TEXAS WWII Era

Robbie Stuart · **Posted:** Sun Dec 20, 2009 5:41 pm

Had someone the other day mention they would like to see more Texas air fields during the WWII era. These ain't great, but here ya go=======================

USAAF PHOTO
Randolph Field

USAAF PHOTO
San Marcos AAF, Texas, May 1946.

USAAF PHOTO
DESCRIPTION; Major General Ludolph Hendrik van Oyen (right), commanding the Royal Netherlands military forces in the United States, exchanges salutes with USAAF Brigadier General Isaiah Davies (left), commanding Midland Army Flying School, as the Netherlands general arrived to attend graduation of another large class of Dutch and American bombardiers at the world's largest bombardier college at Midland Army Flying School, Texas (USA), ca. 1942.

USAAF PHOTO
DESCRIPTION; B-29 stored at Pyote AAF, Texas about 1946.

USAAF PHOTO
DESCRIPTION; B-24s in Consolidated-Vultee Plant, Fort Worth, Texas. Part of the world's largest double aircraft assembly line in Consolidated-Vultee's Fort Worth plant. In foreground are "Liberator" bombers modified for special American uses. To the rear of this front line are C-87 "Liberator Express Transports" in various assembly stages. The second line is composed entirely of B-24 "Liberator" bombers in final assembly stages. Date c. 1943.

USAAF PHOTO
DESCRIPTION; The pilot heads his bombing training plane (Beechcraft AT-11), out over the vast West Texas prairies to its target as the bombardier student and instructor ready the bomb sight in the nose of the plane for the early morning mission.
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bluehawk15 · **Posted:** Sun Dec 20, 2009 11:33 pm

I think the San Marcos photo has the wrong date on it. I'd put it in the late 1950's. The control tower is the metal one, which was built in the '50's, the WWII one was wood. Also the aircraft on the ramp are L-19's, which were used with contract civilian instructors.

RyanShort1 · **Posted:** Sun Dec 20, 2009 11:36 pm

Do you have a higher Res version of the San Marcos picture?

Ryan

Obergrafeter · **Posted:** Mon Dec 21, 2009 12:48 am

Are you sure those aren't L-16s at San Marcos? The L-19's were late 50s like Mike said, but weren't L-16s there in the late 40s-early 50s?

bluehawk15 · **Posted:** Mon Dec 21, 2009 12:55 am

I'll have to check with our resident Gary historian. I didn't know of any L-birds there until the late '50's. During WWII it was AT-11's for Nav training (and John Stokes was based there then, as he told me). Sometime in the late 40's, early 50's, B-25's were there. Looking at the shot, you can see that some twin engined radial motored plane marked it's territory, facing north, before the tail-draggers were parked facing south.

I'll check further and let you know!

Robbie Stuart · **Posted:** Mon Dec 21, 2009 9:35 am

RyanShort1 wrote:

Do you have a higher Res version of the San Marcos picture?

Ryan

Sorry Ryan, thats the best I have.

Holedigger · **Posted:** Mon Dec 21, 2009 9:52 am

Found an interesting link, or should I say tantalizing link, but can't get it to download. I is a Class book for navigator class 44-4 at San Marcos Army Air Field, San Marcos, Texas. Published: circa 1944. This book is unique because it has several pictures and descriptions of cadet training and base activities.

I can't get the download to work, perhaps someone else will have better luck!

http://aafcollection.info/items/detail. ... itle!up!20

Ztex · **Posted:** Mon Dec 21, 2009 10:10 am

I was able to download the PDF on my FireFox browser....I'll see if I can e-mail you a copy... (well I tried...file was too large... rats... )

The photos are mostly off duty and class room stuff...

Cool though.

Z

Holedigger · **Posted:** Mon Dec 21, 2009 10:25 am

Thanks for the try. Lots of cool documents on that site. I tried with Safari, will try with Firefox. I may just have my security cranked too high! :shock:

Any good pics of SMAAF in it?

edit

Oops, your email just came in! Cool Beans!

deskpro590 · **Posted:** Mon Dec 21, 2009 1:13 pm

Those are great pics. Thanks for sharing.

bluehawk15 · **Posted:** Wed Dec 23, 2009 6:35 pm

Sent out the feelers about whether the L-16 was at San Marcos circa 1946. Haven't heard back from the wing's expert yet, but here's what I got from one long-time HYI (former T98) pilot and instructor.

"I don't have any fleet info to indicate exactly what aircraft were based here, nor what time frame. I have a staged pic from the '50s with an L-16, L-5, H-13 & H-19 (hovering) & a pilot w/parachute. I know that they had 'some' Stearman biplanes right after the war as there is a published episode where a front seater was riding w/o his harness (& PARACHUTE), the rear pilot did a negative G maneuver, the front seater popped out of the cockpit & overhead of the rear. He luckily caught the tail fin, straddled the fuselage clinging to the tail. The pilot was able to land in a pasture & saved the guy's life. That's about all I can provide on that." :shock:

When I get more, I'll pass it along!

RyanShort1 · **Posted:** Wed Jan 13, 2010 12:43 pm

Well, here's something that may add to the story!
Apparently there's still an L-4 around that served in San Marcos, possibly during the time frame of that photo!
Looking around on the internet for more Liaison Aircraft information (it's raining outside), I stumbled across this page: http://www.hill.af.mil/library/factshee ... 669&page=1 which indicates that the Hill AFB (museum?) L-4 was based at San Marcos AAF.

Quote:

In December 1945 the aircraft was transferred to the U.S. Army Artillery School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. In December 1947 it moved to the 2432nd Air Force Base Unit, Air Training Command, at San Marcos AFB, Texas. Then in May 1948 it went to the 7th Liaison Squadron, Continental Air Command, at March AFB, California.

Anyway, I am wondering if those aren't L-4's in the photo. They certainly appear that way to me.

Ryan

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