Texas World War II Army Airfields

Many United States Air Force personnel have spent some of their military service being trained in Texas at fields originally built during World War II. Be it basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, technical training,  officer training, or flight training at other facilities across the state. Texas is the home of the Air Education and Training Command (AETC) located at Randolph Air Force Base, near San Antonio.

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.

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 effort to achieve this was unprecedented.

During World War II, the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) established numerous airfields in Texas for training pilots and aircrews of USAAF fighters and bombers.

Most of these airfields were under the command of Fourth Air Force or the Army Air Forces Training Command (AAFTC) (A predecessor of the current-day United States Air Force's Air Education and Training Command). However the other USAAF support commands (Air Technical Service Command (ATSC); Air Transport Command (ATC) or Troop Carrier Command) commanded a significant number of airfields in a support roles.

To build the facilities needed to train personnel, a massive land acquisition program was carried out, but many cities offered land to the US Government (e.g., San Angelo for what became Goodfellow AFB) to entice the military to build a base and help the local economy.

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 2000 acre for a basic flight training base to more than 65000 acre 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. These auxiliary bases have not been included, 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.

Major Airfields
Army Air Forces Training Command
 * Amarillo/English Field AAF, Amarillo
 * Western Technical Training Center
 * Was: Amarillo Air Force Base (1947–1969)
 * Now: Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport


 * Big Spring AAF, Big Spring
 * Central Flying Training Command
 * Was: Big Spring Air Force Base (1947–1952)
 * Was: Webb Air Force Base (1952–1977)
 * Now: Big Spring McMahon-Wrinkle Airport


 * Jones Field, Bonham
 * Central Flying Training Command
 * Now: Jones Field Airport


 * Bryan AAF, Bryan
 * Central Flying Training Command
 * Now: Part of Texas A&M University


 * Childress AAF, Childress
 * Central Flying Training Command
 * Now: Childress Municipal Airport


 * Corsicana Field, Corsicana, Texas
 * Contractor Flying School
 * Now: Corsicana Municipal Airport


 * Cuero Field AAF, Cuero
 * Now: Cuero Municipal Airport
 * Contractor Flying School


 * Ellington AAAF, Houston
 * Central Flying Training Command
 * Was: Ellington Air Force Base (1947–1959)
 * The facility was used by the Air Force Reserve and continues to be used by Air National Guard units. It was known as Ellington AFB until 1984.
 * Now: Roundel of the USAF.svggton Field JRB and Coast Guard Air Station Houston


 * Fort Worth AAF, Fort Worth
 * Central Flying Training Command
 * Was: Fort Worth Air Force Base (1947)
 * Was: Griffis Air Force Base (1948)
 * Was: Carswell Air Force Base (1948–1993)
 * Now: Roundel of the USAF.svg Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth (1993–present)


 * Foster AAF, Victoria
 * Gulf Coast Training Center, 1941
 * Central Flying Training Command (1943–1946)
 * Was: Foster Air Force Base (1953–1969)
 * Now: Victoria Regional Airport
 * Aloe AAF, Victoria
 * Sub-base of Foster AAF
 * Airfield Closed
 * Matagorda Island Bombing Range
 * Sub-base of Foster AAF
 * Was: Matagorda Island Air Force Base (1949–1975)
 * Now: Closed


 * Garner APT, Uvalde
 * Contractor Flying School
 * Now: Garner Field Airport


 * Gibbs AAF, Fort Stockton
 * Contractor Flying School
 * Now: Fort Stockton-Pecos County Airport


 * Goodfellow AAF, San Angelo
 * Central Flying Training Command
 * Now: Roundel of the USAF.svg Goodfellow Air Force Base (1947–present)


 * Harlingen AAF, Harlingen
 * USAAC Flexible Gunnery School, 1941
 * Eastern Flying Training Command
 * Was: Harlingen Air Force Base (1947–1963)
 * Now: Valley International Airport


