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Draughon–Miller Central Texas Regional Airport

Coordinates: 31°09′07″N 097°24′28″W / 31.15194°N 97.40778°W / 31.15194; -97.40778
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Draughon–Miller Central Texas Regional Airport

(former Temple Army Airfield)
USGS 2006 orthophoto
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerCity of Temple
ServesTemple, Texas
Elevation AMSL682 ft / 208 m
Coordinates31°09′07″N 097°24′28″W / 31.15194°N 97.40778°W / 31.15194; -97.40778
Websitewww.TempleTexas.us/...
Map
TPL is located in Texas
TPL
TPL
Location of airport in Texas
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
15/33 7,000 2,134 Asphalt
2/20 4,740 1,445 Asphalt
Statistics (2010)
Aircraft operations48,276
Based aircraft227

Draughon–Miller Central Texas Regional Airport (IATA: TPL, ICAO: KTPL, FAA LID: TPL) is a city owned, public use airport located five nautical miles (6 mi, 9 km) northwest of the central business district of Temple, a city in Bell County, Texas, United States.[1] It is included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015, which categorized it as a general aviation facility.[2]

History

In July 1942, the United States Army Air Forces acquired pasture land and began construction of Temple Army Airfield.[3] including three concrete runways, several taxiways, a large parking apron and a control tower, along with housing and other buildings for support services. Buildings were utilitarian and quickly assembled. Most base buildings, not meant for long-term use, were constructed of temporary or semi-permanent materials. Although some hangars had steel frames, and the occasional brick or tile brick building could be seen, most support buildings sat on concrete foundations but were of frame construction clad in little more than plywood and tar paper.

Temple AAF was a sub-base of Waco Army Airfield and was used as a basic flying school by the Army Air Forces Flying Training Command, Gulf Training Center (later Central Flying Training Command). Cadets received basic flying indoctrination and training, primarily in North American BT-9s and Stearman PT-17s. By late 1944, its primary activity was multi-engine transition training and combat crew assembling on North American B-25 Mitchell medium bombers. Flight training continued until the base was closed on 31 October 1945.

With the end of the war the airfield was determined to be excess by the military and turned over to the City of Temple, which closed "Temple Municipal Airport," [which had been built about 2 miles northwest of the central business district in 1937 by Works Progress Administration] and renamed Temple Army Airfield "Draughon–Miller" in honor of two Temple fliers who had died in World War II. The city used the former site of Temple Municipal Airport first as a landfill, and later for a planned industrial area.

Facilities and aircraft

Draughon–Miller Central Texas Regional Airport covers an area of 922 acres (373 ha) at an elevation of 682 feet (208 m) above mean sea level. It has two asphalt paved runways: 15/33 is 7,000 by 150 feet (2,134 x 46 m) and 2/20 is 4,740 by 100 feet (1,445 x 30 m).[1]

For the 12-month period ending May 31, 2010, the airport had 48,276 aircraft operations, an average of 132 per day: 85% general aviation and 15% military. At that time there were 227 aircraft based at this airport: 65% military, 31% single-engine, 2% multi-engine, 2% jet, and <1% helicopter.[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d FAA Airport Form 5010 for TPL PDF. Federal Aviation Administration. Effective May 31, 2012.
  2. ^ "2011–2015 NPIAS Report, Appendix A" (PDF, 2.03 MB). National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems. Federal Aviation Administration. October 4, 2010. {{cite web}}: External link in |work= (help)
  3. ^ Temple – Images of America, Michael Kelsey and Nancy Kelsey, Arcadia Publishing, 2010, ISBN 0738580236, 9780738580234, page 109

Other sources

  • Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
  • Shaw, Frederick J. (2004), Locating Air Force Base Sites History’s Legacy, Air Force History and Museums Program, United States Air Force, Washington DC, 2004.
  • Manning, Thomas A. (2005), History of Air Education and Training Command, 1942–2002. Office of History and Research, Headquarters, AETC, Randolph AFB, Texas ASIN: B000NYX3PC
  • Thole, Lou (1999), Forgotten Fields of America : World War II Bases and Training, Then and Now – Vol. 2. Publisher: Pictorial Histories Pub, ISBN 1-57510-051-7


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