Victoria in Victoria County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Foster Army Air Field

Photographed by James Hulse, February 17, 2022

1. Foster Army Air Field Marker

Inscription. Prior to World War II, in an effort to match the powerful air armadas of the Axis nations, the U.S. Army Air Corps (later U.S. Army Air Forces) rapidly increased its number of training installations throughout the country. The city of Victoria secured an advanced single engine aerial gunnery training command here, with construction beginning on April 25, 1941. Initially named Victoria Field, the military renamed the site in honor of 1st Lt. Arthur L. Foster, an instructor at Brooks Field (San Antonio) killed when his plane crashed in 1925. The first class of cadets arrived in Sept. 1941 and subsequent classes arrived throughout the war. Cadets received both classroom flight instruction and gunnery training on site, with aerial gunnery practice at ranges on Matagorda Island and Matagorda Peninsula. In 1942, the military assigned a unit of the Women's Army Corps here. Cooperation between the U.S. and allied nations brought foreign aviators here during the war for training, most notably the 201st fighter squadron, Mexican Expeditionary Air Force (the Aztec Eagles).

The end of World War II brought the closure of military sites across the nation. Foster Army Air Field (AAF) closed on October 31, 1945; however, the airfield's inactivation was short lived. In 1951, the Korean War created a need for additional jet training facilities and once again the people of Victoria rallied behind efforts to secure a military installation. As a result of local solicitation, the military reactivated Foster AAF on April 1, 1952, with the first class of jet aviation cadets arriving in March 1953. On July 1, 1954, Foster Air Force Base (AFB) became a permanent military installation and later became the Tactical Air Command control center for the western U.S. In Dec. 1958 the military closed Foster AFB. Two years later the federal

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government turned the airfield over to Victoria County in exchange for nearby Aloe Field, which the government sold to private investors. In 1976, Foster Field became Victoria Regional Airport.

Erected 2008 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 14652.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • War, Korean • War, World II. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1953.

Location. 28° 50.861′ N, 96° 55.474′ W. Marker is in Victoria, Texas, in Victoria County. It can be reached from the intersection of Bachelor Drive and Hanger Drive, on the left when traveling west. The marker is located in the central section of the Victoria Educational Garden. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 333 Bachelor Drive, Victoria TX 77904, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American South

and on the Gulf Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

and

Photographed by James Hulse, February 17, 2022

2. Foster Army Air Field Marker

one of the Confederate States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Foster Field Memorial (here, next to this marker); 201st Fighter Squadron, Mexican Expeditionary Air Force (the Aztec Eagles) (a few steps from this marker); Foster Field (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Foster Field (approx. 0.3 miles away); First Presbyterian Church of Victoria (approx. 5 miles away); Camp Victoria (approx. 5.3 miles away); Victoria (approx. 5.3 miles away); William Robert Smith (approx. 5.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Victoria.

Also see . . . Foster Army Air Field. (Submitted on February 23, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

The Foster Army Air Field Marker is the marker on the right of the two markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, February 17, 2022

3. The Foster Army Air Field Marker is the marker on the right of the two markers

Credits. This page was last revised on February 24, 2022. It was originally submitted on February 23, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 614 times since then and 118 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 24, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.