 * Hondo AAF, Hondo
 * Central Flying Training Command
 * Was: Hondo Air Base (1951–1958)
 * Now: Hondo Municipal Airport


 * Kaufman County Apt, Kaufman
 * Contractor Flying School
 * Now: Flying G Airport (Private)


 * Lamesa APT, Lamesa
 * Contractor Flying School
 * Now Lamesa Municipal Airport (Closed)


 * Laredo AAF, Laredo
 * Eastern Flying Training Command (1942–1946)
 * Was: Laredo Air Force Base (1952–1973)
 * Now: Laredo International Airport


 * Laughlin Field AAF, Del Rio
 * Central Flying Training Command
 * Now: Roundel of the USAF.svg Laughlin Air Force Base (1947–present)


 * Louis Schreiner Field, Kerrville
 * Joint USAAF/US Navy Contractor Flying School
 * Now: Kerrville Municipal Airport


 * Lubbock AAF, Lubbock
 * Central Flying Training Command
 * Gulf Coast Training Center, 1942
 * Was: Lubbock Air Force Base (1947–1949)
 * Was: Reese Air Force Base (1949–1997)
 * Now: Reese Airpark
 * Abernathy Field, Abernathy
 * Auxiliary of Lubbock AAF
 * Glider Training School
 * Now Abernathy Municipal Airport


 * Marfa AAF, Marfa
 * Central Flying Training Command
 * Now: Closed and abandoned


 * Midland AAF, Midland
 * Gulf Coast Training Center, 1942
 * Central Flying Training Command
 * Now: Midland International Airport


 * Mineral Wells AAF, Mineral Wells, Texas
 * Contract Flying School
 * Was: Wolters Air Force Base (1947–1956)
 * Now: Mineral Wells Airport


 * Moore Field AAF, Edinburg
 * Gulf Coast Training Center, 1942
 * Central Flying Training Command
 * Was: Moore Air Force Base (1951–1962)
 * Now: Moore Field Airport


 * Pampa AAF, Pampa
 * Central Flying Training Command
 * Now: Closed


 * Pecos AAF, Pecos
 * Western Flying Training Command
 * Now: Pecos Municipal Airport


 * Pounds Field, Tyler
 * Contractor Flying School
 * Now: Tyler Pounds Regional Airport

Army Air Forces Training Command
 * Perrin AAF, Denison
 * Gulf Coast Training Center, 1942
 * Central Flying Training Command (1942–1945)
 * Was: Perrin Air Force Base (1952–1971)
 * Now: North Texas Regional Airport
 * Gainesville AAF, Gainesville
 * Sub-base of Perrin AAF
 * Now: Gainesville Municipal Airport


 * Randolph AAF, Universal City
 * Central Flying Training Command
 * Now: Roundel of the USAF.svg Randolph Air Force Base (1947–present)
 * Brooks AAF, San Antonio
 * Sub-base of Randolph AAF
 * Was: Brooks Air Force Base (1947–2002)
 * Now: Roundel of the USAF.svg Brooks City-Base (2002–present)
 * Alamo Field AAF, San Antonio
 * Auxiliary of Randolph AAF
 * Now: San Antonio International Airport


 * San Angelo AAF, San Angelo
 * Central Flying Training Command
 * Now: San Angelo Regional Airport


 * San Marcos AAF, San Marcos
 * Central Flying Training Command
 * Was: San Marcos Air Force Base (1947–1953)
 * Was: Gary Air Force Base (1953–1956)
 * Was: Camp Gary (United States Army) (1956–1963)
 * Now: San Marcos Municipal Airport
 * Killeen AAF, Fort Hood
 * Auxiliary of San Marcos AAF
 * Was: Camp Hood Air Force Base (1947–1949)
 * Now: Killeen-Fort Hood Regional Airport


 * Sheppard Field/Wichita Falls AAF, Wichita Falls
 * Western Flying Training Command
 * Now: Roundel of the USAF.svg Sheppard Air Force Base (1947–present)


