Sheppard Air Force Base

Sheppard Air Force Base (AFB) is a United States Air Force installation located near Wichita Falls, Texas. Established as Sheppard Field on October 17, 1941, it was named in honor of Texas Senator John Morris Sheppard. The base began as a United States Army Air Corps training center, initially focusing on aviation mechanics. During World War II, it expanded to include basic training, glider mechanics, technical and flying training instructors, and B-29 Superfortress flight engineers. After a brief deactivation in 1946, it was reactivated in 1948 as Sheppard AFB, resuming its role as a training center.

Sheppard AFB is currently operational and serves as the largest and most diversified training base within the Air Education and Training Command (AETC). The host unit is the 82d Training Wing, which provides specialized technical training across various U.S. military branches, Department of Defense agencies, and for foreign nationals. The 80th Flying Training Wing, also based at Sheppard, conducts the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training (ENJJPT) program, an internationally manned and managed program producing combat pilots for both USAF and NATO. From 1960 to 1975, the base also hosted Strategic Air Command units, including the 494th Bombardment Wing and Detachment 1, 2nd Bombardment Wing. Sheppard AFB shares its airfield with Wichita Falls Municipal Airport under a joint civil-military arrangement.