Lowcountry Regional Airport: Difference between revisions

Lowcountry Regional Airport

Walterboro Army Airfield
Lowcountry Regional Airport; Walterboro Army Airfield
	Orthophoto from USGS
	IATA: RBW; ICAO: KRBW; FAA LID: RBW;
Summary
Airport type	Public
Owner	City of Walterboro & Colleton County
Serves	Walterboro, South Carolina
Elevation AMSL	101 ft / 31 m
Coordinates	32°55′16″N 80°38′26″W / 32.92111°N 80.64056°W
Website	LowCountryAirport.com
Map
	RBW Location of airport in South Carolina
Runways
Statistics (2023)
Aircraft operations (year ending 5/19/2023)
Aircraft operations (year ending 5/19/2023)	13,597
Based aircraft	21
	Source: Federal Aviation Administration

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Lowcountry Regional Airport (IATA: RBW, ICAO: KRBW, FAA LID: RBW) is a public use airport located two nautical miles (4 km) northeast of the central business district of Walterboro, a city in Colleton County, South Carolina, United States. It is owned by the city and county.^[1] This airport is included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015, which categorized it as a general aviation facility.^[2] It does not have scheduled commercial airline service.

History

The airport was dedicated June 15, 1933 as the C.C. Anderson Landing Field. In 1942 the United States Army Air Forces indicated a need for the airfield as a training airfield and control was turned over to the USAAF in February 1942. An immediate construction program began to turn the civil airport into a military airfield. Construction involved runways and airplane hangars, with three concrete runways, several taxiways and a large parking apron and a control tower. Several large hangars were also constructed. Buildings were ultimately utilitarian and quickly assembled. Most base buildings, not meant for long-term use, were constructed of temporary or semi-permanent materials. Although some hangars had steel frames and the occasional brick or tile brick building could be seen, most support buildings sat on concrete foundations but were of frame construction clad in little more than plywood and tarpaper. Walterboro Army Airfield was assigned to Third Air Force III Air Support Command, and activated on August 15, 1942. The 305th Air Base Group was the station host unit.

Initially Walterboro AAF was used primarily for training of B-25 Mitchell medium bomber pilots and aircrews, acting a sub-base of Columbia Army Airfield for follow-on training prior to the units being deployed to overseas combat theaters. Units assigned to the airfield during World War II were:

310th Bombardment Group (Medium), 11 August – 18 September 1942
321st Bombardment Group (Medium), September 1942 – 18 December 1942
340th Bombardment Group (Medium), 30 November 1942 – 30 January 1943
345th Bombardment Group (Medium), 6 March – 16 April 1943
405th Fighter-Bomber Group, 14 September 1943 – 14 September 1944, (A-24 Dauntless A-25 Shrike)

Walterboro AAF also hosted the largest camouflage school in the United States, as well as a 250-person Prisoner of War Camp. In 1944 it was reassigned to First Air Force and became an advanced combat training base for individual fighters, primarily the black trainees graduating from Tuskegee Army Air Field in Tuskegee, Alabama. Over 500 of the famed Tuskegee Airmen trained at Walterboro Army Air Field between April 1944 and October 1945 including individuals training as replacement pilots for the 332nd Fighter Squadron and the entire 447th Bombardment Group. A memorial has been erected at the site commemorating their service.

The base closed on October 31, 1945, and returned to its origins as a local airfield.

Facilities and aircraft

Lowcountry Regional Airport covers an area of 1,400 acres (567 ha) at an elevation of 101 feet (31 m) above mean sea level. It has three runways with asphalt/concrete surfaces: 5/23 is 6,002 by 100 feet (1,829 by 30 m); 17/35 is 5,705 by 100 feet (1,739 by 30 m); 9/27 is 5,408 by 100 feet (1,648 by 30 m).^[1]

For the 12-month period ending May 19, 2023, the airport had 13,597 aircraft operations, an average of 38 per day: 72% general aviation, 23% air taxi, and 4% military. At that time there were 21 aircraft based at this airport: 17 single-engine and 4 multi-engine.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d FAA Airport Form 5010 for RBW PDF. Federal Aviation Administration. Effective August 10, 2023.
^ "2011–2015 NPIAS Report, Appendix A" (PDF). National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems. Federal Aviation Administration. October 4, 2010. Archived from the original (PDF, 2.03 MB) on September 27, 2012.

