Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls in Wichita County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Sheppard Air Force Base

Photographed by James Hulse, October 27, 2025

1. Sheppard Air Force Base Marker

Inscription. In July 1940, the U.S. Army Air Corps evaluated Call Field, a former World War I flight training base as a potential site for a technical training school. That site was not available. However, Kell Field was a viable alternative and the local chamber of commerce led an effort to purchase tracts of land adjoining Kell Field. On April 17, 1941, the new installation was named Sheppard Field, in honor of U.S. Senator Morris Sheppard, who died eight days earlier.

On June 19, 1941, the War Department approved a dual training mission for Sheppard Field. Along with its Aviation Mechanics School, Sheppard also served as a basic training center. After the U.S. entered World War II on December 7, 1941, the frequency and length of training classes continued to grow dramatically to accommodate thousands of aviation mechanics.

In September 1942, Sheppard Field received a Glider Mechanic School and later started a Glider Classification School for pilots. This was followed by the airfield's first flight training courses in 1944. In October 1945, Sheppard Field reached a peak strength of 46,000 personnel, while serving as an Army Air Forces Separation Center. On August 31, 1946, the War Department placed Sheppard on inactive status. Nearly two years later, on August 1, 1948, Sheppard Field opened again in response to the Cold War, becoming a permanent Air Force Base two years later.

In 1955, the U.S. Air Force made Sheppard the primary training center for the Atlas Ballistic Missile System. The base also became the prime center for the Jupiter and Thor Intermediate Range Ballistic Missiles, as well as the Titan Intercontinental Ballistic Missile until the mid-1980s. Additional Cold War missions included a B-52 bomber wing of the Strategic Air Command, a helicopter flying training air training command, and the Euro-NATO

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Joint Jet Pilot Training (ENJJPT) Program. 175 Years of Texas Independence 1836-2011

Erected 2011 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 16914.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • War, Cold • War, World II. A significant historical date for this entry is April 17, 1941.

Location. 33° 57.822′ N, 98° 30.749′ W. Marker is in Wichita Falls, Texas, in Wichita County. It is in Sheppard Air Force Base. It is at the intersection of Burkburnett Road and Avenue D, on the right when traveling north on Burkburnett Road. The marker is located just in front of the the main gate to the Sheppard Air Force Base. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4021 Burkburnett Rd, Wichita Falls TX 76306, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Big Country.

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 Comanchería,

the Republic of Texas,

and one of the Confederate States of America.

Other nearby markers. At

Photographed by James Hulse, October 27, 2025

2. Sheppard Air Force Base Marker

least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: “Maintenance Man Statue" (within shouting distance of this marker); In Honor of Lt. Gen. Leo Marquez (within shouting distance of this marker); T-38C "Talon" Aircraft (within shouting distance of this marker); Ohio Street Bridge (approx. 3.1 miles away); Joseph Sterling Bridwell (approx. 3.2 miles away); Davenport Grocery (approx. 3.3 miles away); Texan Santa Fe Expedition (approx. 3½ miles away); Henry C. Luecke (approx. 3.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wichita Falls.

The front gate to the Sheppard Air Force Base image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, October 27, 2025

3. The front gate to the Sheppard Air Force Base

Credits. This page was last revised on October 31, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 30, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 96 times since then and 59 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 31, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.