Hobbs in Lea County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Hobbs Army Air Field

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, October 9, 2023

1. Hobbs Army Air Field Marker

Inscription. Built in 1942, the Hobbs Army Airfield was primarily used to train pilots to operate B-17 Bomber planes. It was built for the U.S. Army Air Forces 50,000 Pilot Training Program and closed in 1948. In 2003 it became Hobbs Industrial Airpark and was used for glider operations. The Harry McAdams Park, Ocotillo Golf Course and New Mexico Junior College now cover much of the base.

Erected by New Mexico Historic Preservation Division. (Marker Number 674.)

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

Location. 32° 46.577′ N, 103° 11.94′ W. Marker is in Hobbs, New Mexico, in Lea County. It is on Jack Gomez Boulevard 0.1 miles west of North Lovington Highway (New Mexico Highway 18), on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4825 Jack Gomez Blvd, Hobbs NM 88240, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in New Mexico’s Pecos Valley. It is also in the American Southwest,

on the Great Plains,

on the Southern Plains,

and specifically on the High Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

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

the Comanchería,

and the Republic of Texas.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 15 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Hobbs 9/11 Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Hobbs (approx. 5½ miles away); Llano Estacado (approx. 5½ miles away); Hobbs Discovery Well (approx. 6.8 miles away); Monument (approx. 11.3 miles away); Lovington

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(approx. 12 miles away); Commercial Hotel (approx. 14.7 miles away); Lea County War Memorial (approx. 14.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hobbs.

Other markers no longer nearby. Myrtle Attaway Farquhar (1900-1972) (was approx. 1.6 miles away but has been confirmed missing); Oil and Gas (was approx. 7.2 miles away but has been permanently removed).

Also see . . . Keep 'Em Flying: The Story of the Hobbs Army Air Field. A historical narrative covering the creation and history of the Hobbs Army Air Field in Hobbs, New Mexico which was used as a B-17 transition training location during World War II. (City of Hobbs, NM, 2008; via Internet Archive) (Submitted on October 29, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, October 9, 2023

2. Hobbs Army Air Field Marker

Hobbs Army Air Field image. Click for full size.

via U.S. Air Force Historical Research Center (Public Domain), 1943

3. Hobbs Army Air Field

An aerial view of the facility during World War II.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 29, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 841 times since then and 89 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 29, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.