The airfield was officially named "Biggs Field" after Lieutenant James Berthea "Buster" Biggs, an El Paso native killed in a plane crash October 27, 1918 at Belrain, France, on January 5, 1925.[2]
In December 1965 it was announced that Biggs AFB would be closed. In January 1966 Assistant Secretary of Defense (Installations and Logistics)Paul Ignatius testified to Congress that "The operational environment at Biggs poses serious problems. Such factors as the proximity of El Paso International Airport, the suburbs of El Paso, and mountainous areas adjacent to Biggs…weapons testing areas to the north and the convergence of civil airways carrying heavy…traffic combine to create serious safety and traffic control problems."[6]
Starting in 1966, a branch of the Defense Language Institute (DLI) conducted Vietnamese training using native contract instructors at the Airfield. [8]Vietnamese instruction continued at the Defense Language Institute-Southwest (DLISW) until 2004, concurrent with the establishment in 1972 of the US Army's Sergeants Major Academy. [9]
Biggs Army Airfield (1973–present)
The former Biggs AFB remained under DoD control in a caretaker status until 1973 when it was transferred to the U.S. Army as a sub-post of nearby Fort Bliss. Renamed Biggs Army Airfield, the installation was reactivated in 1973 as a permanent airfield for the U.S. Army, which turned into the world’s largest Army Airfield at that time.[10]
The Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC) operates from its headquarters co-located with its training unit at Biggs Army Airfield.[12]
The Silas L. Copeland Arrival/Departure Airfield Control Group at Biggs Army Airfield serves military and civilian personnel who deploy to their overseas assignments, such as to and from Southwest Asia.[13]
On 14 July 2017 a new 116-foot (35 m) air traffic control tower was opened at the field.[14]
The annual Amigo Airsho, which was held at Biggs Army Airfield from 1982 - 2012 is set to return in October 2024, after a 12 year hiatus.[15]
5 March 1961: KB-50D 49-0328 on a flight from Wake Island crashed 6 miles (9.7 km) from Biggs on a night visual flight rules approach. All 9 crewmembers were killed.[26]
References
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
^Maurer, Maurer (1987). Aviation in the U.S. Army, 1919–1939. United States Air Force Historical Research Center. pp. 99–101. ISBN 0912799382.
^Association, Texas State Historical. "Biggs Army Air Field". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
^Air Force combat wings : lineage and honors histories 1947–1977. DIANE Publishing. 16 September 1984. p. 137. ISBN 9781428993563.
^ a b"Factsheet 810 Strategic Aerospace Division". Air Force Historical Research Agency. 11 October 2007. Archived from the original on 30 October 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
^ "Abstract (Unclassified), Vol 1, History of Strategic Air Command, Jan–Jun 1957 (Secret)". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
^Shaw, Frederick (2004). Locating Air Force Base Sites History's Legacy (PDF). Air Force History and Museums Program. pp. 110–1. ISBN 9780160724152.
^Robertson, Patsy (20 June 2010). "Factsheet 95 Air Base Wing (AFMC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
^Defense Language Institute (PDF), Headquarters Defense Language Institute, archived from the original (PDF) on 15 November 2023, retrieved 15 November 2023
^History of the US Army Sergeants Major Academy 1 July 1972-31 December 1974 Volume 1 (PDF), US Army Sergeants Major Academy, archived from the original (PDF) on 15 November 2023, retrieved 15 November 2023
^"Biggs Army Air Field at Fort Bliss in el Paso, TX".
^"Joint Task Force North". U.S. Northern Command. 16 May 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2018.