Childress Army Airfield

Childress Army Airfield is a former World War II military airfield, located 4.8 miles west of Childress, Texas. It operated as a Bombardier training school for the United States Army Air Forces from 1942 until 1945.HistoryChildress Army Airfield was initially authorized on 2 May 1942 and occupied an area of 2,474 acres. Construction of the field began immediately thereafter. An activation ceremony was held on 27 October 1942, and Col. John W. White assumed command on 24 November. The base was assigned to the Army Air Forces Central Flying Training Command.The initial mission of Childress AAF was bombardier training and was one of the "West Texas Bombardier Quadrangle" schools of the Army Air Forces Training Command. The other bases in the quad were Midland Army Airfield, San Angelo Army Airfield and Big Spring Army Airfield.Training was performed with the Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan. In addition, navigation training was added on 4 June 1943. Units assigned to the base were: Army Air Forces Bombardier School Student Training Squadron 4 Student Training Squadron 8 488th Bombardier Training Group 361st Sub-Depot 331st Aviation Squadron 457th Base Headquarters and Air Base Squadron 1108th First Maintenance Squadron 1108th Second Maintenance Squadron 80th Bombardier Training Group 1097th Guard Squadron 857th Signal Company Detachment, 908th Quartermaster Company (Aviation Service) Detachment, 2052d Ordnance Company (Aviation Service) 325th Army Air Forces Band