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A renaming of a roadway in Smyrna will commemorate the old Sewart Air Force Base, which was once a vital part of the Rutherford County landscape. The marking of the "Sewart Air Force Base Memorial Hwy" road naming/marker event will be held on May 30th, Memorial Day.
The Sewart base opened in 1941 and eventually closed in 1971. It was also known as the Smyrna Army Airfield. When the War Department ordered the construction of Bombardment Air Base, the United States Army Air Forces acquired the Smyrna land to build and open the Sewart Base. The base included 200 buildings and a large airfield to accommodate training needs for the Army Air Force.
In 1942, the Southeast Training Center opened on the property with the Army Air Force Pilot School. Cadets flew the B-17 Flying Fortress and the B-24 Liberator.
State Representative Mike Sparks stated, "Many thanks to Senator Bill Ketron, State Farm, Bill Hayes, Lori North along with Ben Weatherford of FirstBank for their help in making the naming happen. Many seem to have forgotten the sacrifices of our World War Two veterans known as the "Greatest Generation."
If you have Sewart Air Base related photos, send them to WGNS and we will add them to this page! News@WGNSradio.com.
A look back into the history of Rutherford County and the Sewart Air Force Base (Interview):
This interview is 10-minutes in length and focuses on Rutherford County history and the Sewart Air Force Base that was once in Smyrna, TN.
For more information about the road naming event please call Michelle Mastin at 615-394-3852.
Learn more about the base HERE.
