Warbird Information Exchange

What is now Biggs Army Airfield started life in 1915 as an encampment at Fort Bliss, Texas for the 82nd Field Artillery. That location was on what is now Ft Bliss, approximately two miles SSW of Biggs AAF. The next year aircraft of the 1st Aero Squadron used the field as a stopping point between San Antonio, Texas and Columbus, New Mexico, in response to Pancho Villa's raid on the small town. The field was referred to as "Fort Bliss Aviation Field". In 1919, the field was used for "Border Air Patrol".

On January 5, 1925 the field was officially named "Biggs Field" after Lieutenant James Berthea "Buster" Biggs. Lt. Biggs was an El Paso native killed in a plane crash October 27, 1918 at Beltran, France.

On June 30, 1926 the original Biggs Field was closed and Camp Owen Beirne was renamed Biggs Field on July 1, 1926. Camp Owen Beirne had been a National Guard post and was the location of the large airship hangar that would be a Biggs landmark for many years.

Between the two World Wars, Biggs served as a refueling stop for transient aircraft, but during World War Two it became a hub of training activity for B-17, B-24 and B-29 crews. The base came under the command of the 2nd Air Force and was headquarters for the 20th Bombardment Command. In 1945 a detachment of B-29s from the 16th Bombardment Operational Training Wing arrived at the base.

With the end of WW II the 16th BOTW was deactivated and Biggs became home of the 19th Tactical Air Command, with the 20th Fighter Group and the 471st Air service group taking up residence. These last two units left Biggs for Shaw Field, South Carolina in 1948. On February 1, Biggs Field became Biggs Air Force Base. The 47th Bomb Wing and the 544th Air Service group moved from Lake Charles, Louisiana in October of that year. The 47th only stayed until December, 1949, when it left for Barksdale AFB.

Biggs AFB became a Strategic Air Command asset when the 97th Bomb Wing moved to the base from Smokey Hill AFB, Kansas, in May 1948. In 1950, the 1st Strategic Support Squadron was assigned to Biggs, and on June 10, 1952 the 95th Bomb Wing was activated. To administer the groups the 810th Air Division was also activated in June, 1952. During this time, the various units operated B-29s, B-50s, B-36s, B-47s, B-52s, C-97s, C-124s, KC-97s and KC-135s to name a few.

From 1939 until 1966 one unit was based at Biggs, changing designations several times. That unit was at various times the 1st Tow Target Squadron, 6th TTS and finally the 4758th Defense System Evaluation Squadron. In its lifetime, the 4758th starting with a lone B-10 in 1939 operated at various times: A-26s (which the USAF redesignated B-26s), C-47s, T-6s, F-80s, B-29s, B-45s, B-57s and F-100s.

The 1st SSS was deactivated in 1959, the 97th BW moved to Eaker AFB that same year and in 1966 the 95th BW was deactivated and the 4758th DSES moved to Holloman AF, NM. With that last action Biggs AFB closed and the airfield reverted to the U.S. Army where it remained closed until once again became Biggs Army Airfield in 1973. USAF aircraft and units are only visitors now. In 1973 the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment moved to Fort Bliss and for a very brief time UH-34 Choctaw helicopters operated out of Biggs, but it was not too long before they were phased out of service. From 1973 until 1994 AH-1 Cobra and UH-1 Iroqouis helicopters, along with some fixed wing assets were based at Biggs to support the 3rd ACR. When the 3rd ACR moved to Ft Carson, Colorado Biggs was home to only a few UH-1s and later UH-60 Blackhawks in the role of MAST transport. In 2005 the Department of Defense announced that the 1st Armored Division would relocate to Ft Bliss from Germany. That happened over several years and by 2013 UH-60 Blackhaw, AH-64 Apache, OH-58 Kiowa and CH-47 Chinook aircraft took up residence at Biggs.925.
Source: https://www.angelfire.com/dc/jinxx1/ima ... gsAFB.html

Below: Consolidated B-24D-55-CO Liberator 42-40400. "Big Shorty" a war wear B-24D that was used as a demonstrator aircraft by the 2nd Air Force to promote crew standardization.. RFC at Bush Field, Nov 15, 1944.

I would like to know more about the "standardize procedure" presentations, why a weary airplane doesn't look all that worn, and why they elected to keep the early style roundels. Great pic.

Biggs was always a popular simulator "destination". The terrain just west of the field provided all sorts of learning opportunities. I also recall being there in person, very early in my career, and, for the first time, experiencing how unlit terrain can completely disappear in dark/no-moon conditions, despite ample cultural lighting nearby.

Ken

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"Take care of the little things and the big things will take care of themselves."

It doesn't seem to have had much use; maybe B-24 aficionados can add some detail to its record card annotations:

B-24D s/n 42-40400; received 25Feb43
- Tucson Center (mod) by air 03Mar43
- Lowry Field 18Mar43
- San Diego 29Mar43
- Davis Monthan 16Apr43
- Casper, Wyo 23Jul43
- Geiger 25Jul43
- Pocatello 25Jul43
- Davis Monthan 02Aug43
- Fairmont, Neb 11Aug43
16th Bomb Wg Biggs Field 15Oct43
Cincinatti Ferry Division 13Jul44
4121st AAF Base Unit Kelly AAF 14Jul44
560th AAF Base Unit Palm Springs 08Nov44
To RFC, Bush Field Augusta 15Nov44

The brief history of Biggs looks like it probably came from my website, which needs updating. What was originally dedicated as Biggs AAF was on what is still Ft. Bliss. It served as both a flying field and a parade ground. Incidentally, the Ft. Bliss polo filed was also at times used as a flying field. That can be found on Google Earth as "Armstrong Field".

Camp Owen Beirne was a National Guard post North and East of the Ft. Bliss post. It was mainly utilized by the South Carolina National Guard (and at times the Georgia NG). There were several Guard units called to active duty and stationed it the El Paso area after Pancho Villa's attack on Columbus, NM in 1916 and several camps to accommodate them were created. By 1926 Ft. Bliss was growing and air activity was increasing as well, so on 30 June, 1926 the original Biggs AAF was closed and Camp Owen Beirne was christened Biggs Army Airfield. In 1947 Biggs became an Air Force Base, reverting to Army Airfield after Biggs AFB was inactivated and the facilities turned over to the Army. Or, returned to the Army.

Today the Kiowas are gone, but the Apaches, H-60s and Chinooks are still quite active. They shake my house several times a week.

Big Shorty was probably far more active than the aircraft card would suggest. I suspect she showed up at many bases.

https://www.angelfire.com/dc/jinxx1/Biggs/BiggsAFB.html

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Had God intended for man to fly behind inline engines, Pratt & Whitney would have made them.

CB

http://www.angelfire.com/dc/jinxx1/Desrt_Wings.html