Citizendia

Texas World War II Army Airfields

Part of World War II

Locations of wartime training airfields in Texas (1942-1945)
USAAF Airfields are in red, Bases used by the USAF are in blue, minor training fields in green
TypeArmy Airfields
Built1940-1944
In use1940-Present
Controlled byUnited States Army Air Forces
GarrisonArmy Air Force Training Command
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Col. David Petersen, 80th Flying Training Wing commander, is greeted by Lt. Col. Andrew Toth, 80th Operations Group deputy commander, and Lt. Col. Ternell Washington, 80th FTW, Jan. 4. Colonel Petersen and Maj. Jeff Grayson, 97th Flying Training Squadron chief of training, traveled to Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, to retrieve the first T-6A Texan II's in Sheppard’s inventory. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Jacob Corbin)
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Col. The United States Army Air Forces ( USAAF) was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II. David Petersen, 80th Flying Training Wing commander, is greeted by Lt. Col. Andrew Toth, 80th Operations Group deputy commander, and Lt. Col. Ternell Washington, 80th FTW, Jan. 4. Colonel Petersen and Maj. Jeff Grayson, 97th Flying Training Squadron chief of training, traveled to Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, to retrieve the first T-6A Texan II's in Sheppard’s inventory. (U. S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Jacob Corbin)

In today's United States Air Force, nearly every Airman and Officer has spent some of their military service being trained in Texas. Texas ( is a state geographically located in the South Central United States and is also known as the Lone Star State. Be it basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, technical training, officer training, or flight training, Texas is indeed, the "Home of the Air Force" with the headquarters of Air Education and Training Command being located at Randolph Air Force Base, near San Antonio. Lackland Air Force Base is a base of the United States Air Force operated by the Air Education and Training Command ( AETC) Air Education and Training Command ( AETC) was established July 1 1993 with the realignment of Air Training Command and Air University. Randolph Air Force Base ( Randolph AFB) is a base of the United States Air Force located in Universal City, Texas, near San Antonio

Contents

Overview

This tradition of training goes back to the very beginnings of the Air Force, with early fight training being held at various Army camps and airfields in Texas prior to World War I, and in the 1920s and 1930s. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All

From the poorly armed and understaffed United States Army Air Corps that existed at the time the first bombs were dropped on Pearl Harbor, the United States produced, just a few years later, the greatest Air Force the world has ever seen. The United States Army Air Corps (USAAC was the predecessor of the U Pearl Harbor is a Harbor on the Island of O{{okina}}ahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. The effort to achieve this was unprecedented.

During World War II, Texas was a major United States Army Air Force (USAAF) training center for training fighter and bomber pilots and aircrews. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Texas ( is a state geographically located in the South Central United States and is also known as the Lone Star State. The United States Army Air Forces ( USAAF) was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II. Fourth Air Force, headquartered at Hamilton Army Airfield, California established numerous airfields in Texas between 1942 and 1945 with a mission to prepare groups and squadrons for combat in the various overseas theaters. Fourth Air Force is a Numbered Air Force in Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC and is located at March Air Reserve Base, Riverside California. Hamilton Air Force Base was a former United States Air Force base located along the northern shore of San Francisco Bay south of Novato, California California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean.

To build the facilities needed to train personnel, a massive land acquisition program was carried out. Often families who had lived on their land for generations were forced to move with little notice, their homes and buildings sold off or bulldozed into the ground so construction could begin. Within six months a small city replaced the farm or vacant land and training would start.

Typically the airfields were built from scratch on farm or vacant land and contained several hundred buildings of all descriptions. These training fields were small self contained towns that differed according to their use, but in many ways were the same. They varied in size from about 2,000 acres (8. 1 km²) for a basic flight training base to more than 65,000 acres (260 km²) for a base used to teach gunnery. Thousands of men and women lived and worked on the bases either as trainers, trainees, support personnel, or family members.

The facilities vital to the training mission were constructed first and that part took about six months. Throughout the war, they were constantly improved to make living more comfortable and the training more efficient. Construction was of wood, tar paper, and non-masonry siding. The use of concrete and steel was limited because of the critical need elsewhere. Most buildings were hot and dusty in the summer and very cold in the winter.