This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
Manning, Thomas A. (2005), History of Air Education and Training Command, 1942–2002. Office of History and Research, Headquarters, AETC, Randolph AFB, Texas OCLC 71006954, 29991467

External links

Aerial image as of January 1994 from USGS The National Map
FAA Terminal Procedures for RBW, effective October 31, 2024
Resources for this airport:
- FAA airport information for RBW
- AirNav airport information for KRBW
- ASN accident history for RBW
- FlightAware airport information and live flight tracker
- NOAA/NWS weather observations: current, past three days
- SkyVector aeronautical chart, Terminal Procedures

[FAA-1] FAA Airport Form 5010 for RBW PDF. Federal Aviation Administration. Effective August 10, 2023.

[2] "2011–2015 NPIAS Report, Appendix A" (PDF). National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems. Federal Aviation Administration. October 4, 2010. Archived from the original (PDF, 2.03 MB) on September 27, 2012.

[1]

[2]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|Airport in Colleton County, South Carolina}}
 {{Infobox airport
-| name         = Lowcountry Regional Airport
+ | name                 = Lowcountry Regional Airport
-| nativename   = {{smaller|Walterboro Army Airfield}}
+ | nativename           = {{smaller|Walterboro Army Airfield}}
-| image        = Lowcountry Regional Airport - South Carolina.jpg
+ | image                = Lowcountry Regional Airport - South Carolina.jpg
-| image-width  = 250
+ | image-width          = 250
-| caption      = [[Orthophoto]] from [[USGS]]
+ | caption              = [[Orthophoto]] from [[USGS]]
-| IATA         = RBW
+ | IATA                 = RBW
-| ICAO         = KRBW
+ | ICAO                 = KRBW
-| FAA          = RBW
+ | FAA                  = RBW
-| type         = Public
+ | type                 = Public
-| owner        = City of Walterboro & Colleton County
+ | owner                = City of Walterboro & Colleton County
-| operator     =
+ | operator             =
-| city-served  = [[Walterboro, South Carolina]]
+ | city-served          = [[Walterboro, South Carolina]]
-| location     = <!--if different than above-->
+ | location             = <!--if different than above-->
-| elevation-f  = 101
+ | elevation-f          = 101
-| website      = [http://www.walterboroairport.com WalterboroAirport.com]
+ | website              = [http://lowcountryairport.com/ LowCountryAirport.com]
+ | coordinates          = {{coord|32|55|16|N|80|38|26|W|region:US-SC|display=inline,title}}
-| latd  =  32 | latm  = 55 | lats  = 16 | latNS  = N
-| longd = 080 | longm = 38 | longs = 26 | longEW = W
+ | pushpin_map          = USA South Carolina
-| coordinates_region     = US-SC
+ | pushpin_mapsize      = 250
-| pushpin_map            = USA South Carolina
+ | pushpin_map_caption  = Location of airport in South Carolina
-| pushpin_mapsize        = 250
+ | pushpin_label        = '''RBW'''
+ | pushpin_label_position  = top
-| pushpin_map_caption    = Location of airport in South Carolina
-| pushpin_label          = '''RBW'''
+ | r1-number            = 5/23
+ | r1-length-f          = 6,002
-| pushpin_label_position = top
-| r1-number    = 5/23
+ | r1-surface           = Asphalt/concrete
-| r1-length-f  = 6,002
+ | r2-number            = 17/35
+ | r2-length-f          = 5,705
-| r1-surface   = Asphalt/Concrete
-| r2-number    = 17/35
+ | r2-surface           = Asphalt/concrete
-| r2-length-f  = 5,705
+ | r3-number            = 9/27
+ | r3-length-f          = 5,408
-| r2-surface   = Asphalt/Concrete
-| r3-number    = 9/27
+ | r3-surface           = Asphalt/concrete
-| r3-length-f  = 5,408
+ | stat-year            = 2023
+ | stat1-header         = Aircraft operations (year ending 5/19/2023)
-| r3-surface   = Asphalt/Concrete
-| stat-year    = 2011
+ | stat1-data           = 13,597
-| stat1-header = Aircraft operations
+ | stat2-header         = Based aircraft
-| stat1-data   = 28,000
+ | stat2-data           = 21
+ | footnotes            = Source: [[Federal Aviation Administration]]<ref name="FAA">{{FAA-airport|ID=RBW|use=PU|own=PU|site=22557.*A}}. Federal Aviation Administration. Effective August 10, 2023.</ref>
-| stat2-header = Based aircraft
-| stat2-data   = 22
-| footnotes    = Source: [[Federal Aviation Administration]]<ref name="FAA">{{FAA-airport|ID=RBW|use=PU|own=PU|site=22557.*A}}. Federal Aviation Administration. Effective April 5, 2012.</ref>
 }}
