This site, a work in progress, is an effort to preserve the history of Souther Field.

You are invited to participate in the ongoing construction of this site if you have any material that would be appropriate. Also, if we have stated something incorrectly we would like to know. You can contact us here....

Abbreviated History of Souther Field

In 1917, Americus submitted its bid to provide an aviation camp to train pilots for the U.S. Army. Americus was later named as a location for a training camp for pilots and the contract for the construction of Souther Field was let on February 7, 1918. Work was begun on February 19th. The contract was let on the basis of cost plus 10 percent to J. B. McCrary Co. of Atlanta, GA and the Hardaway Construction Co. of Columbus, GA.

In 1918, Souther Field gave more flying hours than any field in the entire country and had quarters for 2,000 cadets.

During the years just after WWI was over, there were a lot of surplus aircraft available for purchase. In 1923 Charles Lindbergh bought one of the planes still in a wooden box and assembled it with the help of some locals. He soon made his first solo flight and as they say, "the rest is history."

In 1929, Souther Field was purchased by Sumter County. But it was not until 1940 that reconstruction of the field began in preparation for a new cadet pilot school to train U.S. and British pilots. The training facility was operated by Graham Aviation. This continued through WWII.

In 1946, Sumter County again took possession of Souther Field for use as a civil airport to be operated by Graham Aviation and offering flying instruction to anyone.

In 1948, South Georgia Trade and Vocational School (now South Georgia Technical College) was established on the historical campus. Some ten years later the local airport facility was relocated to the East of the original location and retained the historical name. In 2009, local officials made a decision to change the name of the facility to the Jimmy Carter Regional Airport.

Souther Field is the current location of South Georgia Technical College

 

The following articles are found in the South Georgia Historic Newspapers Archiveand is presented on the Web using the DjVu image format. As a result, users are required to install the DjVu browser plug-in on their computers to use the site. The plug-in is free, and versions are available for most browsers and operating systems.

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"Souther Field" Camp Site Named Americus Times-Recorder, Mar. 7, 1918

 "Camp Activities for Aviation Boys Gets Early Start Americus Times-Recorder, Mar. 14, 1918

"Steel Hangers to be Erected at Flying Camp" Americus Times-Recorder, Mar. 28, 1918

"Ditching Machine Belonging to City Brings $10 a Day" Americus Times-Recorder, Mar. 28, 1918

"Flying Squadron is Expected Here in a Few Weeks" Americus Times-Recorder, Apr. 4, 1918

"High Marks Made by Dan Chappell - Americus Boy in the Aviation Service Completes His First Course and Goes to Another Camp" Americus Times-Recorder, Apr. 11, 1918

"This City Must Raise $2,500 to Be "Cleaned UP - Government Would Then Spend About Twenty Thousand Additional Making Americus Absolutely Sanitary" Americus Times-Recorder, Apr. 18, 1918

"Aviation People" ad for Ansley's Americus Times-Recorder, Apr. 18, 1918

"Great Parade for Americus Memorial Day" Americus Times-Recorder, Apr. 25, 1918

"Major Wash to be Commandant" Americus Times-Recorder, Apr. 25, 1918

"Swamps Will Be Drained by US Sanitary Forces" Americus Times-Recorder, May 2, 1918

"250 Students For Camp" Americus Times-Recorder, May 9, 1918

"Camp Will Obey All Food Rules Says Major Wash" Americus Times-Recorder, May 9, 1918

"City is Thrilled By Army Aviator" Americus Times-Recorder, May 9, 1918

"Cut Off" (Cut Off Community?) Americus Times-Recorder, May 9, 1918

"Order Is Issued About Screening" Americus Times-Recorder, May 16, 1918

"Military Ball To Be Held Saturday" Americus Times-Recorder, May 16, 1918

"Landing Stations In Nearby Cities Sought" Americus Times-Recorder, May 16, 1918

"Special Permits To Aviation Camp" Americus Times-Recorder, May 16, 1918

"Student Aviators Arrive This Week" Americus Times-Recorder, May 23, 1918

"Two Aviators Fly To Dawson Today" Americus Times-Recorder, May 23, 1918

"Soldiers Club Organized Here" Americus Times-Recorder, May 23, 1918

"Death - Maurice J. Peters" Americus Times-Recorder, May 23, 1918

"Soldier Killed at Bathing Pool - Maurice J. Peters" Americus Times-Recorder, May 23, 1918

"Soldier At Souther Field is Attacked" Americus Times-Recorder, May 30, 1918

"Cut Off" (Cut Off Community?) Americus Times-Recorder, May 30, 1918

"Magazines and Flowers to The Hospital" Americus Times-Recorder, Jun. 6, 1918

"Ellaville News" Americus Times-Recorder, Jun. 13, 1918

"Dance At Armory" Americus Times-Recorder, Jun. 13, 1918

"Sumter County Grand Jury Presentments" Americus Times-Recorder, Jun. 20, 1918

"Camp Athletics Will Start Soon" Americus Times-Recorder, Jun. 20, 1918

"Americus To Observe 4th" Americus Times-Recorder, Jul. 4, 1918

"120 Aeroplanes At Souther Field" Americus Times-Recorder, Jul. 4, 1918

"Red Cross Ladies To Entertain Cadets" Americus Times-Recorder, Jul. 4, 1918

"Officers Thank Chamber Here for Barbecue" Americus Times-Recorder, Jul. 12, 1918

