Dalhart Army Air Field

History

Dalhart Army Air Base is a former World War II military airfield complex near the city of Dalhart, Texas. It operated three training sites for the United States Army Air Forces from 1943 until 1945. The majority of the namesake city of Dalhart, Texas lies in southern Dallam County, while those parts of Dalhart city south of 11th Street are actually in northern Hartley County, Texas. The main airfield of Dalhart Army Air Base was 3.4 miles southwest of the city, so it was located in Hartley County. Auxiliary #1 (Hartley Field) was 10.2 miles west-southwest of the city, also in Hartley County. Auxiliary #2 (Dallam Field) was located 5.5 miles east-northeast of the city in Dallam County.

Text adapted from Wikipedia: Dalhart Army Air Base (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Timeline

1. 26 January 1943
   Glider crash north of the field kills eight
   The Dalhart Texan, 18 Jun 2019 (Dalhart AAF series, part 34)
2. February 1943
   Base switches from gliders to heavy bombers
   Wikipedia: Dalhart Army Air Base
3. 9 February 1943
   Second glider crash; S/Sgt. Mason Wilt survives
   The Dalhart Texan, 18 Jun 2019 (Dalhart AAF series, part 34)
4. 5 July 1943
   A Dalhart B-17 crew bombs Boise City, Oklahoma, by mistake
   Cimarron Heritage Center: Boise City Bombing
5. March 1944
   B-29 era begins; 504th and 505th Bomb Groups activated at Dalhart
   Wikipedia: Dalhart Army Air Base