Waco Regional Airport - History

History

The airport was built by the United States Army Air Force as a pilot training airfield, and was activated on 2 July 1942. It was initially named China Springs Army Air Field and was also known as Waco Army Air Field No. 2 before being renamed Blackland Army Airfield after the local black soil.

It was first a glider training school and in October 1942 Blackland was assigned to the AAF Gulf Coast Training Center, with the Army Air Force Pilot School (Advanced Twin-Engine) activated (phase 3 pilot training). The school's mission was to train cadets to fly transports and 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 school used a number of trainers, including the AT-8, AT-9, AT-10, and B-25. On 8 January 1943, the War Department constituted and activated the 33d Flying Training Wing (Advanced Twin-Engine) at Blackland and assigned it to the AAF Central Flying Training Command.

Flying training at the airfield ended on 4 February 1945 and it became a sub-base of Waco Army Airfield. The field became inactive on October 31, 1945. By 1950 the facility was disposed of by the War Assets Administration (WAA) and deeded to the local government, being operated as Waco Municipal Airport. Some buildings were used as a public housing project.