Moore Air Force Base: Difference between revisions
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|built=1941 |
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|used=1941-1961 |
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|garrison=[[Air Training Command]] |
|garrison=[[Air Training Command]] |
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|occupants= 3301st Pilot Training Group (Contract Primary) |
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==History== |
==History== |
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===World War II== |
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The {{convert|1087|acre|km2|sing=on}} field was named for 2d Lt. Frank Murchison Moore, a native of [[Houston]], who was killed in [[World War I]]. The facility was used for advanced pilot training in single-engine aircraft. The facility trained 6,000 pilots before it was closed on [[31 October]] [[1945]]. |
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'''Moore Field''' was opened on 22 November 1941 as a [[Army Air Forces Training Command ]] single-engine training school. It was named for 2d Lt. Frank Murchison Moore, a native of [[Houston]], who was killed in [[World War I]]. The {{convert|1087|acre|km2|sing=on}} airfield was the home of the 503d, 504th and 506th school squadrons (Army Air Forces Pilot School (Advanced Single Engine) were the flying training units. The flying school was redesignated as the 2d Training Group in 1943. |
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The facility conducted advanced pilot training of 6,000 pilots using BT-13, PT-19, AT-6, P-36 and P-43 aircraft. The school was reorganized as the 2529th Army Air Force Base Unit (Pilot School, Advanced Single Engine) on 1 April 1944. The school and airfield were closed on [[31 October]] [[1945]]. |
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===Postwar use=== |
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In 1950 part of the field was operating as the Weaver H. Baker Memorial Sanatorium, and part was jointly operated by Mission, [[McAllen, Texas|McAllen]], and [[Edinburg, Texas|Edinburg]] as Tri-Cities Municipal Airport. |
In 1950 part of the field was operating as the Weaver H. Baker Memorial Sanatorium, and part was jointly operated by Mission, [[McAllen, Texas|McAllen]], and [[Edinburg, Texas|Edinburg]] as Tri-Cities Municipal Airport. |
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===Contract flying base=== |
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In 1954, after the closing of the sanatorium and as part of the [[Cold War]] military expansion by the United States, the base was reactivated under the name Moore Air Force Base. It served as a contractor operated USAF primary pilot training school (with T-28s & T-34s). Training was conducted by California Eastern Airways Incorporated (1954-59) and Beiser Aviation Corporation (1959-61). |
In 1954, after the closing of the sanatorium and as part of the [[Cold War]] military expansion by the United States, the base was reactivated under the name Moore Air Force Base. It served as a contractor operated USAF primary pilot training school (with T-28s & T-34s). Training was conducted by California Eastern Airways Incorporated (1954-59) and Beiser Aviation Corporation (1959-61). |
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By December 1960 some 4,000 Air Force pilots received their primary flight training and academic instruction at this base. From July 1959 until the base was again deactivated, the six-month training program featured jet-plane flight instruction. USAF jet training in the [[T-37 Tweet|T-37]] at Moore was concluded in 1961. |
By December 1960 some 4,000 Air Force pilots received their primary flight training and academic instruction at this base. From July 1959 until the base was again deactivated, the six-month training program featured jet-plane flight instruction. USAF jet training in the [[T-37 Tweet|T-37]] at Moore was concluded in 1961. |
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===Closure and current use=== |
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In February 1962 about half of the site was turned over to the [[US Department of Agriculture]] which was trying to eradicate the screwworm fly. It continues to be known as Moore Air Base under this new mission. |
In February 1962 about half of the site was turned over to the [[US Department of Agriculture]] which was trying to eradicate the screwworm fly. It continues to be known as Moore Air Base under this new mission. |
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In 1977 Scientists of the Screwworm Research Unit relocated from the laboratory at Moore Air Force Base, to the sterile fly production facility near Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas, Mexico. |
In 1977 Scientists of the Screwworm Research Unit relocated from the laboratory at Moore Air Force Base, to the sterile fly production facility near Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas, Mexico. |
