Rich Field - History

History

A contract was signed on 24 August 1917 in which the War Department acquired title to the property, which was in private hands. It was used as cotton fields, and a significant number of farm buildings had to be torn down. A labor force of about 3,400, including 1,000 Mexican workers, erecting buildings, pouring concrete and laying down pipes and an electrical system.

On 17 September 1917, the first officer reported for duty, and various pieces of equipment and a group of personnel were assigned to set up the base as a primary flight training field. The first shipment of 25 aircraft arrived on 14 November and were uncrated and assembled by the 150th Aero Squadron, moved from Kelly Field. 25 flight cadets reported for training on Thanksgiving Day 1917, and flight instruction began on 1 December. Eventually a total of 243 Standard J-1 trainers were assigned to Rich Field. In June 1918, the J-1s were replaced by the Curtiss JN-4 which was standardized by the War Department as the standard training plane for the Air Service. As the flight cadets graduated from the six-week course at Rich Field, they were sent to advance schools in the United States, England, or France for advanced training in either pursuit, observation or bomber aircraft. Eventually some 400 pilots received their wings at Rich Field.

After the November 1918 Armistice with Germany, those pilots who were in training were allowed to complete their flying training, however no new cadets started training. The airfield was ordered closed in May 1919.

Although the field was abandoned as a military airfield shortly after the World War I era, aviation activity continued there as a civil airport. Flying lessons were available. During the 1920s and 1930s traveling airshows occasionally visited Rich Field. Ford Trimotor offered the public a 10 minute flight to downtown Waco and back for one dollar. On one visit the Trimotor was put into a spin (without passengers) for show. For many years Braniff International Airways provided passenger service to Waco at Rich Field. Later the airport had "seen its time" and was closed at the beginning of World War II.

After the end of World War II, the site was subsequently used for two major civic facilities and numerous businesses. The Heart O' Texas Fairgrounds and Coliseum occupy part of the former airfield. A high school was constructed on part of the site in the late 1950s. The high school was named Richfield High School in honor of the former airfield. Later that high school was consolidated into Waco High School.