Waycross Army Airfield was initially activated as a sub-base of Hunter Army Airfield, Savannah, Georgia. When the 85th Bombardment Group (Dive) and the 41st Service Group arrived at Waycross from Hunter AAF during the second week of August 1942, the base was far from complete so a tent city was utilized. The 85th Bomb Group had been activated at Hunter in February 1942 and initially equipped with the Vultee A-31 Vengeance dive bombers repossessed from British contracts when the war began. The 85th Bomb Group, consisting of the 499th, 500th, 501st and the 502nd Bombardment Squadrons (Dive) were later re-equipped with the Douglas A-24 Dauntless during 1942. The 85th Bomb Group's stay at Waycross was relatively short and at the end of September the Group departed for Gillespie Army Airfield, Tennessee.