Dorr Field
Airfield
media-21849.jpeg
UPL 21849
Dorr Airfield, Florida sign 1942-45
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Detailed History
Dorr Field, Arcadia, Florida was used in the Second World War as one of John Paul Riddle’s training schools for RAF and American pilots with links to the larger bases at Carlstrom and 5 BFTS at Clewiston.
Initially opened as a flying school in 1917, Dorr Field was named after RFC trainee pilot Stephen Dorr who was killed in a training accident in Canada. Although the airfield closed at the end of the First World War, it was re-opened by Embry –Riddle in 1942 training 700 student pilots on P-17 Stearman aircraft.
After the war it was sold to the State of Florida and is currently used as DeSoto County Correctional Institution.
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 458th Bomb Group 754th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator