Midland Army Airfield, Texas

Midland Army Airfield was a major World War II training base of the United States Army Air Forces located near Midland, Texas. It played a central role in the development of bomber crews and became one of the largest bombardier-training schools in the nation during the war.

Constructed in 1942, Midland Army Airfield was part of the U.S. Army Air Forces' rapid wartime expansion. The base specialized in precision bombardier instruction, using aircraft such as the Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan and Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. Thousands of cadets completed training there, contributing to the Allied strategic bombing campaign in both European and Pacific theaters.

At its peak, the airfield supported multiple runways, hangars, barracks, and classrooms spread over several thousand acres. Training emphasized the use of the Norden bombsight, a key technology that improved bombing accuracy. Instructors and crews simulated combat missions over the surrounding West Texas terrain.

Following Japan's surrender in 1945, the airfield was deactivated and transferred to civil authorities. The site evolved into Midland Air Terminal and later Midland International Air and Space Port, which remains a regional hub for commercial and spaceflight operations.