 * Terrell Field, Terrell
 * Contractor Flying School
 * Now: Terrell Municipal Airport


 * Waco AAF, Waco
 * Gulf Coast Training Center, 1942
 * Central Flying Training Command
 * Was: Waco Air Force Base (1947–1951)
 * Was: James Connally Air Force Base (1951–1965)
 * Now: TSTC Waco Airport
 * Blackland AAF, Waco
 * Sub-base of Waco AAF
 * Now: Waco Regional Airport
 * Temple AAF, Temple
 * Auxiliary of Waco AAF
 * Now: Draughon-Miller Central Texas Regional Airport


 * Wink AF Aux Field, Wink
 * Western Flight Training Center
 * Auxiliary of Hobbs AAF, New Mexico
 * Now: Winkler County Airport

Fourth Air Force
 * Abilene AAF, Abilene (1942–1947)
 * Was: Abilene Air Force Base (1953–1955)
 * Now: Roundel of the USAF.svg Dyess Air Force Base (1953–present)
 * Avenger AAF, Sweetwater
 * Sub-base of Abilene AAF
 * Now: Avenger Field Airport


 * Biggs AAF, El Paso
 * Was: Biggs Air Force Base (1947–1966)
 * Now: United States Department of the Army Seal.svg Biggs Army Airfield (1973–present)


 * Brownsville MAP, Brownsville
 * Now: Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport


 * Dalhart AAF, Dalhart
 * Now: Dalhart Municipal Airport


 * Galveston AAF, Galveston
 * Now: Scholes International Airport at Galveston


 * Majors Field AAF, Greenville
 * Now: Majors Airport


 * Pyote AAF, Pyote
 * Was: Pyote Air Force Base (1947–1954)
 * Now: Closed and abandoned


 * Brownwood AAF, Brownwood
 * Auxiliary of Muskogee AAF, Oklahoma
 * Now: Brownwood Regional Airport

Troop Carrier Command
 * Del Valle/Bergstrom AAF, Austin
 * Was: Bergstrom Air Force Base (1947–1993)
 * Was: Bergstrom Air Reserve Station (1993–1996)
 * Now: Austin-Bergstrom International Airport


 * Dodd AAF, San Antonio
 * Part of Fort Sam Houston
 * Used for Troop Transport
 * Now: Closed, part of built-up area of San Antonio

Air Technical Service Command
 * Cox Field, AAF, Paris
 * Now: Cox Field Airport


 * Eagle Pass AAF, Eagle Pass
 * Maverick County Memorial International Airport


 * Hensley Field/NAS Dallas
 * Joint use with United States Navy
 * Was: Naval Air Station Dallas (1941-1998)
 * Now: Grand Prairie Armed Forces Reserve Center and Roundel of the USAF.svg Army Aviation Support Facility (2007-present)

(Controlled by Lackland AFB)
 * Duncan/Kelly Field AAF, San Antonio
 * Was: Kelly Air Force Base (1947–2001)
 * Now: Roundel of the USAF.svg Lackland AFB/Kelly Field Annex (2001–present)
 * San Antonio Aviation Cadet Center, San Antonio
 * Auxiliary to Kelly Field AAF (1946–1947)
 * Now: Roundel of the USAF.svg Lackland Air Force Base (1947–present)


 * Palacios AAF, Palacios
 * Now: Palacios Municipal Airport


 * South Plains AAF, Lubbock
 * Now: Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport


 * Stinson Field APT, San Antonio
 * Now: Stinson Municipal Airport


 * Van Horn MAP, Van Horn
 * Now: Culberson County Airport

Air Transport Command
 * El Paso MAP, El Paso
 * Joint Use USAAF/Civil Airport
 * Now: El Paso International Airport


 * Love Field, Dallas
 * Joint Use USAAF/Civil Airport
 * Now: Dallas Love Field Airport