Near Sweetwater in Nolan County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
W.A.S.P. Training Base: Avenger Field
(A quarter of a mile to the north)
Photographed By Mark Hilton, September 16, 2015
1. W.A.S.P. Training Base: Avenger Field Marker
Women's Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) trained here in military aircraft during World War II, from Feb. 21, 1943, through final graduation day, Dec. 7, 1944.
Avenger Field first served as a training base for British Royal Air Force Cadets in 1942, then for U.S. Army Air Forces Cadets Aug. 1942 - April 1943.
The WASP program was started under General H.H. ("Hap") Arnold to train women to fly every kind of mission short of combat, releasing male pilots for overseas duty. Jacqueline Cochran was director of women pilots; Ethel A. Sheehy, WASP staff field executive; Nancy Harness Love, WASP staff executive-ferrying division; and Leoti Clark Deaton, WASP staff executive-training bases. Of 25,000 girls who applied for WASP flight training. 1,830 were accepted; 1,074 won their silver wings. The WASPs flew 60 million miles on operational duty; 37 lost their lives serving their country. WASPs had civil service—not military—status, but were granted eligibility to apply for reserve commissions in the Air Corps after the WASP program ended when the allies were winning the war in Europe and the U.S.A. pilot shortage was past.
Avenger Field was closed after a short post-WASP span of service as a missile base.
Erected 1972 by State Historical Survey Committee. (Marker
this page online
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Military • War, World II. In addition, it is included in the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1942.
Location. 32° 27.185′ N, 100° 28.311′ W. Marker is near Sweetwater, Texas, in Nolan County. Marker is at the intersection of Avenger Field Road (Loop State Highway 170) and Frontage U.S. 20 Frontage Road, on the right when traveling north on Avenger Field Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 518 Avenger Field Road, Sweetwater TX 79556, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Women Airforce Service Pilots (approx. 0.7 miles away); Sweetwater Cemetery (approx. 2.9 miles away); Roscoe Cemetery (approx. 3.1 miles away); Trammell House (approx. 3.9 miles away); S.D. Myres (approx. 3.9 miles away); W.A.S.P. (Women's Airforce Service Pilots) Training Base: Avenger Field (approx. 3.9 miles away); Texas and Pacific Railway (approx. 3.9 miles away); Ragland Building (approx. 3.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sweetwater.
Also see . . . Wikipedia article about the WASP's. (Submitted on September 16, 2015, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)
Photographed By Mark Hilton, September 16, 2015
2. Avenger Field sign and old building
Photographed By Mark Hilton, September 16, 2015
3. View of marker looking east on Interstate 20.
Photographed By Mark Hilton, September 16, 2015
4. View of marker looking west on Interstate 20.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on September 16, 2015, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 590 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 16, 2015, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.
