Are you interested in knowing the Air Force bases in Texas? Check out this article to find out where they are located in the lone star state.
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the second youngest branch of the country’s Armed Forces. It was established on September 18, 1947, and currently has over 300,000 active duty personnel.
Out of the 50 states in the country, the United States Air Force has a base in 37 states, including the Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, D.C. Although California has more military installations than any other state in the country, Texas is home to seven Air Force bases.
We will be looking at the Air Force bases in Texas, their location and the year they were established. So, sit tight and stay with us, as we discuss these military installations in Texas.
But before we do that, let’s talk about the United States Air Force a bit.
The United States Air Force (USAF)
Originally established in 1907, the United States Air Force (USAF) is the second youngest branch of the country’s Armed Forces. It was initially created as a part of the United States Army Signal Corps on August 1, 1907.
Years later in 1947, the United States Air Force was established as a separate service branch of the United States Armed Forces.
The U.S. Air Force has large active-duty personnel and reservists. Currently, more than 320,000 active duty personnel are serving in the U.S. Air Force. The Air Force also has over 69,000 reserve personnel and more than 100,000 air National Guard personnel.
Current president of the United States Joe Biden is the commander-in-chief of the Air Force. The Secretary of the Air Force is Frank Kendall III.
The United States Air Force (USAF) is headquartered at the Pentagon in Arlington County in Virginia. The Air Force has a variety of aircraft, including fighters, helicopters, bombers, transports, trainers, UCAVs, etc.
Also Read: Which Military Branch Has the Best Pay and Benefit?
Air Forces Bases in Texas
Texas has more Air Force bases than any other state in the country. The geographical location and size of Texas make it the perfect state for training.
The lone star state is a strategic location for the United States to protect its southern borders. Texas is a large state by land mass, the country’s second-largest after Alaska.
Here are the Air Force bases in Texas and their specific locations.
#1. Dyess Air Force Base (AFB)
Established in 1942, Dyess Air Force Base is located 150 miles west of Fort Worth and 7 miles southwest of downtown Abilene, Texas.
This Air Force base was initially established as Abilene Army Air Base in 1947. The Air Force base was renamed to honour Lieutenant Colonel William Edwin Dyess, a U.S. soldier who survived the Bataan Death March.
Dyess Air Force Base spans 6,409 acres and is home to the 7th Bomb Wing. The 7th Bomb Wing is stationed at Dyess Air Force Base and they are assigned to the Global Strike Command Eighth Air Force.
The wing is one of the county’s B-1B Lancer strategic bomber wings in the United States Air Force. The other one is the 28th Bomb Wing stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota.
The vice commander at Dyess Air Force Base is Colonel Kevin Kippie, while Chief Master Sergeant Matt Coltrin is the commander chief master.
Below are the units stationed at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas.
- 7th Bomb Wing
- 307th Bomb Wing
- 317th Airlift Wing
- 53rd Wing
- 57th Wing
#2. Lackland Air Force Base
Lackland Air Force Base is one of the military installations in Texas. It’s located in Bexar County, Texas and it’s under the jurisdiction of the 802d Mission Support Group, Air Education and Training Command (AETC).
This Air Force base is part of Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA). Lackland Air Force Base, Fort Sam Houston, and Randolph Air Force merged in 2010 to form Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA).
Below are the units stationed at Lackland Air Force Base.
- 502d Installation Support Group
- 37th Training Wing
- Inter-American Air Forces Academy
- Defense Language Institute
- Twenty-Fifth Air Force
- Twenty-Fourth Air Force
#3. Goodfellow Air Force Base
Goodfellow Air Force Base is one of the USAF bases in Texas. It’s a non-flying Air Force base situated in San Antonio, Texas.
This Air Force base was built in 1940 and it’s part of the Air Education and Training Command (AETC). The main mission of Goodfellow Air Force Base is intelligence and cryptologic training for the U.S. Air Force, Marine Corps, the U.S. Army, Space Force, the U.S. Navy, and Coast Guard.
