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Twentynine Palms Airport (TNP), near the picturesque city of Twentynine Palms, California, is the closest airport to the entrance of the fabulous Joshua Tree National Park. The airport traces its history to the training of the military pilots during World War II.

After opening a training base known as Twentynine Palms Aviation Academy, the military created a series of small runways where gliders could land after training operations. The Airport is located in the close proximity to the Twentynine Palms United States Marine Corps base and its support activities.

History of Twentynine Palms Airport

The airport was activated on January 1, 1942 by the United States Army Air Forces. It started as USAAF contract glider training, and was called Twenty-Nine Palms Air Academy until February 16, 1943.

It had four auxiliary airfields in local area, including Condor Field. Flying training was performed with Fairchild PT-19s as the primary trainer. It also had several PT-17 Stearmans and a few P-40 Warhawks assigned. It conducted basic flying training from March 1943 until being transferred to United States Navy on April 1944.

General Henry H. Arnold, Chief of the Army Air Forces, ordered the training for 150 glider pilots for World War II. By the end of WW2 over 6,000 glider pilots had been trained. In all 1,654 of the glider pilots were trained at the Twentynine Palms Air Academy. It was under USN control and became an auxiliary airfield to NAS San Diego.

Twentynine Palms Airport covers an area of 480 acres at an elevation of 1,888 feet (575 m) above mean sea level.

Twentynine Palms Airport (TNP), near the picturesque city of Twentynine Palms, California, is the closest airport to the entrance of the fabulous Joshua Tree National Park. The airport traces its history to the training of the military pilots during World War II. After opening a training base known as Twentynine Palms Aviation Academy, the military created a series of small runways where gliders could land after training operations. The Airport is located in the close proximity to the Twentynine Palms United States Marine Corps base and its support activities.

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