 '''Lowcountry Regional Airport''' {{airport codes|RBW|KRBW|RBW}} is a public use [[airport]] located two&nbsp;[[nautical mile]]s (4&nbsp;[[kilometre|km]]) northeast of the [[central business district]] of [[Walterboro, South Carolina|Walterboro]], a city in [[Colleton County, South Carolina]], United States. It is owned by the city and county.<ref name="FAA" /> This airport is included in the [[National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems]] for 2011–2015, which [[FAA airport categories|categorized]] it as a ''[[general aviation]]'' facility.<ref>
  {{cite web
- | url = http://www.faa.gov/airports/planning_capacity/npias/reports/media/2011/npias_2011_appA.pdf
+ |url=http://www.faa.gov/airports/planning_capacity/npias/reports/media/2011/npias_2011_appA.pdf
- | title = 2011–2015 NPIAS Report, Appendix A | format = PDF, 2.03 MB
+ |title=2011–2015 NPIAS Report, Appendix A
+ |format=PDF, 2.03 MB
- | work = [http://www.faa.gov/airports/planning_capacity/npias/reports/index.cfm?sect=2011 National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems]
+ |work=National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems
- | publisher = Federal Aviation Administration | date = October 4, 2010
+ |publisher=Federal Aviation Administration
+ |date=October 4, 2010
+ |url-status=dead
- }}
+ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927084535/http://www.faa.gov/airports/planning_capacity/npias/reports/media/2011/npias_2011_appA.pdf
+ |archivedate=September 27, 2012
+}}
 </ref> It does not have scheduled [[commercial airline]] service.
 == History ==
-The airport was dedicated June 15, 1933 as the C.C. Anderson Landing Field.  In 1942 the [[United States Army Air Forces]] indicated a need for the airfield as a training airfield and control was turned over to the USAAF in February 1942.  An immediate construction program began to turn the civil airport into a military airfield.  Construction involved runways and airplane hangars, with three concrete runways, several taxiways and a large parking apron and a control tower. Several large hangars were also constructed. Buildings were ultimately utilitarian and quickly assembled. Most base buildings, not meant for long-term use, were constructed of temporary or semi-permanent materials. Although some hangars had steel frames and the occasional brick or tile brick building could be seen, most support buildings sat on concrete foundations but were of frame construction clad in little more than plywood and tarpaper.  '''Walterboro Army Airfield'''  was assigned to [[Third Air Force]] [[III Air Support Command]], and activated on 1August 15, 1942. The 305th Air Base Group was the station host unit.
+The airport was dedicated June 15, 1933 as the C.C. Anderson Landing Field. In 1942 the [[United States Army Air Forces]] indicated a need for the airfield as a training airfield and control was turned over to the USAAF in February 1942. An immediate construction program began to turn the civil airport into a military airfield. Construction involved runways and airplane hangars, with three concrete runways, several taxiways and a large parking apron and a control tower. Several large hangars were also constructed. Buildings were ultimately utilitarian and quickly assembled. Most base buildings, not meant for long-term use, were constructed of temporary or semi-permanent materials. Although some hangars had steel frames and the occasional brick or tile brick building could be seen, most support buildings sat on concrete foundations but were of frame construction clad in little more than plywood and tarpaper. '''Walterboro Army Airfield''' was assigned to [[Third Air Force]] [[III Air Support Command]], and activated on August 15, 1942. The 305th Air Base Group was the station host unit.
 Initially Walterboro AAF was used primarily for training of [[B-25 Mitchell]] medium bomber pilots and aircrews, acting a sub-base of [[Columbia Metropolitan Airport|Columbia Army Airfield]] for follow-on training prior to the units being deployed to overseas combat theaters. Units assigned to the airfield during [[World War II]] were:
+* [[310th Space Wing|310th Bombardment Group]] (Medium), 11 August – 18 September 1942
+* [[321st Bombardment Group]] (Medium), September 1942 – 18 December 1942
+* [[340th Bombardment Group]] (Medium), 30 November 1942 – 30 January 1943
+* [[345th Bombardment Wing|345th Bombardment Group]] (Medium), 6 March – 16 April 1943
+* [[405th Air Expeditionary Wing|405th Fighter-Bomber Group]], 14 September 1943 – 14 September 1944, ([[A-24 Dauntless]] [[A-25 Shrike]])
