502:
constructed. Buildings were ultimately utilitarian and quickly assembled. Most base buildings, not meant for long-term use, were constructed of temporary or semi-permanent materials. Although some hangars had steel frames and the occasional brick or tile brick building could be seen, most support buildings sat on concrete foundations but were of frame construction clad in little more than plywood and tarpaper. During the war years, the base had what was needed for the welfare of the men: a post exchange, library, chapel, finance building, orderly rooms, headquarters sub-depot, officers and enlisted men's clubs, hospital, theater, swimming pool, shooting range, bowling and billiards.
1576:
35:
902:
199:
234:
600:
241:
206:
682:
764:
718:
591:
on 31 March 1944, the II Tactical Air
Division of III Tactical Air Command was assigned to DeRidder and conducted replacement training. Training ceased in February 1945 and the airfield was placed in reserve status. DeRidder Army Air Base was declared surplus on October 2, 1946 and transferred to
452:
The present
Beauregard Regional Airport has a long and colorful history, which began prior to its use as an airfield. The airport property includes most of what was once the Graybow community. In 1912 Graybow was an active community and the location of the Galloway Sawmill as well as the site of the
614:
A requirement of the deed was that the property had to remain a public airport and all benefits of the property must be used to benefit the airport. In this case the federal government not only gave the parish an airport but also gave a means by which the airport could provide for its own financial
493:
visited the site urging that a proposed development be filed as a
National Defense Project. The Police Jury and the City of DeRidder agreed to furnish the additional 200 acres (0.81 km), plus sewage and water facilities, and to remove obstructions to air navigation. The cost to be $ 475,518.85
475:
which later became the WPA. This project in a stump littered field provided employment for about 400 men, who worked to clear what had once been a densely wooded region. They constructed two earthen runways on 160 acres (0.65 km) of land leased from the owner. The field was used very little.
501:
An immediate construction program began to convert the civilian airport into a military airfield and support complex. Construction involved runways and airplane hangars, with three concrete runways, several taxiways and a large parking apron and a control tower. Several large hangars were also
626:
The World War II hangar remains in use as the main hangar and terminal of the
Beauregard Regional Airport. The concrete vault of the Army Air Base Finance Office is located adjacent to the hangar. The streets as laid out during World War II are still in use and several foundations of original
622:
personnel. Today it operates as the largest general aviation facility that is located in the state of
Louisiana. The hangar area is essentially unchanged today except that the 75-foot (23 m) control tower has long since been removed and replaced by a metal light beacon tower.
484:
Interest in the military utilization of the airfield increased significantly in 1939 when war began in Europe. The United States needed a training ground for
American troops. In the summer of 1940 and throughout 1941 the area was used for the "Louisiana Maneuvers".
488:
The
Beauregard Parish Police Jury bought the previously leased 160 acres (0.65 km) plus an additional 280 acres (1.1 km) for $ 11,000. An additional 200 acres (0.81 km) was later bought to make up 1-square-mile (2.6 km). In February, 1941, the
768:
722:
1700:
471:. To counteract the unemployment caused by the depression, work projects were activated across the country. One such project was begun in 1934, 3 miles (4.8 km) west of DeRidder under the Auspices of the
1705:
606:
The
Beauregard Parish Police Jury assumed responsibility for the airport that year. On December 23, 1948 the government deeded the base to the Police Jury under the terms of the Surplus Property Act.
891:
1532:
155:
884:
1690:
1619:
877:
810:
1664:
700:
490:
1492:
1502:
541:
which performed medium and light bomber tactical bomber training. Units assigned to DeRidder and the aircraft they trained on were:
1507:
233:
1164:
198:
464:
tracks with the planer mill on one side of the tracks and the big mill, commissary, and office on the other side of the tracks.
