Foster Air Force Base - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

For the civil use of this facility and airport information, see Victoria Regional Airport
Victoria Regional Airport
Victoria Regional Airport , formerly Foster Air Force Base, is a public airport located five miles northeast of the central business district of Victoria, in Victoria County, Texas, USA. The airport covers and has four runways and one helipad. It is mostly used for general aviation, but is also...

Foster Air Force Base (1941–1945, 1952–1959) is a former United States Air Force

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...

base, located approximately 6 miles (9.7 km) east-northeast of Victoria, Texas

Victoria, Texas

Victoria is a city in and the seat of Victoria County, Texas, United States. The population was 60,603 at the 2000 census. The three counties of the Victoria Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 111,163 at the 2000 census,...

. A flying training airfield during World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

, it was part of Tactical Air Command

Tactical Air Command

Tactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 being headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia...

during the Cold War

Cold 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...

as a tactical fighter and command base.

History

Named in memory of Lt. Arthur L. Foster (25 November 1888 - 10 February 1925), a native of Georgetown, Texas

Georgetown, Texas

Georgetown is a city and also the county seat of Williamson County, Texas, United States with a population of 47,400 at the 2010 census. Southwestern University, founded in 1840, is the oldest university in Texas and is located in Georgetown, about 1/2 mile east of the historic square...

, and a United States Army Air Corps

United States Army Air Corps

The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...

instructor killed in a crash at Brooks Field

Brooks City-Base

Brooks City-Base was a United States Air Force facility located in San Antonio, Texas, southeast of Downtown San Antonio.In 2002 Brooks Air Force Base was renamed Brooks City-Base when the property was conveyed to the Brooks Development Authority as part of a unique project between local, state,...

, Texas

Texas

Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...

in 1925. Foster's son received his training and commission at the base in the spring of 1942.

Previous names

Established as Victoria Army Airfield on 15 May 1941
Foster Army Airfield, 15 January 1942-31 October 1945
Foster Air Force Base, 1 May 1952-1 January 1959

Major commands to which assigned

Air Forces Training Command, 15 May 1941

Gulf Coast Training Center

Redesignated: Army Air Forces Flying Training Command, 15 March 1942

Redesignated: Army Air Forces Training Command, 31 July 1943-31 October 1945

Air Training Command, 1 May 1952-30 June 1954
Tactical Air Command, 1 July 1954-1 January 1959

Major units assigned

77th Flying Training Wing (Advanced Single Engine), 15 May 1941-31 October 1945
2540th Army Air Forces Base Unit, 1 January-31 October 1945
3580th Pilot Training Wing (Basic, Single-Engine), 1 May 1952-30 June 1954
450th Fighter-Bomber Wing, 1 July 1954 - 18 December 1958
322d Fighter-Day Group, 1 July 1954-18 November 1957
Nineteenth Air Force
Nineteenth Air Force
The Nineteenth Air Force is a Numbered Air Force of the United States Air Force headquartered at Randolph Air Force Base and belonging to the Air Education and Training Command...

, 8 July 1955-1 September 1958

Major aircraft assigned

AT-6 Texan, 1941–1945
P-40 Warhawk, 1941–1945
F-86 Sabre
F-86 Sabre
The North American F-86 Sabre was a transonic jet fighter aircraft. Produced by North American Aviation, the Sabre is best known as America's first swept wing fighter which could counter the similarly-winged Soviet MiG-15 in high speed dogfights over the skies of the Korean War...

, 1954–1955
F-100 Super Sabre
F-100 Super Sabre
The North American F-100 Super Sabre was a supersonic jet fighter aircraft that served with the United States Air Force from 1954 to 1971 and with the Air National Guard until 1979. The first of the Century Series collection of USAF jet fighters, it was the first USAF fighter capable of...