Most fields had hangars, barracks, warehouses, hospitals, dental clinics, dining halls, and maintenance shops. There were libraries, social clubs for officers, and enlisted men, and stores to buy living necessities. Some training fields had swimming pools, all had sport fields.

It is still possible to find remnants of these wartime training fields. Many were converted into municipal airports, some are industrial parks, and others were retained as United States Air Force installations. Hundreds of the temporary buildings that were used survive today, and are being used for other purposes.

Texas, due to its warm climate and excellent year-round flying weather, had numerous training airfields constructed there. The following list is a compilation of the major and minor airfields that can be determined. Numerous auxiliary airfields were also built, mostly to handle the excess amount of air traffic at the major bases, but also so pilots could practice touch-and-go landings without disrupting the traffic pattern at the main bases. I have not included these auxiliary bases, mostly because they cannot be found or located and they have long since returned to agricultural use.

After the war, many of the airfields were returned to civil control. Others became United States Air Force bases. Some retained their training mission as part of Air Training Command; some became massive storage depots of reserve aircraft; others became front-line bases with Strategic Air Command and Tactical Air Command. Air Training Command (ATC is a former major command of the United States Army Air Forces and United States Air Force. The Strategic Air Command (SAC was both a major command and a "specified command" in the U Tactical Air Command (TAC it an inactive United States Air Force organization

