To the flying cadets, the contract schools were just another training assignment -- although the flight instructors were civilian contractors, the cadets still experienced the discipline and drudgery of military life.  Reveille and retreat were still held at the "base" flagpole.

But when it comes to real property accountability, the contract school airfields were a breed apart.  Since the properties were not owned or leased by the Army Air Forces, they were not designated or activated as Army Air Fields.  In official Army Air Forces directories, they were listed by the name of the civilian flying school, the name of the airport on which it operated, or sometimes just by the city name.  Part way during WWII, these properties (land, buildings, hangars, and unmovable equipment) were purchased from the civilian contractors by the Defense Plant Corporation (DPC).  This effectively made them government property, although they continued to be operated by the civilian contractors.  

Since I published my list of W.W.II Army Air Fields a few years ago, I've been bombarded by mail suggesting that I overlooked "Suchandsuch Army Air Field," or "Soandso Army Air Base."  Frequently, the locations in question were contract flying schools.  In common usage, they had been erroneously referred to as Army Air Fields or Army Air Bases.

These questions, and my own curiosity, led to this list of Army Air Forces contract flying school airfields.  This list represents a "gray area" of the Army Air Forces basing posture during WWII.  It is my hope that this paper will give these airfields the credit they deserve for their wartime service, while clarifying their status and designations.

References:

Schirmer, Robert F.  (1991, Spring).  AAC & AAF Civil Primary Flying Schools 1939-1945, Part 1.  Journal American Aviation Historical Society.
Schirmer, Robert F.  (1991, Summer).  AAC & AAF Civil Primary Flying Schools 1939-1945, Part II Chicago Primary.  Journal American Aviation Historical Society.
Schirmer, Robert F.  (1991, Fall).  AAC & AAF Civil Primary Flying Schools 1939-1945, Part III San Diego Primary.  Journal American Aviation Historical Society.
Schirmer, Robert F.  (1991, Winter).  AAC & AAF Civil Primary Flying Schools 1939-1945, Part IV Tuscaloosa Primary.  Journal American Aviation Historical Society.
Schirmer, Robert F.  (1992, Spring).  AAC & AAF Civil Primary Flying Schools 1939-1945, Part V Lincoln Primary.  Journal American Aviation Historical Society.
Schirmer, Robert F.  (1992, Summer).  AAC & AAF Civil Primary Flying Schools 1939-1945, Part VI Glendale Primary.  Journal American Aviation Historical Society.
Schirmer, Robert F.  (1992, Fall).  AAC & AAF Civil Primary Flying Schools 1939-1945, Part VII Dallas Primary.  Journal American Aviation Historical Society.
Schirmer, Robert F.  (1992, Winter).  AAC & AAF Civil Primary Flying Schools 1939-1945, Part VIII Santa Maria Primary.  Journal American Aviation Historical Society.
Schirmer, Robert F.  (1993, Spring).  AAC & AAF Civil Primary Flying Schools 1939-1945, Part IX Tulsa Primary.  Journal American Aviation Historical Society.