Hondo Army Air Field

Hondo Army Air Field. . At the beginning of World War II, on March 31, 1942, the United States War Department authorized the construction of an Air Force Training School at Hondo to cost in excess of five million dollars. H.B. Zachry construction company was given 100 days to complete the construction of a self-sufficient airfield, with utilities, streets, runways, taxiways, parking aprons and all of the buildings. On July 4, 1942, Hondo Army Air Field (HAAF) was activated; Col. Linus D. Frederick was the commanding officer. With many families having to give up their farms and homes, HAAF occupied 3,661.5 acres when completed at a cost of $7,215,933.66. At this time, the navigation school, was officially named the Army Air Force Navigation School, Hondo Army Air Field. In addition to the navigation school, there were glider pilot trainees, Women's Army Auxiliary Corps, Women's Air Force Service pilots, and the B-29 Flight Engineer School. On July 16, 1945, the navigation school was closed and HAAF was redesignated the Army Air Force Flight Engineer School. On December 31, 1945, HAAF was officially deactivated. During its three and a half years of activation, approximately 14,000 navigators, 3000 glider pilots, and 300 B-29 flight engineers were trained. Besides these trainees, over 10,000 other military personnel and 6000 civilians were involved in the operation of the base. Hondo Army Air Field brought economic and cultural changes to Medina County.