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 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 "
