Current Status
Following the deactivation of the site in 1963, the facilities were disposed of by the GSA. Base housing was provided to the West Texas Children's Home, and the land and remaining buildings were turned over to the University of Texas at Austin.
The west side of the former AAF/AFB, where the actual airfield was, is deserted. Runways and taxiways, hardstands and the flightline apron exist with tall weeds and other sparse vegetation slowly taking over the concrete areas. The Air Defense Command radar site southeast of the base is abandoned and full of junk vehicles; the buildings on it still standing in a deteriorated state.
There were once six huge hangars fronting the concrete ramp. At some point between 1966 and 1980, four of the hangars were apparently removed/destroyed. At least one of them was evidently intentionally destroyed in the course of filming the 1980 movie Hangar 18. By 1985 a single large hangar (the former 3rd Echelon Maintenance Hangar) and slowly deteriorating runways and taxiways were all that marked the once-busy bomber base. At some point between 1989–96, the roof and most of the walls of the former 3rd Echelon Maintenance Hangar were removed, leaving only a hollow grid of the side walls of the hangar standing.
The property was being used by the Texas Youth Commission's West Texas State School. The former AFB family housing (small, individual units) was used by the prison staff. The state school closed in 2010.
The original entrance has been refurbished, and today stands as a memorial to the men and women who worked and trained here, many of whom gave their lives while learning to effectively use the B-17 and B-29.
In the town of Pyote, about 15 miles west of Monahans, there is a museum honoring the memory of the men and women who served there. Pyote Army Airfield played an important role in the local community during World War II. Base personnel had a long-lasting social relationship with the local citizens and the base itself created jobs and great economic prosperity for the community. Pyote was quite literally transformed by the base. When the base finally closed for good in the early 1960s, it left a lasting impression on the local community. Base was operated as Pyote Dragstrip in the early 1960s,
Read more about this topic: Pyote Air Force Base
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