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Midland Army Airfield

January 01, 1970

This article is about the World War II era military airfield. For the predecessor "Sloan Field", see Midland International Airport. For the successor, see Midland International Air and Space Port.

Midland Army Airfield is a former World War II military airfield, located 8.4 miles west-southwest of Midland, Texas. It operated as a Bombardier training school for the United States Army Air Forces from 1942 until 1945.

Midland Army Airfield


AAF Gulf Coast Training Center
Midland Army Airfield, Texas, 13 October 1943
Summary
LocationMidland, Texas
Built1942
In use1942-1945
Occupants
Midland AAF Bombardier training school
Coordinates31°56′36″N 102°12′19″W / 31.94333°N 102.20528°W / 31.94333; -102.20528 (Midland AAF)
Map
Midland AAF
Midland Army Airfield, Texas
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
00R/18L 6,500 1,981 Asphalt
00L/18R 4,243 1,293 Asphalt
05/23 6,500 1,981 Asphalt
14/32 6,500 1,981 Asphalt
Texas World War II Airfield database

History edit

Origins edit

Midland Army Air Field was a World War II United States Army Air Forces bombardier-training base on U.S. Highway 80 halfway between Midland and Odessa in Midland County.

It was originally named Sloan Field for Samuel Addison Sloan, who leased 240 acres of pastureland from Clarence Scharbauer, a rancher in October 1927 to establish a privately owned landing field and flying school. Sloan was killed in a plane crash on 1 January 1929, and the operation was continued by his brother and sister. Sloan Field was designated an Army Airways Station in May 1930. In 1939 Harvey Sloan sold the Field to the City of Midland for $14,500.[1][2]

Prominent businessmen in Midland could foresee the possibility of a military base in West Texas. In 1940, after Hitler struck Poland, they started promoting the airport for use as a training base to the military establishment in Washington. Work was done by the WPA with more runway and taxiway improvements, as well as airfield lighting. A visit by Brigadier General G.C. Brant, Commander of the Gulf Coast Air Corps Training Center at Randolph Field was made and he reported that the situation at Midland was very favorable. It was on Friday, 13 June 1941, that it was announced that Midland would get the air school. On 1 July 1941, the municipal airport was leased to the United States government for a dollar a year, and construction began on 17 July.[1][2]

Immediate search for ranch land to be used as target ranges was instigated and plans for "an advanced twin-engine flying and bombardment school" had begun. Ground was broken on 15 July 1941 with the leasing of 1,030 acres of land for the duration of the war plus six months. Twenty-three bomb ranges were mapped out - located within a 50-mile radius of the base.[2]

One of the first structures to go up was the 500,000 gallon water tank which is still in use. Buildings for Headquarters, officer, enlisted and cadet barracks, a station hospital, classrooms, mess hall and flight line were all being erected by civilian employees. By the time the first enlisted man arrived in October 1941, he found that 105 buildings were partially completed with the remaining 99 waiting to be started. In November 1941, officers and enlisted men started arriving for duty.[1][2]

It was announced that training of cadets would begin in January 1942. With the bombing of Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, the need for bombardiers was evident, soon after an announcement was made by Lieutenant Colonel Isaiah Davies, Commanding Officer of Midland Army Air Field (MAAF), that the school would be used exclusively to train bombardiers.[1][2]

Operations edit

 
Midland Army Air Field 1942 classbook

On 26 September 1942, the base was formally re-designated Midland Army Air Field, and the school was named the Army Air Forces Bombardier School, one of a dozen bombardier-training schools. It was one of the "West Texas Bombardier Quadrangle" schools of the Army Air Forces Training Command. The other bases in the quad were Childress Army Airfield, San Angelo Army Airfield and Big Spring Army Airfield. The sole purpose of the Bombardier College was to train young men to use the bombsight invented by Carl Norden.[1][2]

The first group of cadets, Class 42–6, arrived for training from Ellington, Texas, on 6 February 1942. Midland reached a peak base population of more than 4,000 and graduated a total of 6,627 bombardier officers before all training ceased on 1 January 1946.[1][2]

