Sky and Shadow: The impact of World War II Airfields on the society and culture of small Texas towns
Presented by Dr. Karen Hagan, Instructor of History at Victoria College.
During World War II, the United States built a number of training fields in the crossroads region and began teaching basic airmanship, aircraft repair, and advanced flight techniques to aviation cadets. The arrival of the military changed the culture of South Texas in a variety of ways. Not only did it bring in people from all over the United States, it also put hundreds of aircraft into once quiet skies, infused an enthusiasm for all things military into local populations, and forced citizens to deal with the inevitable losses associated with aviation training. This presentation explores the World War II airfields of South Texas, describes some of the individuals and events involved, and studies how military aviation affected the small towns that played host to training operations.
Admission is free and open to the public.