Goodfellow Air Force Base

Goodfellow Air Force Base is located in San Angelo, Texas. It was established on 17 August 1940 as the San Angelo Air Corps Basic Flying School and renamed Goodfellow Field on 11 June 1941 in honor of World War I aviator First Lieutenant John J. Goodfellow Jr. During World War II, the base provided advanced air training and graduated more than 10,000 pilots. In the post-war period, instruction continued for multiengine piston and turboprop aircraft, including the AT-6 Texan, T-28 Trojan, and B-25 Mitchell. Pilot training ended in September 1958 when the installation transitioned to the U.S. Air Force Security Service to conduct cryptologic training. Joint-service instruction for the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps was added in 1966. Airfield operations ceased permanently in March 1975.

The base is operated by the Air Education and Training Command and hosts the 17th Training Wing. Its mission is cryptologic, intelligence, and fire protection training for the Air Force, Space Force, Army, Navy, and Marine Corps. Stationed units include the 17th Training Group, which oversees multiple training squadrons, and the U.S. Army’s 344th Military Intelligence Battalion and 169th Engineer Battalion. Other resident organizations include a Marine Corps Detachment, the Navy’s Center for Information Warfare Training, and a detachment of the Space Force’s 533d Training Squadron.

Key infrastructure includes the Louis F. Garland Department of Defense Fire Academy, a joint-service facility for aircraft and structural firefighting, hazardous materials response, and emergency rescue instruction. Medical services are provided by the 17th Medical Group at the Ross Medical Clinic. The installation maintains specialized training facilities, student dormitories, and support infrastructure for unaccompanied personnel. While currently a nonflying base, historical flight operations utilized the Cessna U-3, DeHavilland U-6, and H-21 helicopters.