Cadets remained at Midland exactly twelve weeks for combined ground and flight training, rigorous physical activity and rigid military discipline during a sixteen-hour day, with only part of Sunday off. They learned to hit targets with remarkable accuracy, dropping at least 200 practice bombs each from the AT-11 airplane—and learned to handle the complex Norden sight with considerable skill. The first class consisted of 103 cadets and graduated on 30 April 1942. Students from the Netherlands, East Indies, France, Brazil and China were trained at MAF.[1][2]

In August 1943 the AAF Central Bombardier Instructor School was transferred from Carlsbad Army Airfield, New Mexico, to Midland. The base pioneered the use of the highly secret Norden bombsight and at one time operated twenty-three bombing ranges across West Texas. Personnel from Midland AAF were instrumental in developing photographic and sonic methods of scoring bomb hits and analyzing bombing proficiency.[1][2]

  • 1942-1945 Midland Army Airfield photos
  •  
    AT-11 training bomb drop on practice target
  •  
    Loading concrete training bombs on aircraft
  •  
    Mission briefing prior to training flight
  •  
    B-34 Lexingtons and AT-11 Kansans on flightline
  •  
    Cadet Physical Training
  •  
    Cadets entering dining hall
  •  
    Classroom ground instruction lecture
  •  
    Pool table in cadet barracks dayroom

Closure edit

The air field was deactivated as a military installation on 15 June 1946, and returned to the city of Midland on 1 July 1947. Since that date, it has been improved and modernized and has become an increasingly busy commercial air terminal and transportation-distribution center.[2]

Post-closure edit

Main article: Midland International Air and Space Port

See also edit

References edit

  This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Shaw, Frederick J. (2004), Locating Air Force Base Sites History’s Legacy, Air Force History and Museums Program, United States Air Force, Washington DC, 2004.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Midland International Airport history 2013-01-28 at the Wayback Machine

External links edit

  • Block Busters Class 43-09, Midland Army Air Field, Midland, Texas
  • Precision Class 43-15, MAAF, AAFBS, Midland, Texas
  • Bombs Away Class 44-05, Midland Army Air Field, Midland, Texas

