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Texas World War II Army Airfields Us army air corps shield
Part of World War II
Texas World War II Army Airfields is located in Texas
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Amarillo AAF
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Big Spring AAF
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Jones Fld
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Bryan AAF
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Childress AAF
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Corsicana MAP
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Cuero AAF
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Ellington AAF
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Fort Worth AAF
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Foster AAF
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Garner APT
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Gibbs AAF
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Goodfellow AAF
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Hondo AAF
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Kaufman APT
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Lamesa AAF
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Laredo AAF
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Laughlin AAF
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Schreiner FLD
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Lubbock AAF
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Marfa AAF
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Harlingen AAF
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Midland AAF
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Mineral Wells AAF
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Moore AAF
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Pampa AAF
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Pecos AAF
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Pounds AAF
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Perrin AAF
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Randolph AAF
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Brooks AAF
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San Angelo AAF
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San Marcos AAF
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Killeen AAF
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Sheppard AAF
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Terrell MAP
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Waco AAF
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Temple AAF
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Wink AAF
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Abilene AAF
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Biggs AAF
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Brownsville AAF
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Dalhart AAF
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Galveston AAF
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Majors AAF
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Pyote AAF
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Brownwood AAF
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Del Valle AAF
Map Of Texas World War II Army Airfields
Type Army Airfields
Site information
Controlled by United States Army Air Forces
Site history
Built 1940–1944
In use 1940–present
Garrison information
Garrison Army Air Force Training Command

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.[citation needed] 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 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. 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 (IATA: AMA, ICAO: KAMA)
  • 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 (ICAO: KBGP, FAA Location identifier: BGP)
  • Jones Field, Bonham
Central Flying Training Command
Now: Jones Field Airport (IATA: F00)
  • 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 (IATA: CDS, ICAO: KCDS)
  • Corsicana Field, Corsicana, Texas
Contractor Flying School
Now: Corsicana Municipal Airport (IATA: CFD, ICAO: KCFD)
  • Cuero Field AAF, Cuero
Now: Cuero Municipal Airport (IATA: T71)
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 USAFEllington Field JRB and Coast Guard Air Station Houston (IATA: EFD, ICAO: KEFD, FAA Location identifier: EFD)
  • 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 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 (IATA: VCT, ICAO: KVCT, FAA Location identifier: VCT)
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 (IATA: UVA, ICAO: KUVA)
  • Gibbs AAF, Fort Stockton
Contractor Flying School
Now: Fort Stockton-Pecos County Airport (IATA: FST, ICAO: KFST)
  • Goodfellow AAF, San Angelo
Central Flying Training Command
Now: Roundel of the USAF 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 (IATA: HRL, ICAO: KHRL)
  • Hondo AAF, Hondo
Central Flying Training Command
Was: Hondo Air Base (1951–1958)
Now: Hondo Municipal Airport (IATA: HDO, ICAO: KHDO)
  • Kaufman County Apt, Kaufman
Contractor Flying School
Now: Flying G Airport (Private) (IATA: 28SX)
  • Lamesa APT, Lamesa
Contractor Flying School
Now Lamesa Municipal Airport (IATA: 2F5) (Closed)
  • Laredo AAF, Laredo
Eastern Flying Training Command (1942–1946)
Was: Laredo Air Force Base (1952–1973)
Now: Laredo International Airport (IATA: LRD, ICAO: KLRD)
  • Laughlin Field AAF, Del Rio
Central Flying Training Command
Now: Roundel of the USAF Laughlin Air Force Base (1947–present)
  • Louis Schreiner Field, Kerrville
Joint USAAF/US Navy Contractor Flying School
Now: Kerrville Municipal Airport (IATA: ERV, ICAO: KERV)
  • 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 (IATA: 8XS8)
Abernathy Field, Abernathy
Auxiliary of Lubbock AAF
Glider Training School
Now Abernathy Municipal Airport (IATA: F83)
Central Flying Training Command
Now: Closed and abandoned
  • Midland AAF, Midland
Gulf Coast Training Center, 1942
Central Flying Training Command
Now: Midland International Airport (IATA: MAF, ICAO: KMAF)
  • Mineral Wells AAF, Mineral Wells, Texas
Contract Flying School
Was: Wolters Air Force Base (1947–1956)
Now: Mineral Wells Airport (IATA: MWL, ICAO: KMWL)
  • Moore Field AAF, Edinburg
Gulf Coast Training Center, 1942
Central Flying Training Command
Was: Moore Air Force Base (1951–1962)
Now: Moore Field Airport (IATA: 7TE7)
Central Flying Training Command
Now: Closed
Western Flying Training Command
Now: Pecos Municipal Airport (IATA: PEQ, ICAO: KPEQ)
  • Pounds Field, Tyler
Contractor Flying School
Now: Tyler Pounds Regional Airport (IATA: TYR, ICAO: KTYR)

