Call Field

When the United States entered World War I, April 1917, the Aviation Section, Signal Corps, U.S. Army, had only 112 pilots. Yet the allies, relying heavily on the U.S., planned the greatest of all aerial fleets, and the U.S. moved at once to meet the expectations. In August, Wichita Falls was chosen, because of good winter weather, as location for a new aviation field for pilot training programs. Through efforts of local citizens, this 640-acre site was leased and named for Lt. Loren H. Call, a pilot killed on duty in Texas, 1913. Construction began September 4, 1917, on primary flight training school; 50 to 60 buildings went up north of this spot on Call Field Road; runways and 12 hangars were situated south of the road. Planes used included the standard JL and Curtis JN4. Major John Brooks (later Major Gen. Brooks) was the first commanding officer. (His horse stable, 360 feet north, is only surviving Call Field building) with him came 15 enlisted men from 6th Aero Sqn., Hawaiian Terr., and five flying cadets from San Diego, California. In time, over 3,000 officers, cadets and enlisted men were based here. Before Call Field closed in July 1919; the school gave commissions and wings to some 500 men and sent two aero squadrons overseas for combat duty. (1973)

Call Field is a historical marker in Wichita Falls, Wichita County, dedicated in 1973. It is one of 75 historical markers documented in Wichita County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 94 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 33.8735, -98.5552 near Wichita Falls. The nearest cataloged historic site is Call Field Monument (historical marker), about 0.4 miles away. Others within a short drive include Trimble, Zenobia, Wichita Falls Lodge No. 635 A.F. and A.M., and Midwestern University Desegregation.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5485000630. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.