Reeves Auxillary Army Airfield #1

Military Deactivation. The airfield was an auxiliary training field built specifically for the massive pilot training effort during WWII. With the victory in Europe and Japan in 1945, the demand for new pilots plummeted. Consequently, the U.S. military rapidly downsized its training infrastructure, closing hundreds of bases like the Pampa Army Airfield complex, as they were no longer needed.

The site has been completely converted to private agricultural land. Satellite imagery of the coordinates reveals the faint, ghostly outlines of the three former runways in their classic triangular configuration, visible as variations in soil color and crop patterns. However, there is no remaining aviation infrastructure. The land is actively used for farming, with large pivot irrigation systems operating on and around the former airfield. All buildings, hangars, and paved surfaces have been removed, and the site has been fully reclaimed for agriculture.

Reeves Auxiliary Army Airfield #1 was one of five satellite fields supporting the main Pampa Army Airfield (PAAF) during World War II. PAAF was a major Advanced Twin-Engine Pilot School, and its primary mission was to train pilots on multi-engine aircraft before they were assigned to combat or transport units. Student pilots, flying aircraft such as the Cessna AT-17 Bobcat and the Beechcraft AT-10 Wichita, used Reeves #1 and the other auxiliary fields for practicing essential skills like takeoffs, landings, touch-and-go maneuvers, and simulated emergency procedures. This system of auxiliary fields was crucial for dispersing air traffic away from the busy main base, which increased safety and the efficiency of the training program. The field featured a typical triangular runway layout, characteristic of WWII-era training fields, allowing for operations in various wind conditions. It was a vital component of the infrastructure that trained thousands of American and Allied pilots for wartime service.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the airfield. The site is privately owned, fully integrated into agricultural use, and lacks any of the necessary infrastructure for aviation. The cost to reacquire the land and rebuild an airport from scratch would be prohibitive, and there is no economic or logistical demand for another airport at this location, as the city of Pampa is already served by Perry Lefors Field (KPPA). The airfield is considered permanently closed and exists only as a historical remnant.