The Air Force base is also where military fire-fighters train as part of the 312th Training Squadron. Goodfellow Air Force Base is named after John J. Goodfellow, a WWI aviator First Lieutenant.
Here are the units stationed at Goodfellow Air Force Base.
- 17th Training Wing
- 111th Military Intelligence Brigade (US Army)
- US Army Engineer School
- Center for Information Warfare Training Detachment (US Navy)
#4. Laughlin Air Force Base
One of the Air Force bases in Texas on our list is Laughlin Air Force Base.
Located in Del Rio, Texas, Laughlin Air Force Base is a United States Air Force facility. It was built in 1943 initially as Laughlin Army Air Field.
As of when this article was written, the commander at Laughlin Air Force Base is Colonel Kevin Davidson.
Laughlin Air Force Base is the largest pilot training base in the United States Air Force. It’s home to the 96th Flying Training Squadron of the USAF Reserve Command and the 47th Flying Training Wing of the Air Education and Training Command.
In the entire United States, Laughlin sees more take-offs and landing on weekdays than any other airport.
- 47th Flying Training Wing
- 340th Flying Training Group
Also Read: Military Enlistment Age Limits in 2024
#5. Sheppard Air Force Base
Located in Wichita County, Texas, Sheppard Air Force Base is one of the Air Force bases in the Lone Star State. Sheppard Air Force Base was renamed after John Morris Sheppard, a Democrat and former senator from Texas.
This Air Force base was built in 1941, initially as Sheppard Field. The host unit at this Air Force base is the 82d Training Wing (82 TWR). They provide specialised technical training, as well as field training for airmen, officers, and civilians serving in the United States military.
The commander at the 82d Training Wing is Brigadier General Lyle K. Drew, while the commander of the 80th Flying Training Wing is Colonel Brad E. Oregon.
The 80th Flying Training Wing (80 FTW) oversees and conducts the Euro-NATO Joint Pilot Training program.
Here is the unit stationed at the Sheppard Air Force Base.
- 82d Training Wing
#6. Joint Base San Antonio
We already discussed Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA) earlier in this article. It’s a military facility in the United States located in San Antonio, Texas.
Joint Base San Antonio is under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Air Force 502d Air Base Wing, Air Education and Training Command.
In October 2010, Lackland Air Force Base, Randolph Air Force Base, Fort Sam Houston, and Martindale Army Airfield were merged to form Joint Base, San Antonio.
Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA) also provides housing to help support the transition of recruits in the Air Force.
Lackland AFB is one of the Air Force bases in the state of Texas and is part of the Joint Base San Antonio. Fort Sam Houston, Randolph Air Force Base, and Martindale Army Field are all part of JBSA.
#7. Randolph Air Force Base
Initially built in 1928 as Randolph Field, this Air Force base was located in Universal City Texas. It officially opened in 1931 and was the flying training facility for the U.S. Army Air Force and the U.S. Army Air Corps.
Randolph Air Force Base, Lackland Air Force Base, Fort Sam Houston, and Martindale Army Field were merged to form Joint Base, San Antonio.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are the frequently asked questions regarding the Air Force bases in Texas.
What is the number of military bases in Texas?
There are several military installations across the United States and Texas is home to some of them. Currently, Texas is home to 25 active military bases, which include 12 Army bases, 6 Air Force bases, 5 Navy/Marine Corps bases, as well as 2 major Coast Guard stations.
Is there any military base in Dallas, Texas?
Unfortunately, there is no military base in Dallas, Texas. The nearest base to Dallas is the Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base. This military base is located in Carswell, 42 miles from Dallas.
What is the largest military base in Texas?
The largest military base in the Lone Star State is Fort Hood. It spans over 214,000 acres in Killeen, Texas. Fort Hood is considered one of the largest military bases worldwide.
How many military bases are closed in Texas?
According to reports, there are 98 decommissioned military bases in Texas as of January 2021.
Conclusion
Countries with a large military size usually build several military installations. The United States has one of the largest military forces on the planet and various military installations are built across the country.
We hope this article on Air Forces bases in Texas was helpful.