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 (IATA: GYI, ICAO: KGYI)
Gainesville AAF, Gainesville
Sub-base of Perrin AAF
Now: Gainesville Municipal Airport (IATA: GLE, ICAO: KGLE)
  • Randolph AAF, Universal City
Central Flying Training Command
Now: Roundel of the USAF 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 Brooks City-Base (2002–present)
Alamo Field AAF, San Antonio
Auxiliary of Randolph AAF
Now: San Antonio International Airport (IATA: SAT, ICAO: KSAT)
  • San Angelo AAF, San Angelo
Central Flying Training Command
Now: San Angelo Regional Airport (IATA: SJT, ICAO: KSJT)
  • 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 (IATA: HYI, ICAO: KHYI)
Killeen AAF, Fort Hood
Auxiliary of San Marcos AAF
Was: Camp Hood Air Force Base (1947–1949)
Now: Killeen-Fort Hood Regional Airport (IATA: GRK, ICAO: KGRK)
  • Sheppard Field/Wichita Falls AAF, Wichita Falls
Western Flying Training Command
Now: Roundel of the USAF Sheppard Air Force Base (1947–present)
  • Terrell Field, Terrell
Contractor Flying School
Now: Terrell Municipal Airport (IATA: TRL, ICAO: KTRL)
  • 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 (IATA: CNW, ICAO: KCNW)
Blackland AAF, Waco
Sub-base of Waco AAF
Now: Waco Regional Airport (IATA: ACT, ICAO: KACT, FAA Location identifier: ACT)
Temple AAF, Temple
Auxiliary of Waco AAF
Now: Draughon-Miller Central Texas Regional Airport (IATA: TPL, ICAO: KTPL)
  • Wink AF Aux Field, Wink
Western Flight Training Center
Auxiliary of Hobbs AAF, New Mexico
Now: Winkler County Airport (IATA: INK, ICAO: KINK)

Fourth Air Force

  • Abilene AAF, Abilene (1942–1947)
Was: Abilene Air Force Base (1953–1955)
Now: Roundel of the USAF Dyess Air Force Base (1953–present)
Avenger AAF, Sweetwater
Sub-base of Abilene AAF
Now: Avenger Field Airport (IATA: SWW, ICAO: KSWW)
  • Biggs AAF, El Paso
Was: Biggs Air Force Base (1947–1966)
Now: United States Department of the Army Seal Biggs Army Airfield (1973–present)
  • Brownsville MAP, Brownsville
Now: Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport (IATA: BRO, ICAO: KBRO, FAA Location identifier: BRO)
  • Dalhart AAF, Dalhart
Now: Dalhart Municipal Airport (IATA: DHT, ICAO: KDHT, FAA Location identifier: DHT)
  • Galveston AAF, Galveston
Now: Scholes International Airport at Galveston (IATA: GLS, ICAO: KGLS)
  • Majors Field AAF, Greenville
Now: Majors Airport (IATA: GVT, ICAO: KGVT)
  • 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 (IATA: BWD, ICAO: KBWD)

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 (IATA: AUS, ICAO: KAUS, FAA Location identifier: AUS)
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 Army Air field (Now known as Cox Airport) (IATA: PRX, ICAO: KPX)
  • Eagle Pass AAF, Eagle Pass
Maverick County Memorial International Airport (IATA: 5T9)
  • 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 Army Aviation Support Facility (2007-present) [1]
  • Duncan/Kelly Field AAF, San Antonio
Was: Kelly Air Force Base (1947–2001)
Now: Roundel of the USAF Lackland AFB/Kelly Field Annex (2001–present)
(Controlled by Lackland AFB)
San Antonio Aviation Cadet Center, San Antonio
Auxiliary to Kelly Field AAF (1946–1947)
Now: Roundel of the USAF Lackland Air Force Base (1947–present)
  • Palacios AAF, Palacios
Now: Palacios Municipal Airport (IATA: PSX, ICAO: KPSX)
  • South Plains AAF, Lubbock
Now: Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport (IATA: LBB, ICAO: KLBB)
  • Stinson Field APT, San Antonio
Now: Stinson Municipal Airport (IATA: SSF, ICAO: KSSF)
  • Van Horn MAP, Van Horn
Now: Culberson County Airport (IATA: VHN, ICAO: KVHN)

Air Transport Command

  • El Paso MAP, El Paso
Joint Use USAAF/Civil Airport
Now: El Paso International Airport (IATA: ELP, ICAO: KELP, FAA Location identifier: ELP)
  • Love Field, Dallas
Joint Use USAAF/Civil Airport
Now: Dallas Love Field Airport (IATA: DAL, ICAO: KDAL, FAA Location identifier: DAL)

See also[]

References[]

  • Freeman, Paul (2008) [1] Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields: Texas
  • Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-89201-092-4.
  • Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947–1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.
  • Thole, Lou (1999), Forgotten Fields of America : World War II Bases and Training, Then and Now - Vol. 2. Publisher: Pictorial Histories Pub, ISBN 1-57510-051-7
  • Military Airfields in World War II - Texas

External links[]

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