Type Military airfield Year built 1941 | In use 1942-1945 | |
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Victory Field is a former military airfield, located approximately 6 miles (9.7 km) south-southwest of Vernon, Texas. It was closed in 1945 at the end of World War II.
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History
Part of the Army Air Corps build up for World War II, Victory Field was built and activated in 1941. It was assigned to the Air Corps Flying Training Command, Gulf Coast Training Center (later Central Flying Training Command).
The facility was a primary (stage 1) pilot training airfield operated under contract by Hunter Flying Service & Richey Flying Service. Fairchild PT-19s were the primary trainer at the airfield. Thousands of cadets were trained and made their first solo flight at Victory Field. As the Army Air Corps succeeded in Europe it decided to draw down training and scheduled the closure of Victory Field in 1945.
Current use
In 1950, the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation (MHMR) took over the facility, opening it as Vernon Center, a unit of Wichita Falls State Hospital. It remains today a Texas Youth Commission facility.