Keystone Army Air Field

Keystone Army Airfield, was a World War II United States Army Air Forces airfield, located 4.2mi north-northwest of Keystone Heights, Florida.HistoryThe airport was constructed in 1942 as Crystal Lake Airfield, and was commissioned in December 1942 as Keystone Army Airfield by the United States Army Air Forces. It was used as part of the Air University's Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics tactical combat simulation school in Central and Northern Florida. Kaystone AAF was assigned as a sub-base of Alachua Army Airfield, near Gainesville.Strategic Reconnaissance SchoolDuring the war, Keystone AAF was the home of the AAFSAT Strategic Reconnaissance School. The 432d Tactical Reconnaissance Group was moved in early March 1943 from Alachua as the Operational Training Unit (OTU), although its component, 3d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron was assigned to Keystone in January in an attached status from the AAFSAT Air Support Department.At Keystone, students flew the F-3A Havoc (a version of the A-20 Havoc attack aircraft), and the P-39D-3 Reconnaissance version of the Airacobra fighter. The L-2 and L-3 Grasshopper light observation aircraft were also utilized. Pilots were trained in battlefield reconnaissance as well as long-range strategic reconnaissance photography, evasion techniques and other skills necessary for the unarmed combat reconnaissance missions to assist fighter, bombardment, and ground units.