06/24/2026
Interesting article about the Dyersburg Army Air Base. Come see us at the Museum for more information.
HALLS, TN: Dyersburg Air Base Holds Great Surplus Sale as War Comes to an End: THE LONG HISTORY:
In the spring of 1946, the sound of B-17 bombers had fallen silent over the fields of Lauderdale County.
The war that had consumed the world was finally over, and one of West Tennessee's most important military installations was preparing to close its doors.
On April 18, 1946, the Nashville Tennessean announced that thousands of dollars worth of military surplus property would be sold to the public at the Dyersburg Army Air Base. The sale, scheduled for April 22 through April 26, offered local citizens an opportunity to purchase items that had once served America's wartime effort.
According to the newspaper, nearly $19,000 worth of government property was to be sold. The inventory included hand tools, wheelbarrows, mattocks, hoes, picks, chain hoists, plumbing supplies, electrical equipment, air filters, valves, gauges, office furniture, moving picture screens, glass panes, tile, insulation, and numerous other items used during the operation of the air base.
For many local residents, it was the first chance to walk through portions of the installation that had been off limits during the war.
Why Was It Called Dyersburg Army Air Base?
One question has puzzled many people over the years: Why was the base called Dyersburg Army Air Base when it was actually located near Halls?
The answer lies in geography and recognition. When the Army selected a location in 1942 for a new bomber training base, Dyersburg was the largest city in the region and was already well known throughout the Mid-South. The military originally intended the installation to serve the Dyersburg area, but suitable flat land near the city was limited.
The wide, level farmland north of Halls in Lauderdale County proved ideal for a large airfield. Although the base was built approximately two miles north of Halls, it retained the name "Dyersburg Army Air Base" because Dyersburg was the nearest major city and the best-known location on military maps and transportation routes.
A Wartime Giant in West Tennessee
Construction began during 1942, and the base soon became one of the nation's major heavy bomber training centers. It was the only inland B-17 Flying Fortress training base east of the Mississippi River.
Approximately 7,700 airmen received their final combat training there before leaving for Europe. The base occupied more than 2,500 acres and included runways, hangars, barracks, classrooms, and support facilities. Sadly, more than 100 airmen lost their lives in training accidents during the war years.
The War Ends
Germany surrendered in May 1945, and Japan followed in August. With the war over, the Army no longer needed thousands of replacement bomber crews.
Training operations at Dyersburg were sharply reduced during the summer of 1945 and had largely ended by the time Japan surrendered.
By September the installation had been placed on standby status, and the government soon announced its closure.
The April 1946 surplus sale marked one of the final chapters in the history of the wartime base. What had once been a bustling installation filled with young airmen, instructors, and roaring engines became a marketplace where farmers, mechanics, plumbers, and local residents purchased pieces of military history.
A Lasting Legacy
Although most of the wartime buildings eventually disappeared, portions of the airfield survive today as Arnold Field near Halls. The site is also home to the Veterans' Museum, which preserves the history of the base and the men who trained there before departing for combat overseas.
For one week in April 1946, however, the people of West Tennessee gathered not to watch bombers take flight, but to buy the tools, equipment, and supplies left behind by a war that had finally come to an end.
"Do you remember hearing stories of the Dyresberg Air Base at Halls?"
"Please share your before and after memories of the base in the comments below"
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BY: Robert G Reynolds of Tennessee History
