Ranger in Eastland County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Ranger Municipal Airport
Photographed By Duane Hall, September 8, 2016
1. Ranger Municipal Airport Marker
Inscription.
Ranger Municipal Airport. . The Texas Department of Transportation’s Aviation Division lists this field as the third oldest operating airport in the state. The earliest documentation for an airplane landing in Ranger was on November 24, 1911, when Robert G. Fowler landed his Wright biplane on the V.V. Cooper, Sr. field just west of the present airport building, on the eastern edge of Ranger College. Fowler, an early aviator, landed in Ranger during his transcontinental attempt to win publisher William Randolph Hearst’s $50,000 prize for the first person to fly across the United States in 30 days. , In the spring of 1928, C.J. Moore and various aviation boosters determined to build an airport for Eastland County began searching for a suitable site. They purchased the 135-acre V.V. Cooper, Sr. tract, and officially dedicated the airport on Armistice Day, November 11, 1928. Called Haugland Airport in the 1930s, the airport was renamed Ranger Municipal Airport in September 1939 when the Ranger Flying Service, owned by Russell B. Miller, Hall Walker and O.G. Lanier opened a civilian pilot training program at the airport. , Several noteworthy aviation events have occurred at Ranger Field. On June 16, 1931, aviatrix Amelia Earhart landed her Pitcairn autogiro here. In the 1930s, Ranger Airport served as a midway point for glider races from Grand Prairie to Sweetwater and back. During World War II, Army Air Forces Piper L4 Cub pilots flew into Ranger Municipal Airport on multiple occasions for two to three days of practice in the clear skies around Ranger. Since World War II area citizens have worked continuously to make Ranger Municipal Airport an asset to the city, county and state.
The Texas Department of Transportation’s Aviation Division lists this field as the third oldest operating airport in the state. The earliest documentation for an airplane landing in Ranger was on November 24, 1911, when Robert G. Fowler landed his Wright biplane on the V.V. Cooper, Sr. field just west of the present airport building, on the eastern edge of Ranger College. Fowler, an early aviator, landed in Ranger during his transcontinental attempt to win publisher William Randolph Hearst’s $50,000 prize for the first person to fly across the United States in 30 days.
In the spring of 1928, C.J. Moore and various aviation boosters determined to build an airport for Eastland County began searching for a suitable site. They purchased the 135-acre V.V. Cooper, Sr. tract, and officially dedicated the airport on Armistice Day, November 11, 1928. Called Haugland Airport in the 1930s, the airport was renamed Ranger Municipal Airport in September 1939 when the Ranger Flying Service, owned by Russell B. Miller, Hall Walker and O.G. Lanier opened a civilian pilot training program at the airport.
Several noteworthy aviation events have occurred at Ranger Field. On June 16, 1931, aviatrix Amelia Earhart landed her Pitcairn autogiro here. In the 1930s, Ranger Airport served as a midway point for glider races from Grand Prairie
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to Sweetwater and back. During World War II, Army Air Forces Piper L4 Cub pilots flew into Ranger Municipal Airport on multiple occasions for two to three days of practice in the clear skies around Ranger. Since World War II area citizens have worked continuously to make Ranger Municipal Airport an asset to the city, county and state.
Erected 2006 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 13715.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • War, World II. A significant historical date for this entry is November 24, 1911.
Location. 32° 27.345′ N, 98° 40.83′ W. Marker is in Ranger, Texas, in Eastland County. Marker can be reached from Oddie Street, 0.1 miles south of Vespasian Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Ranger TX 76470, United States of America. Touch for directions.
View to west towards original airfield and Ranger College
Photographed By Duane Hall, September 8, 2016
3. Marker near Airport Buildings
Credits. This page was last revised on August 27, 2020. It was originally submitted on September 24, 2016, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. This page has been viewed 295 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on September 24, 2016, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas.
