Discover Wichita Falls' military ties on America's 250th birthday

The Revolutionary War marked the beginning of America's quest for independence that was won 250 years ago this summer.

Wichita Falls didn't come along until muskets and powder horns had long been put aside, but the city has historically been associated with the nation's military.

The city was home to Call Field for a short time during World War I, but the most lasting relationship has been with Sheppard Air Force Base, which has been part of the community for 86 years.

During those many decades, some of the base's history has faded from memory.

So, as the community celebrates USA 250, here's some interesting trivia gleaned from the Texas State Historical Association.

• In 1940, the commandant of the U.S. Army Air Corps Technical School chose a site for a training school that was flat land near the 3,000-foot runway of the Wichita Falls airport, Kell Field.

• Oilman Joseph Bridwell sold the site to the U.S. Army for $1.

• On April 17, 1941, the new base was named after U.S. Senator John Morris Sheppard, who had died 8 days earlier. Sheppard is best known for introducing the 18th Amendment in the Senate and became known as "the father of Prohibition."

• The first calls of 22 aviation mechanics from Sheppard graduated on Feb. 23, 1942.

• At the end of World War II, the population of Wichita Falls and Sheppard Air Force Base were about equal at roughly 46,000 each. The base was being used as a separation center from troops coming home from the war.

• In 1946, the government deactivated the base and leased it back to the city. Some of the buildings were used to house National Guard troops while others were moved to Wichita General Hospital. That prompted the government to put a freeze on the property to prevent further "disposal" of base property.

• The property was reactivated and named Sheppard Air Force Base on Aug. 15, 1948.

• Sheppard began picking up training missions from other bases during the Korean War.

• SAFB began training German Air Force pilots in 1966 and pilots of the Republic of Vietnam Air Force from 1971 to 1975 during the Vietnam War.

• In 1973, Sheppard was a reception point for Operation Homecoming, the first stop for U.S. prisoners of war from the Vietnam-era war.

• In 1975, the base began training pilots from other countries, including El Salvador, Kuwait, Kenya and Iran.

• The 80th Flying Training Wing at Sheppard began conducting the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program in 1981. ENJJPT was created to train fighter pilots for the NATO alliance. Fourteen nations now participate.

• In Sheppard's 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC), the Department of Defense moved some missions from SAFB but retained its core training mission and the ENJJPT mission.

Sheppard will partner with the city of Wichita Falls for Freedom Fest on the grounds of the MPEC, starting at 5 p.m. on July 4. Sheppard will have an area of static displays, a demonstration by the drill team and remarks by the new installation commander, Col. Samuel Mink.

This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Discover Wichita Falls' military ties on America's 250th birthday

Reporting by Lynn Walker, Wichita Falls Times Record News / Wichita Falls Times Record News

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect

This story was originally published June 21, 2026 at 5:02 AM.