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TSTC Waco Airport

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Template:Airport frame Template:Airport title Template:Airport image Template:Airport infobox Template:Runway title Template:Runway Template:Runway Template:Airport image Template:Airport end frame TSTC Waco Airport formerly known as Waco Army Air Field, Connally Air Force Base and James Connally Air Force Base is an airport north of Waco, Texas.

It is currently used as an industrial airpark operated by Texas State Technical College System as well as its Waco campus. L-3 Communications has a plant here that employs over 1500 people.

President George W. Bush flies in and out of the airport on Air Force One during visits to his home at the Prairie Chapel Ranch.

The airport's IATA code of "CWA" is a combination of its Connolly and Waco connections.

History

George W. Bush, Laura Bush, and Barney (dog) at the airport

The airport opened May 5, 1942 as Waco Army Air Field and was the headquarters Army Air Force Central Instructors' School during World War II. It was dectivated after the war in 1945 but was reactivated in 1948 as a pilot training school and was named for Col. James T. Connally who had been killed in Japan in 1945. The airport was initially called Connally Air Force Base but the name evolved to also include his first name.

In 1951 it discontinued pilot training but started training navigators, radar operators, bombardiers, and instrument naviagation specializing in training for the fleet of B-47 Stratojets.

The air force began sharing the base with the state of Texas in 1965 with the James Connally Technical Institute which would eventaully become part of Texas State Techical Institute.

Under President Lyndon Johnson, the base became the headquarters of Twelfth Air Force in 1966. General Dynamics had a modification center at the base to modify B-58 Hustlers.

After the 12th Air Force moved to Bergstrom Air Force Base in Austin, Texas, the State of Texas bought the airport for use as a technical school.

References

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