In 1940 the United States Army Air Corps was establishing civil pilot training schools at airports in the southeast, with its moderate weather.

An additional investment of over $400,000 was made by Hal S. Darr, owner of the contract flying school for the construction of the cantonment area and one half the cost of one hangar.

Thus Darr Aero Tech became the first Army Air Corps activity constructed in Georgia during the buildup to World War II.

In addition to the main school at Albany, the following auxiliary airfields were used: On August 15, 1940 the first class of 45 cadets began training.

The seven British cadets killed at Darr and Turner Field, were interred at Albany's Crown Hill Cemetery.

A granite monument and flagpole erected by the Albany American Legion Post 30 mark the graves today.

Albany Army Airfield and Darr Aero Tech is remembered by a display inside the terminal building plus a memorial and flagpole outside.

[1] In the year ending November 30, 2022 the airport had 18,240 aircraft operations, average 50 per day: 53% general aviation, 21% military, 15% air taxi, and 11% airline.