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As of 1983 The USDA-ARS Screwworm Research laboratory at Moore Air Force Base has been closed. |
As of 1983 The USDA-ARS Screwworm Research laboratory at Moore Air Force Base has been closed. It is depicted as a private airfield on current Sectional Charts. |
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The facility is no longer used by the United States Air Force, and is depicted as a private airfield on current Sectional Charts. |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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* http://www.screwworm.ars.usda.gov/HISTORY1.htm |
* http://www.screwworm.ars.usda.gov/HISTORY1.htm |
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{{coord|26.383679|-98.333627|region:US|format=dms|display=title}} |
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{{USAAF Training Bases World War II}} |
{{USAAF Training Bases World War II}} |
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[[Category:Closed facilities of the United States Air Force]] |
[[Category:Closed facilities of the United States Air Force]] |
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{{US-Army-stub}} |
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{{Texas-airport-stub}} |
{{Texas-airport-stub}} |
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Revision as of 00:25, 17 May 2009
Moore Air Base
 | |
|---|---|
| Part of Air Training Command (ATC) | |
| Located near Mission, Texas | |
 Aerial photo of Moore Air Base, 15 Jan 1995 | |
| Coordinates | 26°23′01.2444″N 98°20′01.0572″W / 26.383679000°N 98.333627000°W |
| Type | Air Base |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | United States Air Force |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1941 |
| In use | 1941-1961 |
| Garrison information | |
| Garrison | Air Training Command |
| Occupants | 3301st Pilot Training Group (Contract Primary) |
Moore Air Base is an inactive United States Air Force facility located fourteen miles (21 km) northwest of Mission, Texas. It was inactivated on 1 February 1961. The installation was sold to private concerns and partially transferred to the Department of Agriculture on 15 July 1963.
History
=World War II
Moore Field was opened on 22 November 1941 as a Army Air Forces Training Command single-engine training school. It was named for 2d Lt. Frank Murchison Moore, a native of Houston, who was killed in World War I. The 1,087-acre (4.40 km2) airfield was the home of the 503d, 504th and 506th school squadrons (Army Air Forces Pilot School (Advanced Single Engine) were the flying training units. The flying school was redesignated as the 2d Training Group in 1943.
The facility conducted advanced pilot training of 6,000 pilots using BT-13, PT-19, AT-6, P-36 and P-43 aircraft. The school was reorganized as the 2529th Army Air Force Base Unit (Pilot School, Advanced Single Engine) on 1 April 1944. The school and airfield were closed on 31 October 1945.
Postwar use
In 1950 part of the field was operating as the Weaver H. Baker Memorial Sanatorium, and part was jointly operated by Mission, McAllen, and Edinburg as Tri-Cities Municipal Airport.
Contract flying base
In 1954, after the closing of the sanatorium and as part of the Cold War military expansion by the United States, the base was reactivated under the name Moore Air Force Base. It served as a contractor operated USAF primary pilot training school (with T-28s & T-34s). Training was conducted by California Eastern Airways Incorporated (1954-59) and Beiser Aviation Corporation (1959-61).
By December 1960 some 4,000 Air Force pilots received their primary flight training and academic instruction at this base. From July 1959 until the base was again deactivated, the six-month training program featured jet-plane flight instruction. USAF jet training in the T-37 at Moore was concluded in 1961.
Closure and current use
In February 1962 about half of the site was turned over to the US Department of Agriculture which was trying to eradicate the screwworm fly. It continues to be known as Moore Air Base under this new mission.
In 1977 Scientists of the Screwworm Research Unit relocated from the laboratory at Moore Air Force Base, to the sterile fly production facility near Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas, Mexico.
As of 1983 The USDA-ARS Screwworm Research laboratory at Moore Air Force Base has been closed. It is depicted as a private airfield on current Sectional Charts.
See also
References
- Thole, Lou (1999), Forgotten Fields of America : World War II Bases and Training, Then and Now - Vol. 2. Publisher: Pictorial Histories Pub, ISBN 1575100517
External links
- Moore Air Force Base from the Handbook of Texas Online
- Template:WAD
- http://www.screwworm.ars.usda.gov/HISTORY1.htm
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