995:
554:
397:
368:
74:
1695:
1634:
1542:
1340:
1028:
1023:
658:
For the 12-month period ending
September 23, 2022, the airport had 14,400 aircraft operations, an average of 39 per day: 93%
530:
1456:
1370:
1249:
1224:
1179:
905:
695:
1522:
1219:
1184:
1174:
495:
472:
412:
148:
126:
1204:
1189:
869:
1557:
1552:
1517:
1476:
1471:
953:
517:
494:
excluding labor. On 1 July 1941, a contract for Lease was signed between the
Beauregard Parish Police Jury and the
1527:
1365:
1360:
1154:
1064:
593:
524:
424:
1149:
958:
820:
749:
538:
1575:
34:
1395:
1299:
1279:
1274:
1269:
1264:
1259:
1254:
1239:
1234:
1229:
1209:
1194:
938:
572:
563:
545:
615:
self-support. Today the airport includes over 4,200 acres (17 km) and is financially self-supporting.
1294:
1289:
1284:
1244:
1214:
1169:
1099:
1084:
1074:
974:
933:
138:
1466:
1461:
1345:
1330:
1325:
1320:
1315:
1139:
1134:
1124:
1119:
1114:
1104:
1089:
1079:
1069:
1059:
1049:
705:
901:
1659:
1654:
1497:
1199:
1044:
428:
423:. It is owned by Beauregard Parish and is located three nautical miles (6 km) southwest of the
1669:
1440:
1435:
1430:
1425:
1420:
1415:
1410:
1405:
1400:
1390:
1385:
1380:
1054:
948:
745:
581:
400:
130:
116:
77:
832:
1644:
1537:
1512:
1375:
1355:
1144:
1129:
943:
436:
1649:
1624:
1350:
1000:
990:
788:
663:
461:
389:
381:
63:
52:
1629:
1609:
1599:
1159:
659:
648:
599:
468:
432:
1639:
1614:
1604:
1594:
1109:
908:
687:
667:
510:
848:
640:
509:. It housed anywhere from 3000 to 5000 troops at a time. The airfield was assigned to
1684:
549:
420:
912:
619:
585:
558:
520:, for reconnaissance and observation units. Units assigned to the airfield were:
852:
618:
The airport continues to host military exercises which include parachute jumps by
838:
635:
Beauregard Regional Airport covers an area of 4,300 acres (1,700 ha) at an
454:
1547:
1094:
677:
576:
567:
170:
157:
1335:
858:
842:
636:
416:
787:. Office of History and Research, Headquarters, AETC, Randolph AFB, Texas
796:
792:
652:
476:
Barnstorming pilots would occasionally visit and offer rides for $ 2.00.
666:. At that time there were 20 aircraft based at this airport: 18 single-
408:
826:
644:
284:
271:
862:
651:
surface; 18/36 is 5,494 by 100 feet (1,675 x 30 m) with an asphalt/
598:
467:
Two decades later the nation was experiencing the effects of the
39:
873:
772:
726:
505:
Just before Christmas 1941, the first troops arrived at the
1701:
Airfields of the United States Army Air Forces in Louisiana
1706:
Buildings and structures in Beauregard Parish, Louisiana
785:
History of Air Education and Training Command, 1942–2002
1485:
1449:
1308:
1037:
1016:
1009:
983:
967:
926:
919:
647:: 14/32 is 4,218 by 60 feet (1,286 x 18 m) with an
557:(Dive), 20 February – 13 April 1943
353:
345:
336:
270:
186:
147:
136:
122:
112:
104:
96:
91:
21:
498:for a military airfield to be built on the site.
885:
584:, 12 February – 26 March 1944
566:, 4 August – 10 December 1943
537:In late 1942, the airfield was reassigned to
8:
548:(Medium), 1 December 1942 – 31 January 1943
533:, 25 July – 28 September 1942
527:, 10 April – 13 December 1942
346:Aircraft operations (year ending 9/23/2022)
1013:
923:
892:
878:
870:
342:
18:
731:
575:, 10 December 1943 – 10 February 1944
220:Location of Beauregard Regional Airport
516:Initial training was performed by the
741:
739:
737:
735:
701:Louisiana World War II Army Airfields
491:United States Army Corps of Engineers
460:The sawmill had been built along the
7:
773:Air Force Historical Research Agency
727:Air Force Historical Research Agency
16:Airport in near DeRidder, Louisiana
14:
1691:1934 establishments in Louisiana
1574:
900:
767: This article incorporates
762:
721: This article incorporates
716:
680:
239:
232:
204:
197:
33:
847:NOAA/NWS weather observations:
811:FAA Terminal Procedures for DRI
369:Federal Aviation Administration
103:
1:
1588:United States Army Air Forces
906:United States Army Air Forces
813:, effective September 5, 2024
746:FAA Airport Form 5010 for DRI
696:List of airports in Louisiana
435:community, with no scheduled
261:Show map of the United States
827:airport information for KDRI
816:Resources for this airport:
627:buildings are still intact.