"Local News & Wanted" Americus Times-Recorder, Jul. 12, 1918

"Barbecue For Officers" Americus Times-Recorder, Jul. 12, 1918

"Mark Aston Not Killed As Was First Reported" Americus Times-Recorder, Jul. 18, 1918

"Dance At The Post" Americus Times-Recorder, Jul. 18, 1918

"Crawford Given Important Offer" Americus Times-Recorder, Jul. 18, 1918

"Rent Situation Discussed Here In A Brisk Way" Americus Times-Recorder, Jul. 25, 1918

"John A. Worthy Passed Away At Camp Hospital" Americus Times-Recorder, Jul. 25, 1918

"Watermelon Cutting" Americus Times-Recorder, Jul. 25, 1918

 

The following is a list compiled by Alan Anderson, of articles that have appeared in the Americus Times Recorder newspaper over the years. These can be found at The Lake Blackshear Regional Library in Americus. In the near future we hope to have each article posted on this site.

 "AT-R " Sept. 4, 1917  "AMERICUS HAS MADE BID FOR AVIATION CAMP;REPRESENTATIVE CRISP PRESENTS THIS CITY’S CLAIMS AND ADVANTAGES – OFFERS FAIR BUILDINGS "

 "AT-R " Jan. 16, 1918  "AMERICUS NAMED AVIA___; EXPECT WORK TO COMMENCE IN FEW WEEKS; OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT MADE TODAY THAT THIS CITY HAS BEEN AWARDED CAMP – TO BE READY APRIL FIRST "

 "AT-R " Feb. 4, 1918  "OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT IS MADE THAT BIG CAMP WILL BE LOCATED HERE; WORK TO START RIGHT AWAY; Mass Meeting at Court House Is Called For Tomorrow Afternoon – Business Men to Be Told Entire Details and Committees Names to Make Arrangements "

 "AT-R " June 8, 1919  "PLANE TUMBLES INSIDE CITY, BUT FLYERS ESCAPE WITH FEW HURTS; Motor Goes Dead, According to Statement – Wife of Pilot Sees Accident "

 "AT-R " Mar. 8, 1927  "SOUTHER FIELD GOES ___; 325 ACRES AND BUILDINGS BE SOLD APRIL 6; Quartermaster General Orders Sale of Flying Field Near Americus "

 "AT-R " July 11, 1929  "SOUTHER FIELD IS BOUGHT BY COUNTY; Confirmation of Purchase Received In Telegram By County Board Today "

AT-R " Aug. 14, 1940  "SOUTHER FIELD AIRPORT PROPOSED; $274,653 ALLOTTED TO BUILD AIRPORT IN SUMTER COUNTY; SEEK SCHOOL FOR AVIATORS; Trying to Place Job Under U.S. Defense "

 "AT-R " Nov. 19, 1940  "Reconstruction Of Souther Field Begun "

 "AT-R " Dec. 17, 1940  "WORK BEGINS ON SOUTHER FIELD SCHOOL; Barracks And Mess Hall Going Up For School; SPEED WORK; Graham Air Classes To Begin Here Feb. 15 "

 "AT-R " Feb. 26, 1941  "PROGRESS AT SOUTHER FIELD; Water, Hangar, Fields Are Solved "

 "AT-R " Mar. 3, 1941  "CARS BANNED FROM FIELD; [… ] To Speed Work at Souther Field "

 "AT-R " Mar. 21, 1941  "Souther Field In 1918 Gave More Flying Hours Than Any Field In The Entire Country; Had Quarters For 2,000 In World War; History Of Souther Field Filed With War Dept. " (photo);  "Cadets At Graham School Will Dine; BIG BARRACKS, MESS HALL AT FIELD HERE; Graham Company Operates Eight Air Schools; Souther Field Is First Venture Into Army Air Training " (photo)

 "AT-R " Aug. 3, 1944  "War Prisoners To Aid Harvest; Camp Will Be Located Near City "

 "AT-R " Aug. 8, 1944  "Camp Will Be Ready Friday; Prisoners of War Due Here August 15 "

 "AT-R " Aug. 15, 1944  "Prisoners Of War Arrive; 500 Germans And 92 Guards in Camp "

 "AT-R " Oct. 6, 1944  "SCENES AT GRAHAM AVIATION SCHOOL " (PHOTOS)

 "AT-R " June 16, 1945  "R.F.C. ERECTING BUILDINGS AT SOUTHER FIELD; Work Started on Two Large Warehouses For Planes "

 "AT-R " Dec. 22, 1945  "SOUTHER FIELD POW’S LEAVING; Saturday Is Last Day Prisoners To Work "

 "AT-R " June 18, 1946  "W.J. GRAHAM WILL OPERATE AIRPORT; PLANS ANNOUNCED; County Gets Possession Of All Hangars, Administration Building And Machine Shop; Negotiating For All Other Buildings At The Field "

 "AT-R " Sept. 9, 1946  "FLYING SCHOOL READY TO OPEN; Instruction Offered At Souther Field "

 "AT-R " Aug. 12, 1947  "Berlin Woman Asks Local Office About Her POW Husband "

 "AT-R " Jan. 23, 1958  "WORK STARTED ON AMERICUS AIRPORT " (photo)

 "AT-R " Jan. 10, 1959  " "Flipper " Files Given Newspaper "

 "AT-R " May 15, 1961  "1,500 Attend Dedication Rites At Souther Field "

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Contributors

Jerry Battle Sr. -

Alan Anderson -

Jim Plante

John E Campbell

Jeff Quirin

Bobby Sinclair

Loren & Mabel Bowers

Ben Guttery