, 1955–1958

World War II

Foster Air Force Base was established as an advanced single-engine flying school for fighter pilots six miles (10 km) northeast of Victoria, in the spring of 1941. A local funding campaign led by E. J. Dysart the previous spring had raised some $17,000 to locate the base at Victoria, Texas

Victoria, Texas

on a 1000 acres (4 km²) site as an economic asset. Subsequent government construction cost more than $4 million. Leases were formally approved by the War Department on 4 March 1941, with construction beginning on 14 April 1941 by American-Friedman-Bitulithic Associates.

The airfield was activated on 15 May 1941 by the Air Forces Training Command. The mission of the new airfield was the training of aviation cadets in the advanced phase of flying training. Foster was assigned to the AAF Gulf Coast Training Center, with the Army Air Force Pilot School (Advanced Single-Engine) activated (phase 3 pilot training). In this phase, the cadets flew fighters and fighter-bombers. Pilot wings were awarded upon graduation and were sent on to group combat training by First, Second, Third or Fourth Air Force. Graduates were usually graded as Flight Officers (Warrant Officers); cadets who graduated at the top of their class were graded as Second Lieutenants.

The initial class of cadets arrived in September 1941 and served under Lt. Col. Warren R. Carter, the first commander. WACs began to arrive the following May. Cadets used the North American AT-6 Texan and Curtis P-40 Warhawk trainers to drill in aerial gunnery, though actual practice took place on ranges located on Matagorda Island

Matagorda Island

Matagorda Island, Spanish for "thick brush," is a 38 mile long barrier island on the Texas Gulf coast, about seven miles south of Port O'Connor, in the southernmost part of Calhoun County. The island is oriented generally northeast-southwest, with the Gulf of Mexico on the east and south, and...

and Matagorda Peninsula. In addition to these bombing ranges on Matagorda, at least ten auxiliary landing fields and a sub-base (Aloe AAF, built in 1943 5 miles southwest of Victoria) was controlled by Foster for emergency landings and aircraft overflow.

The field was formally dedicated to 1st Lt. Arthur L. Foster on Sunday, 22 February 1942, who was killed along with Maj. Lee O. Wright in the 1030 hrs. crash of a Curtiss JN-6H

Curtiss JN-6H

|-See also:-Bibliography:* Andrade, John. U.S. Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909. Hersham, Surrey, UK: Midland Counties Publications, 1979. ISBN 0-904597-22-9....

, AS-44806 , ~2 miles (3.2 km) E of Brooks Field

Brooks City-Base

, Texas on 10 February 1925. Foster's widow, Mrs. Ruth Young Foster, of San Antonio, Texas

San Antonio, Texas

San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...

, unveiled a plaque that read "Dedicated to the memory of Lieut. Arthur Lee Foster, a pioneer in aviation who gave his life teaching others to fly."

On 8 January 1943, the War Department constituted and activated the 77th Flying Training Wing (Advanced Single-Engine) at Foster and assigned it to the AAF Central Flying Training Command.

Many pilots returning from overseas service were taught to become aerial gunnery instructors at Foster Field. In addition to the pilot training mission, Foster also served as a medical evacuation facility for injured veterans. There were several housing facilities located on the base.

On 1 January 1945 the 2540th Army Air Forces Base Unit took control of the ground station administrative functions. As World War II wound down Foster Field took control of several smaller facilities as they were being closed. On 1 September 1945 the mission at the airfield changed from pilot training to becoming a separation station. Foster Field itself was inactivated on 31 October 1945, being placed in standby status. On 15 November the facility was completely closed and eventually the Foster Field site returned to its prewar owners, the Buhler and Braman estates.

Air Training Command

The Air Force retained a recapture right, which it exercised at Foster and at many other former bases to accommodate the Korean War

Korean War

The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...

training surge. In the fall of 1951 the government purchased 1376 acres (5.6 km²) at the site, and Foster Field was reactivated for single-engine jet training. Foster Field was designated Foster Air Force Base on an inactive status on 1 September 1952, by Department of the Air Force General Order No. 38, dated 29 August 1952.

