Buckingham Army Air Field Gunnery Ranges, located near Ft. Myers in Lee County, Florida, played a crucial role during World War II as one of only six gunnery schools in the United States. Over 50,000 soldiers earned their wings as aerial gunners at this facility, where they were trained to protect American bomber planes from enemy attacks. The trainees learned to shoot at moving targets from a moving platform, firing machine guns at unmanned jeeps carrying large white cloth targets. This training equipped them with the skills and knowledge needed to defend bombers in both Europe and the Pacific.
These gunnery ranges were an integral part of the Buckingham Army Air Field and Florida's contribution to training military personnel who served in protecting the nation. Erected in 2017 by Lennar Homes, LLC and the Florida Department of State, the Buckingham Army Air Field-Gunnery Ranges marker commemorates the historical significance of this site and its role in World War II.
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