Kelly Field No. 1

Kelly Field No. 1
Name	Kelly Field No. 1
Location	San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas
Country	United States
Type	Airfield
Built	1917
Used	1917–2001
Ownership	United States Air Force

Kelly Field No. 1

Kelly Field No. 1 was an American airfield established near San Antonio in 1917 that became a major United States Army Air Service and later United States Army Air Forces training and logistics center. From World War I through the Cold War the installation hosted aviation schools, technical depots, and operational units associated with Camp Travis, Fort Sam Houston, and the United States Air Force. The field played a central role in aircraft maintenance, logistics, and flight training before closure and integration into redevelopment projects tied to Kelly Air Force Base and Port San Antonio.

History

Kelly Field No. 1 opened in 1917 as part of the rapid expansion of American aviation resources prompted by World War I. The site was selected near Lackland Air Force Base and adjacent to San Antonio International Airport to leverage local rail connections to Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway and Southern Pacific Transportation Company. Initially administered by the Signal Corps (United States Army) and later by the Air Service, United States Army, the field became known for receiving aircraft and training aviators linked to theaters in Western Front, Pancho Villa Expedition, and other early 20th-century operations. Between the wars, the installation hosted units under the United States Army Air Corps and supported industrial partnerships with firms like Kelly-Springfield Tire Company which influenced local industry and WPA-era improvements. During World War II the field expanded with facilities for depot maintenance and support to operational commands such as the Air Transport Command and Technical Service Command.

Facilities and layout

Kelly Field No. 1 comprised runways, hangars, maintenance shops, barracks, and technical depots arranged to support high-throughput logistics and training. Major structures included large covered hangars similar to designs used at McCook Field and sweatshop-style maintenance bays modeled after depots at Ordnance Department (United States Army). The layout incorporated fuel storage sites, supply warehouses tied to the Quartermaster Corps (United States Army), and specialized schools located near Brooks Field and Randolph Field to facilitate cross-base training. Rail spurs connected the field to Union Pacific Railroad lines and to industrial complexes serving manufacturers such as Boeing, Lockheed Corporation, and Curtiss-Wright. Air traffic control and communications reflected evolving standards from the Aeronautical Division, U.S. Signal Corps era into the Federal Aviation Administration transitional systems.

Military units and operations

A wide array of units cycled through Kelly Field No. 1, including training squadrons, depot units, and operational groups. Notable associations included elements of the 1st Pursuit Group, 3rd Attack Group, and service components of the Technical Service Command and Materiel Command. During World War II the field operated as a major hub for repair and overhaul supporting aircraft types flown by units such as the 8th Air Force and 12th Air Force, and providing logistical support to Army Air Forces Training Command schools. Postwar units affiliated the installation with Strategic Air Command logistical chains and later Military Airlift Command operations, hosting contractor-operated maintenance tasks alongside uniformed depot personnel.

Role in aviation training and development

Kelly Field No. 1 functioned as a crucible for pilot instruction, mechanic courses, and technical innovation. Training curricula were coordinated with neighboring schools at Randolph Field and Brooks Field, producing aviators who served with formations like the Flying Tigers and units deployed to the Pacific Theater. Technical programs at the field contributed to maintenance doctrines that influenced depots at Letterkenny Army Depot and Tooele Army Depot. Engineers and instructors from Kelly collaborated with manufacturers including North American Aviation and Douglas Aircraft Company on airframe and engine overhaul techniques, and with researchers tied to National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics projects that underpinned later NASA initiatives.

Post-military use and redevelopment

Following reductions in active military roles and the eventual consolidation of functions at nearby installations, large portions of the field’s property transitioned to civilian and commercial use associated with Kelly Air Force Base realignment and base closure actions. The site’s redevelopment became a focal point for Port San Antonio and for private partners such as Lockheed Martin and international logistics firms. Economic redevelopment plans integrated former hangars and maintenance buildings into aerospace industrial parks, attracting firms from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency supply chain and supporting exports via the Port of San Antonio logistical network. Adaptive reuse efforts preserved utility while generating employment in aviation services, manufacturing, and freight handling.

Historic preservation and memorials

Several structures and memorials preserve the legacy of Kelly Field No. 1, with interpretive displays and plaques honoring personnel who served during conflicts including World War I, World War II, and the Korean War. Preservation efforts have involved stakeholders such as the National Register of Historic Places program, the Texas Historical Commission, and local institutions like the San Antonio Museum of Aviation and San Antonio Missions National Historical Park affiliates. Commemorative events and museum exhibits connect the field’s history to broader narratives involving pioneers such as Eddie Rickenbacker and organizations like the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Remnants of hangars and depots remain integrated into the urban fabric as industrial landmarks and educational sites for aviation history.

Category:Airfields of the United States Army Air Service Category:Installations of the United States Air Force in Texas