Bryan in Brazos County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Bryan Air Force Base
Photographed By Morgan Petermann, September 29, 2023
1. Bryan Air Force Base Marker
Inscription.
Bryan Air Force Base. . During World War II, construction of Bryan Army Air Field (Bryan AAF) began in August 1942. The U.S. Army Air Forces site grew out of a war department initiative to train pilots and instructors. The site was the only instrument instructor school for some time, and the airfield hosted more than 1,000 Women Army Service Pilots (WASPS), 38 of whom died during training. From Bryan Field on July 27, 1943, Col. Joseph Duckworth made the first intentional flights through a hurricane. The field also included a large but segregated contingent of African American servicemen and cadets. , Bryan AAF covered almost 2,000 acres of rural property. Its construction displaced farmers and the entire Riverside community, but the airfield brought significant economic impact to Brazos County. The airfield had a triangular runway system, hangars, barracks, a theater, chapel, hospital and library. , After the end of World War II, much of the site was obtained by Texas A&M College. ‘The Annex’ was home to freshmen to alleviate overcrowding at the main campus due to hundreds of returning veterans. , Reactivated as Bryan Air Force Base (BAFB) in 1951 in response to the Korean War, the facility was a major jet training base and racially integrated. Tuskegee airmen and pilots from many countries were trained by skilled instructors, including future astronauts. The base was deactivated in 1961, deeded to the college and eventually developed into the Riverside Campus, a multi-faceted part of Texas A&M University.
During World War II, construction of Bryan Army Air Field (Bryan AAF) began in August 1942. The U.S. Army Air Forces site grew out of a war department initiative to train pilots and instructors. The site was the only instrument instructor school for some time, and the airfield hosted more than 1,000 Women Army Service Pilots (WASPS), 38 of whom died during training. From Bryan Field on July 27, 1943, Col. Joseph Duckworth made the first intentional flights through a hurricane. The field also included a large but segregated contingent of African American servicemen and cadets.
Bryan AAF covered almost 2,000 acres of rural property. Its construction displaced farmers and the entire Riverside community, but the airfield brought significant economic impact to Brazos County. The airfield had a triangular runway system, hangars, barracks, a theater, chapel, hospital and library.
After the end of World War II, much of the site was obtained by Texas A&M College. ‘The Annex’ was home to freshmen to alleviate overcrowding at the main campus due to hundreds of returning veterans.
Reactivated as Bryan Air Force Base (BAFB) in 1951 in response to the Korean War, the facility was a major jet training base and racially integrated. Tuskegee airmen and pilots from many countries were trained by skilled instructors,
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including future astronauts. The base was deactivated in 1961, deeded to the college and eventually developed into the Riverside Campus, a multi-faceted part of Texas A&M University.
Erected 2016 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 18447.)
Location. 30° 38.312′ N, 96° 28.192′ W. Marker is in Bryan, Texas, in Brazos County. Marker is at the intersection of Avenue D and 5th Street, on the left when traveling south on Avenue D. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1555 Ave D, Bryan TX 77807, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Photographed By Morgan Petermann, September 29, 2023
2. Informational marker on South Side of Aldrin Plaza.
Marker describes the history of Bryan AFB and the five future astronauts who received pilot training there: Buzz Aldrin, Gus Grissom, Ted Freeman, William Pogue, and Charles Bassett.
Photographed By Morgan Petermann, September 29, 2023
3. Bryan Air Force Base Marker
Marker in front of the RELLIS Chapel on campus.
Photographed By Morgan Petermann, September 29, 2023
4. Aldrin Plaza on RELLIS Campus
Bryan Air Force Base marker is visible in background.
Photographed By Morgan Petermann, September 29, 2023
5. Informational marker on North Side of Aldrin Plaza.
Describes the statue of Buzz Aldrin found in the plaza. Buzz Aldrin completed his advanced fighter pilot training at Bryan AFB.
Photographed By Ronald Claiborne, January 6, 2024
6. Bryan Air Force Base Marker
Photographed By Ronald Claiborne, January 6, 2024
7. Bryan Air Force Base Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on January 12, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 30, 2023, by Morgan Petermann of Irving, Texas. This page has been viewed 351 times since then and 119 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on September 30, 2023, by Morgan Petermann of Irving, Texas. 6, 7. submitted on January 7, 2024, by Ronald Claiborne of College Station, Texas. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.