Eagle Pass Air Force Station
Encyclopedia
Eagle Pass Air Force Station (ADC ID: TM-188) is a closed United States Air Force
facility. It is located 10.6 miles (17.1 km) north of Eagle Pass, Texas
. It was closed in 1963.
Training Command as an advanced single engine flying school. The 57th Basic Flying Training Group was assigned to the field and provided instruction in 3d phase pilot training, prior to the cadets becoming commissioned officers and assigned to one of the numbered air forces for assignment to an operational unit.
The airfield consisted of 3 5,500' concrete runways. In addition Eagle Pass controlled three auxiliary fields.
In November 1944, the training at the base was changed to a phase one basic flying school, providing flight training to cadets with little or no previous flying training. All flight training at the field was discontinued in April 1945, with the airfield being determined to be excess by the military and turned over to the local government for civil use.
. In 1957, the Air Force exercised a right of return to the former Eagle Pass Army Airfield, and opened Eagle Pass Air Force Station on a corner of the former station to the west of the civil airport established after World War II as a long-range radar site.
The 733d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
was assigned to Eagle Pass AFS by the 33d Air Division on 3 July 1957. The squadron began operating an AN/FPS-20A search radar and an AN/FPS-6 height-finder, and initially the station functioned as a Ground-Control Intercept (GCI) and warning station. As a GCI station, the squadron's role was to guide interceptor aircraft toward unidentified intruders picked up on the unit's radar scopes.
In addition to the main facility, Eagle Pass operated several AN/FPS-14 Gap Filler sites:
In March 1963 the Air Force ordered the site to close and operations ceased on 1 August 1963. Following the radar-site closure, the station has been used for county housing. The radar station is abandoned, it's buildings in various states of disrepair.
At some point between 1991–94, after the closure of this field by the Air Force, it was apparently operated as a private airfield, named "Bowles".
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
facility. It is located 10.6 miles (17.1 km) north of Eagle Pass, Texas
Eagle Pass, Texas
Eagle Pass is a city in and the county seat of Maverick County The population was 27,183 as of the 2010 census.Eagle Pass borders the city of Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico, which is to the southwest and across the Rio Grande. The Eagle Pass-Piedras Negras Metropolitan Area is one of six...
. It was closed in 1963.
World War II
The airport was activated on 30 June 1942 as Eagle Pass Army Airfield and was used by the United States Army Air ForcesUnited States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
Training Command as an advanced single engine flying school. The 57th Basic Flying Training Group was assigned to the field and provided instruction in 3d phase pilot training, prior to the cadets becoming commissioned officers and assigned to one of the numbered air forces for assignment to an operational unit.
The airfield consisted of 3 5,500' concrete runways. In addition Eagle Pass controlled three auxiliary fields.
In November 1944, the training at the base was changed to a phase one basic flying school, providing flight training to cadets with little or no previous flying training. All flight training at the field was discontinued in April 1945, with the airfield being determined to be excess by the military and turned over to the local government for civil use.
Air Defense Command
In 1953, the United States Air Force Air Defense Command requested a third phase of twenty-five mobile radar sites be constructed to supplement the permanent national network of sites established during the Cold WarCold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
. In 1957, the Air Force exercised a right of return to the former Eagle Pass Army Airfield, and opened Eagle Pass Air Force Station on a corner of the former station to the west of the civil airport established after World War II as a long-range radar site.
The 733d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
733d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron
The 733d Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the Oklahoma City Air Defense Sector, Aerospace Defense Command, stationed at Eagle Pass Air Force Station, Texas...
was assigned to Eagle Pass AFS by the 33d Air Division on 3 July 1957. The squadron began operating an AN/FPS-20A search radar and an AN/FPS-6 height-finder, and initially the station functioned as a Ground-Control Intercept (GCI) and warning station. As a GCI station, the squadron's role was to guide interceptor aircraft toward unidentified intruders picked up on the unit's radar scopes.
In addition to the main facility, Eagle Pass operated several AN/FPS-14 Gap Filler sites:
- Carrizo Springs, TX (TM-188A): 28°30′10"N 099°50′01"W
- Laredo, TX (TM-188B/C/TM-189B): 27°43′34"N 099°26′07"W
In March 1963 the Air Force ordered the site to close and operations ceased on 1 August 1963. Following the radar-site closure, the station has been used for county housing. The radar station is abandoned, it's buildings in various states of disrepair.
Air Training Command
Eagle Pass airfield was reopened under the name of "Laughlin AF Aux #1" in 1962 for touch & go landings by T-37 training aircraft based at Laughlin AFB. In 1991 a replacement airfield was built in nearby Spofford, and Eagle Pass was closed.At some point between 1991–94, after the closure of this field by the Air Force, it was apparently operated as a private airfield, named "Bowles".
See also
- Texas World War II Army AirfieldsTexas World War II Army AirfieldsIn today's United States Air Force, many personnel have spent some of their military service being trained in Texas 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...
- List of USAF Aerospace Defense Command General Surveillance Radar Stations