January 01, 1970
midland, army, airfield, this, article, about, world, military, airfield, predecessor, sloan, field, midland, international, airport, successor, midland, international, space, port, former, world, military, airfield, located, miles, west, southwest, midland, t. This article is about the World War II era military airfield For the predecessor Sloan Field see Midland International Airport For the successor see Midland International Air and Space Port Midland Army Airfield is a former World War II military airfield located 8 4 miles west southwest of Midland Texas It operated as a Bombardier training school for the United States Army Air Forces from 1942 until 1945 Midland Army Airfield AAF Gulf Coast Training CenterMidland Army Airfield Texas 13 October 1943IATA noneICAO noneSummaryLocationMidland TexasBuilt1942In use1942 1945OccupantsMidland AAF Bombardier training schoolCoordinates31 56 36 N 102 12 19 W 31 94333 N 102 20528 W 31 94333 102 20528 Midland AAF MapMidland AAFMidland Army Airfield TexasRunwaysDirection Length Surface ft m 00R 18L 6 500 1 981 Asphalt 00L 18R 4 243 1 293 Asphalt 05 23 6 500 1 981 Asphalt 14 32 6 500 1 981 AsphaltTexas World War II Airfield database Contents 1 History 1 1 Origins 1 2 Operations 1 3 Closure 2 Post closure 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory editOrigins edit Midland Army Air Field was a World War II United States Army Air Forces bombardier training base on U S Highway 80 halfway between Midland and Odessa in Midland County It was originally named Sloan Field for Samuel Addison Sloan who leased 240 acres of pastureland from Clarence Scharbauer a rancher in October 1927 to establish a privately owned landing field and flying school Sloan was killed in a plane crash on 1 January 1929 and the operation was continued by his brother and sister Sloan Field was designated an Army Airways Station in May 1930 In 1939 Harvey Sloan sold the Field to the City of Midland for 14 500 1 2 Prominent businessmen in Midland could foresee the possibility of a military base in West Texas In 1940 after Hitler struck Poland they started promoting the airport for use as a training base to the military establishment in Washington Work was done by the WPA with more runway and taxiway improvements as well as airfield lighting A visit by Brigadier General G C Brant Commander of the Gulf Coast Air Corps Training Center at Randolph Field was made and he reported that the situation at Midland was very favorable It was on Friday 13 June 1941 that it was announced that Midland would get the air school On 1 July 1941 the municipal airport was leased to the United States government for a dollar a year and construction began on 17 July 1 2 Immediate search for ranch land to be used as target ranges was instigated and plans for an advanced twin engine flying and bombardment school had begun Ground was broken on 15 July 1941 with the leasing of 1 030 acres of land for the duration of the war plus six months Twenty three bomb ranges were mapped out located within a 50 mile radius of the base 2 One of the first structures to go up was the 500 000 gallon water tank which is still in use Buildings for Headquarters officer enlisted and cadet barracks a station hospital classrooms mess hall and flight line were all being erected by civilian employees By the time the first enlisted man arrived in October 1941 he found that 105 buildings were partially completed with the remaining 99 waiting to be started In November 1941 officers and enlisted men started arriving for duty 1 2 It was announced that training of cadets would begin in January 1942 With the bombing of Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941 the need for bombardiers was evident soon after an announcement was made by Lieutenant Colonel Isaiah Davies Commanding Officer of Midland Army Air Field MAAF that the school would be used exclusively to train bombardiers 1 2 Operations edit nbsp Midland Army Air Field 1942 classbook On 26 September 1942 the base was formally re designated Midland Army Air Field and the school was named the Army Air Forces Bombardier School one of a dozen bombardier training schools It was one of the West Texas Bombardier Quadrangle schools of the Army Air Forces Training Command The other bases in the quad were Childress Army Airfield San Angelo Army Airfield and Big Spring Army Airfield The sole purpose of the Bombardier College was to train young men to use the bombsight invented by Carl Norden 1 2 The first group of cadets Class 42 6 arrived for training from Ellington Texas on 6 February 1942 Midland reached a peak base population of more than 4 000 and graduated a total of 6 627 bombardier officers before all training ceased on 1 January 1946 1 2 Cadets remained at Midland exactly twelve weeks for combined ground and flight training rigorous physical activity and rigid military discipline during a sixteen hour day with only part of Sunday off They learned to hit targets with remarkable accuracy dropping at least 200 practice bombs each from the AT 11 airplane and learned to handle the complex Norden sight with considerable skill The first class consisted of 103 cadets and graduated on 30 April 1942 Students from the Netherlands East Indies France Brazil and China were trained at MAF 1 2 In August 1943 the AAF Central Bombardier Instructor School was transferred from Carlsbad Army Airfield New Mexico to Midland The base pioneered the use of the highly secret Norden bombsight and at one time operated twenty three bombing ranges across West Texas Personnel from Midland AAF were instrumental in developing photographic and sonic methods of scoring bomb hits and analyzing bombing proficiency 1 2 1942 1945 Midland Army Airfield photos nbsp AT 11 training bomb drop on practice target nbsp Loading concrete training bombs on aircraft nbsp Mission briefing prior to training flight nbsp B 34 Lexingtons and AT 11 Kansans on flightline nbsp Cadet Physical Training nbsp Cadets entering dining hall nbsp Classroom ground instruction lecture nbsp Pool table in cadet barracks dayroom Closure edit The air field was deactivated as a military installation on 15 June 1946 and returned to the city of Midland on 1 July 1947 Since that date it has been improved and modernized and has become an increasingly busy commercial air terminal and transportation distribution center 2 Post closure editMain article Midland International Air and Space PortSee also edit34th Flying Training Wing World War II Bombardier film a 1943 fictional war drama about the training program for bombardiers of the United States Army Air Forces Texas World War II Army AirfieldsReferences edit nbsp This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency a b c d e f g h Shaw Frederick J 2004 Locating Air Force Base Sites History s Legacy Air Force History and Museums Program United States Air Force Washington DC 2004 a b c d e f g h i j Midland International Airport history Archived 2013 01 28 at the Wayback MachineExternal links editBlock Busters Class 43 09 Midland Army Air Field Midland Texas Precision Class 43 15 MAAF AAFBS Midland Texas Bombs Away Class 44 05 Midland Army Air Field Midland Texas Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Midland Army Airfield amp oldid 1206129716, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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