Childress Army Air Field
Childress, Childress County, Texas
Marker Inscription
During WWII, U.S. Army air forces initiated a bombardier and navigation school on about 2,400 acres west of Childress. By Oct. 1942 the field was active. Col. John W. White commanded Army Airfields (AAF) at Childress and Midland during the war. The first cadets arrived in Feb. 1943 to train for 18 weeks. “skip-bombing” practice at Lake Childress often drew large crowds. Practice targets were also located across several nearby counties. Childress AAF hosted six other fields for the first “All-American Precision Bombing Olympics” in May 1943. More than a tenth of all bombardiers (4,791) trained here. The war dept. also placed a prisoner of war camp at Childress AAF. After the field closed in Dec. 1945, the city received the land for a municipal airport and other public uses. (2022)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
During World War II the U.S. Army Air Forces opened a bombardier and navigation school on some 2,400 acres west of Childress, active by October 1942. Cadets trained in intense 18-week courses, and 'skip-bombing' practice at Lake Childress drew crowds, while the base hosted the first 'All-American Precision Bombing Olympics' in 1943. More than a tenth of all U.S. bombardiers—4,791 men—trained here before the field closed in December 1945 and became the town's municipal airport.
Why it matters
Childress Army Air Field shows how small Texas towns became vital training grounds for the airmen who fought World War II.
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Related people
- · Col. John W. White
Related events
- · World War II
- · All-American Precision Bombing Olympics
Themes & tags
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