Laughlin Army Air Field was named after Lieutenant Jack T. Laughlin, the first Del Rio Army Air Forces casualty of World War II. His B-17 was shot down over Java. Laughlin's training mission began in July 1942 under the Army Air corps. The mission of the base at that time was to transition pilots into the Martin B-26 "Marauder". In 1945, the base closed and the land was leased to sheep and goat raisers in the area. In 1962, Undergraduate Pilot Training was implemented at Laughlin and has remained its mission ever since. Laughlin used the T-37 in the primary phase of training and the T-33 in the advanced phase. In 1964, the T-38 replaced the T-33. In 1965, the T-41 "Mescalero", a single engine plane, was used in the first phase of student training to identify students in need of additional help and identify likely eliminees before sending them to UPT. Civilian instructors conducted the training at Del Rio International Airport. This training now takes place at Hondo, Texas near San Antonio. A new eara began at Laughlin in 1993 as the 47th Flying Training Wing implemented specialized undergraduate pilot traint (SUPT) and brought on board the T1A Jayhawk, the first new aircraft to be used at AETC's flying training wings in over 25 years. Lauglin's mission to train pilots has remained the same since 1962.
Main
phone numbers: Commercial (830)298-3511 or
DSN 732-1110
Mailing
address: Laughlin AFB, TX 78843
Population:
1,402 active duty; 23 reservists; 1,445 family
members; 1,035 civilians
Housing: 318
officer family units; 212 enlisted family units; 464
unaccompanied units; 54 mobile home spaces
(830)298-5732/33
Temporary
lodging: 60 visitor units; 22 temporary
units; campground with 20 RV spaces (830)298-5741
Family
Support Center: (830)298-5620
Schools: None
on base.
Child
Care: Center for 100, short wait; 10
approved homes (830)298-5419
Health
care: Clinic. Appointments
(830)298-6393; benefits (830)298-6350; Tricare
(830)298-5419
Laughlin Air Force Base - Del Rio, TX
has a medium size commissary - (830)298-5821,
a small exchange, and one shoppette (830)298-3627. Recreation at Laughlin Air Force Base - Del Rio, TX
includes arts and crafts, bowling, library, auto hobby,
recreation center, theater, golf, gym, tennis, swimming,
outdoor activities, camping, fishing, and stables.