+Walterboro AAF also hosted the largest camouflage school in the United States, as well as a 250-person Prisoner of War Camp. In 1944 it was reassigned to [[First Air Force]] and became an advanced combat training base for individual fighters, primarily the black trainees graduating from [[Tuskegee Army Air Field]] in [[Tuskegee, Alabama]]. Over 500 of the famed Tuskegee Airmen trained at Walterboro Army Air Field between April 1944 and October 1945 including individuals training as replacement pilots for the [[332d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron|332nd Fighter Squadron]] and the entire [[447th Air Expeditionary Group|447th Bombardment Group]]. A memorial has been erected at the site commemorating their service.
-* [[310th Space Wing|310th Bombardment Group]] (Medium), 11 August-18 September 1942
-* [[321st Bombardment Group]] (Medium), September 1942-18 December 1942
-* [[340th Bombardment Group]] (Medium), 30 November 1942-30 January 1943
-* [[345th Bombardment Wing|345th Bombardment Group]] (Medium), 6 March-16 April 1943
-* [[405th Air Expeditionary Wing|405th Fighter-Bomber Group]], 14 September 1943-14 September 1944, ([[A-24 Dauntless]]  [[A-25 Shrike]])
-Walterboro AAF also hosted the largest camouflage school in the United States, as well as a 250 person Prisoner of War Camp. In 1944 it was reassigned to [[First Air Force]] and became an advanced combat training base for individual fighters, primarily the black trainees graduating from [[Tuskegee Army Air Field]] in [[Tuskegee, Alabama]]. Over 500 of the famed Tuskegee Airmen trained at Walterboro Army Air Field between April 1944 and October 1945 including individuals training as replacement pilots for the [[332d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron|332nd Fighter Squadron]] and the entire [[447th Air Expeditionary Group|447th Bombardment Group]]. A memorial has been erected at the site commemorating their service.
-The base closed on October 31, 1945 and returned to its origins as a local airfield.
+The base closed on October 31, 1945, and returned to its origins as a local airfield.
+[[File:Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Lowcountry SC.jpg|thumb|left|The Tuskegee Airmen Memorial]]
 == Facilities and aircraft ==
-Lowcountry Regional Airport covers an area of 1,400 [[acre]]s (567 [[hectare|ha]]) at an [[elevation]] of 101 feet (31 m) above [[mean sea level]]. It has three [[runway]]s with [[asphalt]]/[[concrete]] surfaces: 5/23 is 6,002 by 100 feet (1,829 x 30 m); 17/35 is 5,705 by 100 feet (1,739 x 30 m); 9/27 is 5,408 by 100 feet (1,648 x 30 m).<ref name="FAA" />
+Lowcountry Regional Airport covers an area of 1,400 [[acre]]s (567 [[hectare|ha]]) at an [[elevation]] of {{convert|101|ft|m}} above [[mean sea level]]. It has three [[runway]]s with [[Asphalt concrete|asphalt]]/[[concrete]] surfaces: 5/23 is {{convert|6,002|by|100|ft|m}}; 17/35 is {{convert|5,705|by|100|ft|m}}; 9/27 is {{convert|5,408|by|100|ft|m}}.<ref name="FAA" />
-For the 12-month period ending November 9, 2011, the airport had 28,000 aircraft operations, an average of 76 per day: 98% [[general aviation]] and 2% [[military aviation|military]]. At that time there were 22 aircraft based at this airport: 82% single-[[aircraft engine|engine]], 5% multi-engine, and 14% [[jet aircraft|jet]].<ref name="FAA" />
+For the 12-month period ending May 19, 2023, the airport had 13,597 aircraft operations, an average of 38 per day: 72% [[general aviation]], 23% [[air taxi]], and 4% [[military aviation|military]]. At that time there were 21 aircraft based at this airport: 17 single-[[aircraft engine|engine]] and 4 multi-engine.<ref name="FAA" />
 == See also ==
+{{Portal|Aviation}}
-{{Portal|United States Air Force|Military of the United States|World War II}}
 * [[South Carolina World War II Army Airfields]]
 * [[List of airports in South Carolina]]
@@ Line 76: / Line 80: @@
 == References ==
 <references />
+* {{Air Force Historical Research Agency}}
-* {{AFHRA}}
-* Manning, Thomas A. (2005), History of Air Education and Training Command, 1942-2002. Office of History and Research, Headquarters, AETC, Randolph AFB, Texas ASIN: B000NYX3PC
+* Manning, Thomas A. (2005), ''History of Air Education and Training Command, 1942–2002''. Office of History and Research, Headquarters, AETC, Randolph AFB, Texas {{OCLC|71006954|29991467}}
 ==External links==
 * [http://msrmaps.com/map.aspx?t=1&s=12&lat=32.921&lon=-80.6406&w=600&h=600&lp=---+None+--- Aerial image as of January 1994] from [[USGS]] ''[[The National Map]]''
 * {{FAA-procedures|RBW}}
-* {{US-airport-ga|RBW}}
+{{US-airport-ga|RBW}}
 <!--Navigation box--><br />
@@ Line 94: / Line 98: @@
 [[Category:Airports established in 1943]]
 [[Category:Airfields of the United States Army Air Forces in South Carolina]]
-[[Category:USAAF Third Air Force Group Training Stations]]
-[[Category:USAAF First Air Force Replacement Training Stations]]