developed into a training airfield known as Santa Maria Army Air Field or Santa Maria AAF that eventually encompassed over 3,6000 acres when fully developed.

Wartime History
During 1942, used as a training base for B-25 Mitchell. Abandoned by December 1942 because the runway was insufficient for the weight of a fully loaded medium bomber. Afterwards, used to train USAAF support units including transportation, maintenance, supply personnel.

During September 1943, the airfield was transfered to the 4th Air Force (4th AF) and was use as training base for pilots flying the P-38 Lightning prior to overseas deployments. A total of 633 P-38 pilots were graduated until training ceased in June 1945.

In 1945, the first jet fighter squadron of Bell P-59 Airacomet were based at Santa Maria. By the end of World War II, they moved to March Field and this airfield was closed down.

Postwar
In 1946, sold by the War Assets Administration to Santa Barbara County. In 1949, Santa Maria purchased a half interest in the airport with a dual ownership agreement with the county. In 1964, ownership was transfered to the Santa Maria Public Airport District and the airport was renamed Santa Maria Public Airport.

Today
Still in use today as Santa Maria Public Airport, Santa Maria Airport or Captain G. Allen Hancock Airport. The airfield has two runways. The first is oriented 20/02 measures 5,130' x 75' surfaced with asphalt. The second is oriented 30/12 measures 6,304' x 150' surfaced with asphalt. Airport codes: FAA: SMX ICAO: KSMX IATA: SMX. Serviced by flights from United Express from San Francisco and Allegiant Air from Las Vegas.

Santa Maria Museum of Flight
Located at the former airfield.

References
Santa Maria Public Airport - Official Website
Historic California Posts, Camps, Stations and Airfields - Historic California Posts, Camps, Stations and Airfields
Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields: Santa Maria Airport / Hancock Field (original location), Santa Maria, CA
Santa Maria Museum of Flight - History

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Last Updated
July 19, 2024