USAAF Airfields

Cold War U. San Antonio International Airport is a commercial airport in San Antonio Texas. An IATA airport code, also known an IATA location identifier, IATA station code or simply a location identifier, is a three-letter code designating many The ICAO (ˌaɪˌkeɪˈoʊ Airport code or location indicator is a four-letter Alphanumeric Code designating each airport around Aloe Army Airfield is an abandoned airfield located 7 miles W of Victoria Texas. Avenger Field Airport is a commercial airport located 3 miles W of Sweetwater Texas. An IATA airport code, also known an IATA location identifier, IATA station code or simply a location identifier, is a three-letter code designating many The ICAO (ˌaɪˌkeɪˈoʊ Airport code or location indicator is a four-letter Alphanumeric Code designating each airport around For the radio stations in Andrews Texas see KACT (AM and KACT-FM. An IATA airport code, also known an IATA location identifier, IATA station code or simply a location identifier, is a three-letter code designating many The ICAO (ˌaɪˌkeɪˈoʊ Airport code or location indicator is a four-letter Alphanumeric Code designating each airport around The Federal Aviation Administration ( FAA) is an agency of the United States Department of Transportation with authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of A location identifier is a symbolic representation for the name and the location of an Airport, navigation aid, or Weather station, and is used for manned Brownwood Regional Airport is a public airport located in central Texas, near the city of Brownwood. An IATA airport code, also known an IATA location identifier, IATA station code or simply a location identifier, is a three-letter code designating many The ICAO (ˌaɪˌkeɪˈoʊ Airport code or location indicator is a four-letter Alphanumeric Code designating each airport around Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport is a city-owned public-use Airport located four Nautical miles (7 km) east of the Central An IATA airport code, also known an IATA location identifier, IATA station code or simply a location identifier, is a three-letter code designating many The ICAO (ˌaɪˌkeɪˈoʊ Airport code or location indicator is a four-letter Alphanumeric Code designating each airport around The Federal Aviation Administration ( FAA) is an agency of the United States Department of Transportation with authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of A location identifier is a symbolic representation for the name and the location of an Airport, navigation aid, or Weather station, and is used for manned Childress Municipal Airport is a commercial airport located 4 miles W of Childress Texas. An IATA airport code, also known an IATA location identifier, IATA station code or simply a location identifier, is a three-letter code designating many The ICAO (ˌaɪˌkeɪˈoʊ Airport code or location indicator is a four-letter Alphanumeric Code designating each airport around Dalhart Municipal Airport is a city-owned public-use Airport located three miles (5 km southwest of the Central business district of Dalhart Texas An IATA airport code, also known an IATA location identifier, IATA station code or simply a location identifier, is a three-letter code designating many The ICAO (ˌaɪˌkeɪˈoʊ Airport code or location indicator is a four-letter Alphanumeric Code designating each airport around The Federal Aviation Administration ( FAA) is an agency of the United States Department of Transportation with authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of A location identifier is a symbolic representation for the name and the location of an Airport, navigation aid, or Weather station, and is used for manned Dodd Army Airfield is an abandoned airfield located within the current city boundaries of San Antonio Texas. Maverick County Memorial International Airportt is a general aviation airport located 8 miles N of Eagle Pass Texas. An IATA airport code, also known an IATA location identifier, IATA station code or simply a location identifier, is a three-letter code designating many El Paso International Airport is a public Airport located four miles (6 km) northeast of the Central business district (CBD of the City of El An IATA airport code, also known an IATA location identifier, IATA station code or simply a location identifier, is a three-letter code designating many The ICAO (ˌaɪˌkeɪˈoʊ Airport code or location indicator is a four-letter Alphanumeric Code designating each airport around The Federal Aviation Administration ( FAA) is an agency of the United States Department of Transportation with authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of A location identifier is a symbolic representation for the name and the location of an Airport, navigation aid, or Weather station, and is used for manned Gainesville Municipal Airport is a public-use Airport located three miles (5 km west of the Central business district of Gainesville, a city in An IATA airport code, also known an IATA location identifier, IATA station code or simply a location identifier, is a three-letter code designating many The ICAO (ˌaɪˌkeɪˈoʊ Airport code or location indicator is a four-letter Alphanumeric Code designating each airport around Scholes International Airport at Galveston is an Airport located in Galveston, Texas, United States. An IATA airport code, also known an IATA location identifier, IATA station code or simply a location identifier, is a three-letter code designating many The ICAO (ˌaɪˌkeɪˈoʊ Airport code or location indicator is a four-letter Alphanumeric Code designating each airport around Naval Air Station Dallas (also Hensley Field) was a United States Navy Naval Air Station located on Mountain Creek Lake in southwest Dallas Dallas Love Field is a city-owned public-use Airport located five Nautical miles (9 km) northwest of the Central business district of An IATA airport code, also known an IATA location identifier, IATA station code or simply a location identifier, is a three-letter code designating many The ICAO (ˌaɪˌkeɪˈoʊ Airport code or location indicator is a four-letter Alphanumeric Code designating each airport around The Federal Aviation Administration ( FAA) is an agency of the United States Department of Transportation with authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of A location identifier is a symbolic representation for the name and the location of an Airport, navigation aid, or Weather station, and is used for manned Marfa Army Airfield (AKA Presidio County Airport is an abandoned airfield located in the high desert of West Texas, about 200 miles southeast of El Paso. Hondo Municipal Airport is a commercial airport located 2 miles NW of Hondo Texas. An IATA airport code, also known an IATA location identifier, IATA station code or simply a location identifier, is a three-letter code designating many The ICAO (ˌaɪˌkeɪˈoʊ Airport code or location indicator is a four-letter Alphanumeric Code designating each airport around Midland International Airport is a city-owned public-use Airport located eight Nautical miles (15 km) southwest of the Central business district An IATA airport code, also known an IATA location identifier, IATA station code or simply a location identifier, is a three-letter code designating many The ICAO (ˌaɪˌkeɪˈoʊ Airport code or location indicator is a four-letter Alphanumeric Code designating each airport around Pampa Army Airfield is an abandoned airfield located about 11 miles east of Pampa in Gray County Texas History Construction of the airfield began Pecos Municipal Airport is a general aviation airport located 2 miles SW of Pecos Texas. An IATA airport code, also known an IATA location identifier, IATA station code or simply a location identifier, is a three-letter code designating many The ICAO (ˌaɪˌkeɪˈoʊ Airport code or location indicator is a four-letter Alphanumeric Code designating each airport around Palacios Municipal Airportt is a commercial airport located 3 miles NW of Palacios Texas. An IATA airport code, also known an IATA location identifier, IATA station code or simply a location identifier, is a three-letter code designating many The ICAO (ˌaɪˌkeɪˈoʊ Airport code or location indicator is a four-letter Alphanumeric Code designating each airport around San Angelo Regional Airport, also known as Mathis Field, is a public Airport serving the city of San Angelo, in Tom Green County, An IATA airport code, also known an IATA location identifier, IATA station code or simply a location identifier, is a three-letter code designating many The ICAO (ˌaɪˌkeɪˈoʊ Airport code or location indicator is a four-letter Alphanumeric Code designating each airport around Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport is an airport located just north of Lubbock, Texas. An IATA airport code, also known an IATA location identifier, IATA station code or simply a location identifier, is a three-letter code designating many The ICAO (ˌaɪˌkeɪˈoʊ Airport code or location indicator is a four-letter Alphanumeric Code designating each airport around Draughon-Miller Central Texas Regional Airport is a general aviation airport located 5 miles NW of Temple Texas. An IATA airport code, also known an IATA location identifier, IATA station code or simply a location identifier, is a three-letter code designating many The ICAO (ˌaɪˌkeɪˈoʊ Airport code or location indicator is a four-letter Alphanumeric Code designating each airport around S. Air Force Bases

