was changed to the California-Arizona Maneuver Area (CAMA). The 46th and 85th Bomb Groups were reassigned. The Army Air Forces then used Blythe as a heavy bombardment crew training base for the Second Air Force 16th Bombardment Training Wing 358th Combat Crew Training School. The field's mission was changed to the training of combat air crews prior to shipment overseas. The 85th Bombardment Group and the 390th Bombardment Group were active at Blythe AAF in 1942 and 1943. Up to 75 Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses were flown and maintained at the base. During 1943 and 1944, Blythe AAF was used for squadron pilot training, then in December 1944 reverted to an active heavy bombardment base with Consolidated B-24 Liberators. Known units assigned to Blythe Army Airfield were: 390th Bombardment Group (Heavy) April 1942 – 1943. B-17 Flying Fortresses were active at Blythe AAF in 1942 and 1943. 46th Bombardment Group (Light) May 23, 1942 – November 1942. A-20 Havoc 85th Bombardment Group (Light) May 23, 1942 – November 1942. A-20 Havoc 85th Bombardment Group (Dive) November 2 – December 11, 1942 A-24 Dauntlesses 34th Bombardment Group (Heavy) December 15, 1942 – April 1944. B-17 Flying Fortresses and B-24 Liberators 398th Bombardment Group (Heavy) April 1943. B-17 Flying Fortresses At its peak in December 1943, the base had a population just short of 8000 uniformed and civilian personnel. This was twice the population of the city of Blythe, the only community within a one hundred mile radius. By April 1944, only a housekeeping force was assigned to the base. By July 1944, the field was abandoned by the Army and declared surplus. 126 airmen were killed in Blythe Army Air Base-related accidents. Blythe Army Air Field later became a sub-base of Muroc Army Air Field (now Edwards Air Force Base) on June 30, 1945, and was inactivated on October 18, 1945, although during October–December 1946, the 477th Composite Group (Medium) used the airfield for desert maneuvers, flying North American B-25 Mitchells. The airfield was declared surplus effective as of July 30, 1946, and was reported to the General Service Administration for disposal. On September 10, 1948, the entire 4,560-acre site was transferred to the County of Riverside via quitclaim deed dated September 10, 1948. Today a modern airport has been built on the site of the former wartime airfield; however most of the area of what was Blythe Army Air Field