Immediately south of the Millville Airport and extending almost to Dividing
Creek, the United States Government acquired 18,000 acres, covering 20 square
miles, for use as an aerial target area. Every property owner in
this region was required to sell his property to the War Department or risk
having it taken through condemnation.
Baileytown, being located just south of the airport, was the ideal location for
a planned gunnery range. The construction of targets began in late 1942
immediately after the last family had moved out. Wooden replicas of
military targets such as ships, trains, convoys, airplanes, and ammo dumps were
placed in what were once productive farm fields. Beloved homesteads, now
abandoned, became "targets of opportunity." By the time the war
ended,
Baileytown was in ruins.
Above and left:
Abandoned Baileytown farms, 1943.
Note wooden military
targets in fields.
War Department's "Option for Purchase of Land" from a
Baileytown property owner
Wooden replicas of military targets
Millville Army Air Field