The facility was assigned to the United States Air Force

United States Air Force

Air Training Command

Air Training Command is a former major command of the United States Army Air Forces and United States Air Force. ATC came into being as a redesignation of the Army Air Forces Training Command on July 1, 1946...

. The 3580th Pilot Training Wing (Basic, Single-Engine) was assigned to the base on 1 May 1952 as the primary training organization as well as the base host unit. The first cadets graduated in March 1953 after three months of duty using T-28 Trojan

T-28 Trojan

The North American Aviation T-28 Trojan is a piston-engined military trainer aircraft used by the United States Air Force and United States Navy beginning in the 1950s...

propeller and T-33 Shooting Star

T-33 Shooting Star

The Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star is an American-built jet trainer aircraft. It was produced by Lockheed and made its first flight in 1948, piloted by Tony LeVier. The T-33 was developed from the Lockheed P-80/F-80 starting as TP-80C/TF-80C in development, then designated T-33A. It was used by the...

jet trainers.

After the end of combat in Korea, Air Training Command returned various combat crew training responsibilities to Strategic Air Command

Strategic Air Command

The Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...

and Tactical Air Command

Tactical Air Command

in 1954. The command was able to do this because bases like Greenville AFB and Laredo AFB had acquired sufficient facilities to assume their full share of the pilot training load. Various bases were transferred to the combat commands, among these was the transfer of Foster AFB to TAC on 1 July 1954

Tactical Air Command

Foster Air Force Base was designated a permanent military installation on 1 July 1954. Col. Frank L. Dunn became the new commander, replacing Col. C. C. Sonnkalb.

Under Tactical Air Command, the 450th Fighter-Bomber Wing, was activated at Foster, on 1 July 1954, replacing and absorbing the assets of the 3580th PTW. Four operational squadrons (720th, 721st, 722d and 723d) were assigned to the 450th Figher-Bomber Group, initially being equipped with the North American F-86F Sabre. Its aircraft wore an approximation of the stars and stripes, with seven red and six white stripes on the trailing edge, and three stars in white on the blue forward portion of the fin. They also were designated with a colored, scalloped nose chevron.

Along with the 450th, a second group, the 322d Fighter-Bomber Group was assigned to Foster, under the command and control of the 450th FDW. The 322d consisted of the 450th, 451st and 452d Fighter-Bomber Squadrons, also flying the F-86F. Its aircraft wore a broad ban on the fin with its playing card insignia superimposed. The 450th FBG was an operational unit, while the 322d took over the training mission formerly performed by ATC prior to the transfer of the base to TAC.

With these two fighter groups assigned to the base, assigned personnel increased to about 6,000. The primary mission of the 450th FBW was to maintain tactical proficiency for combat operations and to prepare for overseas deployments as part of Ninth Air Force

Ninth Air Force

The Ninth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force's Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina....

.

In early-1955, the 450th FBW began receiving new North American F-100C/D Super Sabre

F-100 Super Sabre

The North American F-100 Super Sabre was a supersonic jet fighter aircraft that served with the United States Air Force from 1954 to 1971 and with the Air National Guard until 1979. The first of the Century Series collection of USAF jet fighters, it was the first USAF fighter capable of...

aircraft, replacing the obsolescent F-86s. The 450th FBW was the first operational Tactical Air Command wing to be equpped with the F-100. With the change of equipment, the wing was redesignated as the 450th Fighter-Day Wing on 8 March 1955, with all its subordinate groups and squadrons also being redesignated.

On 8 July 1955, Foster AFB became the location of Headquarters, Nineteenth Air Force

Nineteenth Air Force

The Nineteenth Air Force is a Numbered Air Force of the United States Air Force headquartered at Randolph Air Force Base and belonging to the Air Education and Training Command...