496:United States Army Air Force
240:
205:
821:airport information for DRI
783:Manning, Thomas A. (2005),
378:Beauregard Regional Airport
23:Beauregard Regional Airport
1722:
954:III Reconnaissance Command
518:III Reconnaissance Command
473:Emergency Relief Authority
1583:
1572:
975:III Tactical Air Division
639:of 202 feet (62 m) above
594:War Assets Administration
531:77th Reconnaissance Group
525:74th Reconnaissance Group
431:. The airport serves the
425:central business district
365:
341:
291:
288:
283:
279:
191:
47:
32:
959:III Tactical Air Command
833:accident history for DRI
539:III Tactical Air Command
513:as a training airfield.
939:III Air Support Command
753:, effective 2023-09-07.
631:Facilities and aircraft
573:409th Bombardment Group
564:417th Bombardment Group
555:312th Bombardment Group
546:321st Bombardment Group
143:202 ft / 62 m
42:aerial image as of 2006
1070:30th Bombardment Group
934:II Air Support Command
769:public domain material
723:public domain material
603:
507:DeRidder Army Air Base
26:DeRidder Army Air Base
1696:Airports in Louisiana
1001:40th Bombardment Wing
706:DeRidder USO Building
602:
223:Show map of Louisiana
171:30.83167°N 93.34000°W
1558:426th Reconnaissance
1553:424th Reconnaissance
1477:407th Fighter-Bomber
1472:406th Fighter-Bomber
670:and 2 multi-engine.
1548:423d Reconnaissance
1543:77th Reconnaissance
1538:75th Reconnaissance
1533:70th Reconnaissance
1528:69th Reconnaissance
1523:68th Reconnaissance
1518:67th Reconnaissance
1513:65th Reconnaissance
1508:26th Reconnaissance
1503:10th Reconnaissance
1467:86th Fighter-Bomber
1462:48th Fighter-Bomber
1457:27th Fighter-Bomber
949:III Fighter Command
863:Terminal Procedures
843:live flight tracker
839:airport information
596:on April 30, 1947.
582:408th Fighter Group
429:DeRidder, Louisiana
258:(the United States)
176:30.83167; -93.34000
167: /
131:DeRidder, Louisiana
117:DeRidder, Louisiana
1498:9th Reconnaissance
944:III Bomber Command
859:aeronautical chart
604:
437:commercial airline
407:) is a public use
1678:
1677:
1570:
1569:
1566:
1565:
1493:2d Reconnaissance
1300:488th Bombardment
1295:483rd Bombardment
1290:463rd Bombardment
1285:454th Bombardment
1280:451st Bombardment
1275:418th Bombardment
1270:417th Bombardment
1265:416th Bombardment
1260:411th Bombardment
1255:410th Bombardment
1250:409th Bombardment
1245:397th Bombardment
1240:396th Bombardment
1235:394th Bombardment
1230:391st Bombardment
1225:387th Bombardment
1220:386th Bombardment
1215:345th Bombardment
1210:344th Bombardment
1205:340th Bombardment
1200:336th Bombardment
1195:335th Bombardment
1180:321st Bombardment
1175:320th Bombardment
1170:319th Bombardment
1165:312th Bombardment
1160:310th Bombardment
1155:309th Bombardment
1150:100th Bombardment
752:
462:Santa Fe Railroad
413:Beauregard Parish
375:
374:
361:
360:
337:Statistics (2022)
332:
331:
328:Asphalt/concrete
127:Beauregard Parish
108:Beauregard Parish
1713:
1578:
1190:323d Bombardment
1185:322d Bombardment
1145:99th Bombardment
1140:98th Bombardment
1135:97th Bombardment
1130:95th Bombardment
1125:94th Bombardment
1120:93rd Bombardment
1115:92nd Bombardment
1110:91st Bombardment
1105:90th Bombardment
1100:88th Bombardment
1095:85th Bombardment
1090:47th Bombardment
1085:46th Bombardment
1080:44th Bombardment
1075:38th Bombardment
1065:29th Bombardment
1060:21st Bombardment
1055:17th Bombardment
1050:12th Bombardment
1029:3rd Air Commando
1024:2nd Air Commando
1014:
996:9th Fighter Wing
991:8th Fighter Wing
924:
904:
894:
887:
880:
871:
799:
781:
775:
766:
765:
760:
754:
748:
743:
720:
719:
690:
685:
684:
683:
660:general aviation
469:Great Depression
433:general aviation
343:
281:
280:
274:
262:
243:
242:
236:
224:
208:
207:
201:
182:
181:
179:
178:
177:
172:
168:
165:
164:
163:
160:
84:
83:
70:
69:
59:
58:
37:
27:
19:
1721:
1720:
1716:
1715:
1714:
1712:
1711:
1710:
1681:
1680:
1679:
1674:
1579:
1562:
1481:
1445:
1304:
1045:3rd Bombardment
1033:
1005:
979:
963:
915:
909:Third Air Force
898:
853:past three days
807:
802:
782:
778:
763:
761:
757:
744:
733:
717:
714:
688:Aviation portal
686:
681:
679:
676:
633:
612:
511:Third Air Force
482:
450:
445:
371:
272:
266:
265:
264:
263:
260:
259:
253:
252:
251:
250:
244:
227:
226:
225:
222:
221:
218:
217:
216:
215:
209:
175:
173:
169:
166:
161:
158:
156:
154:
153:
137:Elevation
87:
81:
73:
67:
62:
56:
51:
43:
28:
25:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1719:
1717:
1709:
1708:
1703:
1698:
1693:
1683:
1682:
1676:
1675:
1673:
1672:
1667:
1662:
1657:
1652:
1647:
1642:
1637:
1632:
1627:
1622:
1617:
1612:
1607:
1602:
1597:
1591:
1590:
1584:
1581:
1580:
1573:
1571:
1568:
1567:
1564:
1563:
1561:
1560:
1555:
1550:
1545:
1540:
1535:
1530:
1525:
1520:
1515:
1510:
1505:
1500:
1495:
1489:
1487:
1486:Reconnaissance
1483:
1482:
1480:
1479:
1474:
1469:
1464:
1459:
1453:
1451:
1450:Fighter-Bomber
1447:
1446:
1444:
1443:
1438:
1433:
1428:
1423:
1418:
1413:
1408:
1403:
1398:
1393:
1388:
1383:
1378:
1373:
1368:
1363:
1358:
1353:
1348:
1343:
1338:
1333:
1328:
1323:
1318:
1312:
1310:
1306:
1305:
1303:
1302:
1297:
1292:
1287:
1282:
1277:
1272:
1267:
1262:
1257:
1252:
1247:
1242:
1237:
1232:
1227:
1222:
1217:
1212:
1207:
1202:
1197:
1192:
1187:
1182:
1177:
1172:
1167:
1162:
1157:
1152:
1147:
1142:
1137:
1132:
1127:
1122:
1117:
1112:
1107:
1102:
1097:
1092:
1087:
1082:
1077:
1072:
1067:
1062:
1057:
1052:
1047:
1041:
1039:
1035:
1034:
1032:
1031:
1026:
1020:
1018:
1011:
1007:
1006:
1004:
1003:
998:
993:
987:
985:
981:
980:
978:
977:
971:
969:
965:
964:
962:
961:
956:
951:
946:
941:
936:
930:
928:
921:
917:
916:
899:
897:
896:
889:
882:
874:
868:
867:
866:
865:
855:
845:
835:
829:
823:
814:
806:
805:External links
803:
801:
800:
776:
755:
730:
713:
710:
709:
708:
703:
698:
692:
691:
675:
672:
641:mean sea level
632:
629:
611:
608:
589:
588:
579:
570:
561:
552:
535:
534:
528:
481:
478:
449:
446:
444:
441:
373:
372:
366:
363:
362:
359:
358:
355:
354:Based aircraft
351:
350:
347:
339:
338:
334:
333:
330:
329:
326:
323:
320:
316:
315:
312:
309:
306:
302:
301:
298:
294:
293:
290:
287:
277:
276:
268:
267:
254:
246:
245:
238:
237:
231:
230:
229:
228:
219:
211:
210:
203:
202:
196:
195:
194:
193:
192:
189:
188:
184:
183:
151:
145:
144:
141:
134:
133:
124:
120:
119:
114:
110:
109:
106:
102:
101:
98:
94:
93:
89:
88:
86:
85:
71:
60:
48:
45:
44:
38:
30:
29:
22:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1718:
1707:
1704:
1702:
1699:
1697:
1694:
1692:
1689:
1688:
1686:
1671:
1668:
1666:
1663:
1661:
1658:
1656:
1653:
1651:
1648:
1646:
1643:
1641:
1638:
1636:
1633:
1631:
1628:
1626:
1623:
1621:
1618:
1616:
1613:
1611:
1608:
1606:
1603:
1601:
1598:
1596:
1593:
1592:
1589:
1586:
1585:
1582:
1577:
1559:
1556:
1554:
1551:
1549:
1546:
1544:
1541:
1539:
1536:
1534:
1531:
1529:
1526:
1524:
1521:
1519:
1516:
1514:
1511:
1509:
1506:
1504:
1501:
1499:
1496:
1494:
1491:
1490:
1488:
1484:
1478:
1475:
1473:
1470:
1468:
1465:
1463:
1460:
1458:
1455:
1454:
1452:
1448:
1442:
1441:506th Fighter
1439:
1437:
1436:414th Fighter
1434:
1432:
1431:408th Fighter
1429:
1427:
1426:405th Fighter
1424:
1422:
1421:404th Fighter
1419:
1417:
1416:372nd Fighter
1414:
1412:
1411:369th Fighter
1409:
1407:
1406:361st Fighter
1404:
1402:
1401:339th Fighter
1399:
1397:
1396:338th Fighter
1394:
1392:
1391:337th Fighter
1389:
1387:
1386:332nd Fighter
1384:
1382:
1381:311th Fighter
1379:
1377:
1374:
1372:
1369:
1367:
1364:
1362:
1359:
1357:
1354:
1352:
1349:
1347:
1344:
1342:
1339:
1337:
1334:
1332:
1329:
1327:
1324:
1322:
1319:
1317:
1314:
1313:
1311:
1307:
1301:
1298:
1296:
1293:
1291:
1288:
1286:
1283:
1281:
1278:
1276:
1273:
1271:
1268:
1266:
1263:
1261:
1258:
1256:
1253:
1251:
1248:
1246:
1243:
1241:
1238:
1236:
1233:
1231:
1228:
1226:
1223:
1221:
1218:
1216:
1213:
1211:
1208:
1206:
1203:
1201:
1198:
1196:
1193:
1191:
1188:
1186:
1183:
1181:
1178:
1176:
1173:
1171:
1168:
1166:
1163:
1161:
1158:
1156:
1153:
1151:
1148:
1146:
1143:
1141:
1138:
1136:
1133:
1131:
1128:
1126:
1123:
1121:
1118:
1116:
1113:
1111:
1108:
1106:
1103:
1101:
1098:
1096:
1093:
1091:
1088:
1086:
1083:
1081:
1078:
1076:
1073:
1071:
1068:
1066:
1063:
1061:
1058:
1056:
1053:
1051:
1048:
1046:
1043:
1042:
1040:
1036:
1030:
1027:
1025:
1022:
1021:
1019:
1015:
1012:
1008:
1002:
999:
997:
994:
992:
989:
988:
986:
982:
976:
973:
972:
970:
966:
960:
957:
955:
952:
950:
947:
945:
942:
940:
937:
935:
932:
931:
929:
925:
922:
918:
914:
910:
907:
903:
895:
890:
888:
883:
881:
876:
875:
872:
864:
860:
856:
854:
850:
846:
844:
840:
836:
834:
830:
828:
824:
822:
818:
817:
815:
812:
809:
808:
804:
798:
794:
790:
786:
780:
777:
774:
771:from the
770:
759:
756:
751:
747:
742:
740:
738:
736:
732:
729:
728:
725:from the
724:
711:
707:
704:
702:
699:
697:
694:
693:
689:
678:
673:
671:
669:
665:
661:
656:
654:
650:
646:
643:. It has two
642:
638:
630:
628:
624:
621:
616:
609:
607:
601:
597:
595:
587:
583:
580:
578:
574:
571:
569:
565:
562:
560:
556:
553:
551:
550:B-25 Mitchell
547:
544:
543:
542:
540:
532:
529:
526:
523:
522:
521:
519:
514:
512:
508:
503:
499:
497:
492:
486:
479:
477:
474:
470:
465:
463:
458:
456:
447:
442:
440:
438:
434:
430:
426:
422:
421:United States
418:
414:
410:
406:
402:
399:
395:
391:
387:
383:
379:
370:
364:
356:
352:
348:
344:
340:
335:
327:
324:
321:
318:
317:
313:
310:
307:
304:
303:
299:
296:
295:
286:
282:
278:
275:
269:
257:
249:
235:
214:
200:
190:
185:
180:
152:
150:
146:
142:
140:
135:
132:
128:
125:
121:
118:
115:
111:
107:
99:
95:
90:
79:
76:
72:
65:
61:
54:
50:
49:
46:
41:
36:
31:
20:
1587:
1376:85th Fighter
1371:84th Fighter
1366:81st Fighter
1361:80th Fighter
1356:79th Fighter
1351:59th Fighter
1346:56th Fighter
1341:54th Fighter
1336:53rd Fighter
1331:50th Fighter
1326:49th Fighter
1321:31st Fighter
1316:20th Fighter
1017:Air Commando
913:World War II
837:FlightAware
784:
779:
758:
715:
657:
634:
625:
620:Fort Johnson
617:
613:
605:
590:
586:P-40 Warhawk
559:A-24 Banshee
536:
515:
506:
504:
500:
487:
483:
480:World War II
466:
459:
451:
404:
393:
385:
377:
376:
255:
247:
212:
97:Airport type
1038:Bombardment
610:Current use
455:Grabow riot
174: /
149:Coordinates
1685:Categories
1660:Fourteenth
1655:Thirteenth
857:SkyVector
712:References
577:A-20 Havoc
568:A-20 Havoc
162:93°20′24″W
159:30°49′54″N
1670:Twentieth
1665:Fifteenth
968:Divisions
655:surface.
637:elevation
439:service.
417:Louisiana
285:Direction
1645:Eleventh
927:Commands
797:29991467
793:71006954
674:See also
664:military
653:concrete
367:Source:
314:Asphalt
292:Surface
123:Location
1650:Twelfth
1625:Seventh
1309:Fighter
849:current
825:AirNav
662:and 7%
649:asphalt
645:runways
448:Origins
443:History
409:airport
289:Length
273:Runways
129:, near
92:Summary
1630:Eighth
1610:Fourth
1600:Second
1010:Groups
791:
668:engine
349:14,400
325:1,675
322:5,494
319:18/36
311:1,286
308:4,218
305:14/32
113:Serves
100:Public
1640:Tenth
1635:Ninth
1620:Sixth
1615:Fifth
1605:Third
1595:First
984:Wings
920:Units
105:Owner
841:and
831:ASN
819:FAA
789:OCLC
394:KDRI
390:ICAO
382:IATA
256:KDRI
248:KDRI
213:KDRI
139:AMSL
68:KDRI
64:ICAO
53:IATA
40:USGS
911:in
750:PDF
427:of
411:in
405:DRI
401:LID
398:FAA
386:DRI
297:ft
187:Map
82:DRI
78:LID
75:FAA
57:DRI
1687::
861:,
851:,
795:,
734:^
457:.
419:,
415:,
403::
396:,
392::
388:,
384::
357:20
300:m
80::
66::
55::
893:e
886:t
879:v
380:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
