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

Foster Field

1941-1958

— Victoria Trail Through Time —

Foster Field Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, February 17, 2022

1. Foster Field Marker

Inscription.

Foster Field. Foster Field forever altered Victoria.. Originally known as Victoria Field, Foster Field obtained its official designation on January 15th, 1942. The name memorialized 1st Lieutenant Arthur L. Foster, who was killed in a crash at Brooks Field in 1925. His son, Arthur L. Foster, Jr., received his commission at the base dedicated to his father in the spring of 1942. , Victoria secured the location of the base from the federal government and saw its completion in less than a year's time. An open house was held on October 19th, 1941. This was no small feat, as locales across the country were vying for military installations, and the economic boost they would provide. The location of the military installation led to drastic economic and demographic changes. It is worth noting that Victoria saw a nearly 25% increase in marriage licenses in 1941. In short order Victoria's economy soared. , Foster Army Airfield became an advanced flying school for fighter pilots flying P-40 Warhawks and AT-6 Texans; their gunnery training took place at the nearby Matagorda Island proving grounds. The first class graduated just five days after the attack on the U.S. base at Pearl Harbor. Foster Field was deactivated following the end of World War II in late 1945. , However, the Korean War brought the base back into service. In the fall of 1951 the government reactivated Foster Air Force Base for single-engine jet training. The first cadets graduated in March 1953 after three months using T-28 propeller and T-33 jet trainers. The newly designated permanent military installation began housing F-86 Sabre fighter jets in 1954. The following year Foster Field was designated headquarters for the Nineteenth Air Force, a new branch of the Tactical Air Command. The designation boosted personnel levels to about 6,000 and new F-100C Super-Sabre jets replaced the F-86s. The government surprised everyone in August 1957 when they announced plans to deactivate the base. , A "Save Foster" campaign was launched but ultimately the base was closed in December of 1958. Losing the base was a great blow to the local economy. Victoria County acquired Foster Field in 1960 and the Victoria County Airport was relocated to the site. Its growth and the location of businesses nearby slowly brought life back to the area. In 1976 the former Foster Field became Victoria Regional Airport. , Captions Lower Right: "World War II" Original Illustration by Tom Jones , Upper Right: ca 1940s - Victoria, TX Photograph of Howard Bierly standing alongside his P-38 at Foster Field. Virginia Millberger Collection

Foster Field
forever altered Victoria.
Originally known as Victoria Field, Foster Field obtained its official designation on January 15th, 1942. The name memorialized 1st Lieutenant Arthur L. Foster, who was killed in a crash at Brooks Field in 1925. His son, Arthur L. Foster, Jr., received his commission at the base dedicated to his father in the spring of 1942.

Victoria secured the location of the base from the federal government and saw its completion in less than a year's time. An open house was held on October 19th, 1941. This was no small feat, as locales across the country were vying for military installations, and the economic boost they would provide. The location of the military installation led to drastic economic and demographic changes. It is worth noting that Victoria saw a nearly 25% increase in marriage licenses in 1941. In short order Victoria's economy soared.

Foster Army Airfield became an advanced flying school for fighter pilots flying P-40 Warhawks and AT-6 Texans; their gunnery training took place at the nearby Matagorda Island proving grounds. The first class graduated just five days after the attack on the U.S. base at Pearl Harbor. Foster Field was deactivated following the end of World War II in late 1945.

However, the Korean War brought

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the base back into service. In the fall of 1951 the government reactivated Foster Air Force Base for single-engine jet training. The first cadets graduated in March 1953 after three months using T-28 propeller and T-33 jet trainers. The newly designated permanent military installation began housing F-86 Sabre fighter jets in 1954. The following year Foster Field was designated headquarters for the Nineteenth Air Force, a new branch of the Tactical Air Command. The designation boosted personnel levels to about 6,000 and new F-100C Super-Sabre jets replaced the F-86s. The government surprised everyone in August 1957 when they announced plans to deactivate the base.

A "Save Foster" campaign was launched but ultimately the base was closed in December of 1958. Losing the base was a great blow to the local economy. Victoria County acquired Foster Field in 1960 and the Victoria County Airport was relocated to the site. Its growth and the location of businesses nearby slowly brought life back to the area. In 1976 the former Foster Field became Victoria Regional Airport.

Captions
Lower Right: "World War II"
Original Illustration by Tom Jones

Upper Right: ca 1940s - Victoria, TX
Photograph of Howard Bierly standing alongside his P-38 at Foster Field.
Virginia Millberger Collection

Erected by

Photographed by James Hulse, February 17, 2022

2. Foster Field Marker

City of Victoria.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • War, Korean • War, World II. A significant historical date for this entry is January 15, 1942.

Location. 28° 50.698′ N, 96° 55.21′ W. Marker is in Victoria, Texas, in Victoria County. It is at the intersection of Foster Field Drive and Hanger Drive, on the left when traveling north on Foster Field Drive. The marker is located in front of the Victoria Regional Airport Terminal. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 609 Foster Field 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 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: 201st Fighter Squadron, Mexican Expeditionary Air Force (the Aztec Eagles) (approx. 0.3 miles away); Foster Field Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); Foster Army Air Field (approx. 0.3 miles away); a different marker also named Foster Field (approx. 0.3 miles away); First Presbyterian Church of Victoria (approx. 5.2 miles away); Camp Victoria (approx. 5½ miles away); Mount Salem American Baptist Church (approx. 5.6 miles away); William Robert Smith (approx. 5.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Victoria.

Also see . . . Foster Army Air Field. (Submitted on February 24, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

The view of the Foster Field Marker in front of the airport terminal image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, February 17, 2022

3. The view of the Foster Field Marker in front of the airport terminal

Photographed by Victoria Master Gardiner Association, March 12, 2024

4. Foster Field Marker

Marker as seen in front of Victoria airport terminal building.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 13, 2024. It was originally submitted on February 24, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 719 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 24, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. 4. submitted on March 13, 2024.