. Nineteenth AF had no units or aircraft permanently assigned. Its mission was planning and carrying out force protection and rapid response using temporarily attached units deployed to overseas crisis locations. From Foster, Nineteenth AF responded to the 1958 Lebanon crisis, when the United States sent in forces to sustain a pro-Western government after a conflict in Iraq

Iraq

Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....

threatened to spill across the border. Also, attached to Nineteenth AF, the 450th FDW carried out the first overseas deployment of a complete tactical force as a unit in a training flight to Europe in 1956. The next year three Foster-based F-100s flew the first TAC single-engine, nonstop, round-trip mission over a great distance when they "attacked" Panama in a training maneuver.

On 1 July 1958, the 450th was redesignated as the 450th Tactical Fighter Wing as part of a worldwide USAF naming reorganization.

Closure

On 28 August 1957, despite the fact that President Dwight D. Eisenhower

Dwight D. Eisenhower

Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...

appropriated funds for new construction at the base, the base was ordered closed by the spring of 1959, with the resident 450th TFW and both groups inactivating. This closure was due to budgetary constraints in the Air Force, however the closing came as a surprise to both Victorians and base commanders.

Nineteenth Air Force was moved to Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina

North Carolina

North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...

, effective 1 September 1958. The 450th TFW F-100 aircraft were reassigned to the 4th and 36th Tactical Fighter Wings, and all units assigned to Foster were inactivated by mid-December 1958.

Despite a rigorous "Save Foster" campaign led in Washington by Senators Lyndon B. Johnson

Lyndon B. Johnson

Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...

and Ralph Yarborough

Ralph Yarborough

Ralph Webster Yarborough was a Texas Democratic politician who served in the United States Senate and was a leader of the progressive or liberal wing of his party in his many races for statewide office...

and Congressman Clark W. Thompson

Clark W. Thompson

Clark Wallace Thompson was born in La Crosse, Wisconsin on August 6, 1896 and moved to Oregon in 1901 with his parents, who settled in Cascade Locks. Thompson attended the common schools and the University of Oregon at Eugene. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps during the First World...

, the base closed on 31 December 1958. It was formally inactivated effective 1 January 1959 by Department of the Air Force General Order No. 7, dated February 9, 1959. The 450th was reactivated by SAC as a B-52 Stratofortress

B-52 Stratofortress

The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range, subsonic, jet-powered strategic bomber operated by the United States Air Force since the 1950s. The B-52 was designed and built by Boeing, who have continued to provide maintainence and upgrades to the aircraft in service...

strategic bombardment wing in 1962 to replace the provisional 4136th Strategic Wing; the 322d as a USAFE C-130 Hercules

C-130 Hercules

The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport...

Tactical Airlift Wing in 1970.

Post military use

The local economy suffered greatly from the closure of Foster AFB. In the summer of 1960, the General Services Administration

General Services Administration

The General Services Administration is an independent agency of the United States government, established in 1949 to help manage and support the basic functioning of federal agencies. The GSA supplies products and communications for U.S...

approved the exchange of Aloe Field for Foster Field, and Victoria County Airport was moved to the latter site. The growth of the county airport slowly replaced the loss of Foster AFB as numerous businesses located there.

Two of the largest businesses to locate at Victoria County Airport were the Devereux Foundation, a therapeutic-education center, and Gary Aircraft, which repaired surplus C-54 Skymaster

C-54 Skymaster

The Douglas C-54 Skymaster was a four-engined transport aircraft used by the United States Army Air Forces and British forces in World War II and the Korean War. Besides transport of cargo, it also carried presidents, British heads of government, and military staff...

(Douglas DC-4) aircraft in 1968. In 1976 Foster became the site of Victoria Regional Airport

Victoria Regional Airport

Victoria Regional Airport , formerly Foster Air Force Base, is a public airport located five miles northeast of the central business district of Victoria, in Victoria County, Texas, USA. The airport covers and has four runways and one helipad. It is mostly used for general aviation, but is also...

, which provides passenger service and connections with major carriers.