Curtis Field

{{Infobox airport

| name = Curtis Field

| image = Curtis Field Airport-TX-13Jan1995-USGS.jpg

| image-width = 250

| caption = USGS aerial image (13 January 1995)

| IATA = BBD

| ICAO = KBBD

| FAA = BBD

| pushpin_map = Texas

| pushpin_map_caption =

| pushpin_label = BBD

| pushpin_label_position = bottom

| type = Public

| owner = City of Brady

| operator =

| city-served = Brady, Texas

| location =

| elevation-f = 1,827

| elevation-m = 556

| coordinates = {{Coord|31|10|45|N|99|19|26|W|region:US-TX_type:airport_scale:10000|display=inline,title}}

| website = [https://www.bradytx.us/962/Curtis-Field---Airport]

| r1-number = 17/35

| r1-length-f = 4,605

| r1-length-m = 1,404

| r1-surface = Asphalt

| footnotes = Source: Federal Aviation Administration{{FAA-airport|ID=BBD|use=PU|own=PU|site= 23477.*A}}. Federal Aviation Administration. Effective 11 February 2010.

}}

Curtis Field {{Airport codes|BBD|KBBD|BBD}} is a city-owned airport three miles northeast of Brady, in McCulloch County, Texas. The airport is named for Mayor Harry L. Curtis of Brady, who proposed the site as an auxiliary field for the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF).{{cite web|last1=Stewart|first1=Robert W.|title=Curtis Field|url=http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/qbc40|website=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|accessdate=18 March 2018}} The FAA's National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2009–2013 calls it a general aviation facility.[http://www.faa.gov/airports/planning_capacity/npias/ National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems] for 2009–2013: [http://www.faa.gov/airports/planning_capacity/npias/reports/media/2009/npias_2009_appA_part5.pdf Appendix A: Part 5 (PDF, 1.18 MB)] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606181720/http://www.faa.gov/airports/planning_capacity/npias/reports/media/2009/npias_2009_appA_part5.pdf |date=June 6, 2011 }}. Federal Aviation Administration. Updated 15 October 2008.

History

Construction of the airport began in November 1940. The Works Progress Administration provided labor for the project with the city and county providing equipment for leveling and grading.{{cite news|title=Curtis Field Contributed Much to Brady's Progress|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sandra-broughton-other-articles-clipping-sep-12-1972-408684/|accessdate=18 March 2018|work=Brady Herald|date=September 12, 1972}} The airport opened in August 1941. On January 1, 1942, the facility was taken over by the United States Army Air Forces and was used during World War II as a primary (stage 1) pilot training airfield. Facilities at the 354-acre field included a headquarters building and annex, a ground school, an infirmary, mess hall, three barracks, and four hangars.

Known as Curtis Field, the facility was operated as a contract pilot school, operated initially by the Brady Aviation School for the USAAF Gulf Coast Training Center (later Central Flying Training Command). Later, the contract was taken over by the Dallas Aviation School and Air College.

Several local axillary landing airfields were associated with Curtis Field, the Curtis Ranch; Moore Field; Sneed Field and White Field for emergency and overflow landings.

It is notable that enlisted sergeant pilots received their primary flight training at Curtis Field in early 1942. This program was ended later in the year. The last pilot training class ended in February 1945 and military control of the airport ended.

Airline flights (Trans-Texas DC-3s) ended in 1958–59.

Shaw, Frederick J. (2004), Locating Air Force Base Sites, History’s Legacy, Air Force History and Museums Program, United States Air Force, Washington DC. {{OCLC|57007862|1050653629}}

Manning, Thomas A. (2005), History of Air Education and Training Command, 1942–2002. Office of History and Research, Headquarters, AETC, Randolph AFB, Texas {{OCLC|71006954|29991467}}