During the Cold War (1948-1991), the United States Air Force took possession of the following World War II USAAF airfields:

Minor Airfields Used By The USAAF

  • Abernathy Field
    • 4 miles (6. Sheppard Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located five miles (8 km) north of the Central business district of Wichita Falls An IATA airport code, also known an IATA location identifier, IATA station code or simply a location identifier, is a three-letter code designating many The ICAO (ˌaɪˌkeɪˈoʊ Airport code or location indicator is a four-letter Alphanumeric Code designating each airport around TSTC Waco Airport formerly known as Waco Army Air Field, Connally Air Force Base and James Connally Air Force Base is an airport north of Waco An IATA airport code, also known an IATA location identifier, IATA station code or simply a location identifier, is a three-letter code designating many The ICAO (ˌaɪˌkeɪˈoʊ Airport code or location indicator is a four-letter Alphanumeric Code designating each airport around Abernathy Municipal Airport is a general aviation airport located 4 miles east of Abernathy Texas. 4 km) E of Abernathy
  • Cox Field
    • 6 miles (9. Abernathy is a city in Hale and Lubbock Counties in the US state of Texas. Cox Field Airport (AKA Paris Municipal Airport is a general aviation airport located 6 miles E of Paris Texas. 7 km) E of Paris
  • Gibbs Field
    • 2 miles (3. Paris is a city located 98 miles (158 km northeast of the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex in Lamar County, Texas, in the United States. Fort Stockton-Pecos County Airport is a general aviation airport located 2 miles NW of Fort Stockton Texas. 2 km) NW of Fort Stockton
  • Lamesa Field
    • 9 mi (14 km). Fort Stockton is a city in Pecos County, Texas, United States. Lamesa Field is an abandoned airfield located 9 miles NE of Lamesa Texas. NE of Lamesa
  • Louis Schreiner Field
    • 5 miles (8. Lamesa (pronounced "la-MEE-sa" "la-MEE-suh" is the seat of Dawson County, Texas, United States. Kerrville Municipal Airport (AKA Louis Schreiner Field is a general aviation airport located 5 miles SE of Kerrville Texas. 0 km) SE of Kerrville
  • Majors Field
    • 4 miles (6. Kerrville is a city in Kerr County, Texas, United States. The population was 20425 at the 2000 census Majors Airport is an airport located in Greenville Texas. The airport has one runway 4 km) SE of Greenville
  • Moore Field
    • 12 mi (19 km). Greenville is the County seat of Hunt County, Texas, in the United States. Moore Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base established in September 1941 as Moore Field, fourteen miles northwest of Mission Texas, NNW Mission
  • Pounds Field
    • 3 miles (4. Mission is a city in Hidalgo County, Texas, United States. The population was 45408 at the 2000 census Tyler Pounds Regional Airport is an Airport located six miles west of Tyler, Texas ( USA) 8 km) W of Tyler
  • Stinson Field
    • 6 miles (9. Tyler is a city in and the County seat of Smith County, Texas in the United States. Stinson Municipal Airport, originally called Stinson Field, is a Reliever airport located six miles south of downtown San Antonio ’s central 7 km) S of San Antonio
  • Terrell Field
    • 1-mile (1. Terrell Municipal Airport is a public access airport located 1 mile SE of Terrell Texas. 6 km) SE of Terrell
  • Wink Field
    • 3 miles (4. Terrell is a city in Kaufman County, Texas, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 13606 Winkler County Airport is a general aviation airport located 3 miles NW of Wink Texas. 8 km) NW of Wink

See also

References

External links

© 2009 citizendia.org; parts available under the terms of GNU Free Documentation License, from http://en.wikipedia.org
 Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic