Trip Report: Central Texas Trip
First published in 1998. Reformatted 2025. This trip fills in an area I hadn't investigated before, although my path crossed familiar highways from long-ago trips from Abilene to Austin or Belton. Just a reminder PIN means Permanent Installation Number and ILC means Installation Location Code; I include these for Air Force properties when I know them.Friday, 10 April 1998
Brownwood AAFld TX, 31-47, 98-57. Back on 183 and south toward Brownwood. On the right side of the road North of town, I found an F-4 and F-111 pulling gate guard duty. A hangar and a water storage tank are the only significant WWII structures remaining on this municipal airport. This airfield supported Camp Bowie during the war.F-4 and F-111 display aircraft
Hangar interior
Hangar
Hangar
Hangar
Sign
Building foundations
Hangar Curtis Ranch TX, 31-19, 99-13. South on 183 into Brownwood, then 377 South to Brady. Paused just north of Brady to photograph the open gate. I didn't explore since it was posted, and no one was in sight to ask permission. The ranch airfield, still in use under that name, was an auxiliary of Curtis Field in WWII.
Gate Curtis Field TX, 31-11, 99-20. Back on 377 headed south toward Brady. This WWII field is still an operating airport. Several WWII era hangars remain standing, along with a few wooden buildings. Gate posts at the airport entrance may date to the WWII flying school.
Hangar
184-foot demountable hangars
184-foot demountable hangar
Buildings
Building
Building
Buildings Bruce Field TX, 31-40, 99-59. Continue South on 377 into Brady, turn right on 87 and follow it to Eden. At Eden, take 83 north toward Ballinger. Before Ballinger, County Road 239 and County Road 240 lead to Bruce Field. One 184-foot demountable hangar remains in use from the WWII era, and foundations of others are evident. One other probably vintage building remains, apparently used as a residence.
184-foot demountable hangar
Building
Coleman Airport TX, 31-51, 99-24. Back to 83, then take 83 north into Ballinger. Turn right on 67 and go northeast toward Coleman. Nearing Coleman, go north on 206. Followed airport signs to Coleman Municipal Airport. A hangar and a few foundations remain from the WWII days. The former flagpole location was visible as a circular loop at an intersection of sidewalks.
Hangar
Foundations
Flagpole location Back to Mineral Wells then south to I-20. Head east on I-20 toward home. This trip took 12 hours, 5 minutes, and covered 591 miles. Updated January 26, 2025
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