Marfa mystery lights (San Antonio, El Paso, Commerce: construction, school, military)

[SoldierBoyBliss]

What are they and when do they appear? Can someone give me directions to where I can see them?

[Cathy4017]

Originally Posted by SoldierBoyBliss

What are they and when do they appear? Can someone give me directions to where I can see them?

Marfa, Texas Chamber of Commerce

Home Page

I have always enjoyed going to the lookout to see them, and they've been visible every time I've gone. It's on highway 90 east of Marfa.

[lifertexan]

Take flashlights,especially if you are taking kids.It gets a kind of dark that I don't think most people even understand out there if the moon and stars are not out.I literally could not see my hand in front of my face.I finally picked my young daughter up and held her rather than just hold her hand because I would not have been able to find her again should she have gotten away from me without turning car lights on and hoping she was visible via those.

[SoldierBoyBliss]

I wonder what the old Army air base was. that peeks my interest to.

[Gary Siete]

Originally Posted by SoldierBoyBliss

I wonder what the old Army air base was. that peeks my interest to.

This amazing site shows four old airfields near Marfa:
Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields: Texas: Big Bend area

Marfa Army Airfield / Presidio County Airport, Marfa, TX
Construction started in early 1942 and was essentially completed by August 22, 1942.
The U.S. Army Air Force Advanced Flying School came into existence at the Marfa AAF at that time.
On 11/25/42, the first shipment of AT-17B twin-engine trainers arrived.
By April 30, 1944, the base had a total complement of 3,293 personnel:
575 officers, 2,114 enlisted men, and 604 civilians.
Some AT-6 advanced single engine trainers were also used at Marfa AAF.
The B-25 Mitchell bomber was also used for multi-engine training at Marfa during the later portions of the war.
After the graduation of Class 45-C on May 23, 1945,
all remaining students & Chinese cadets were reassigned to other bases to complete their training.
By the end of 1945, flying operations at Marfa rapidly wound down,
with the base having only one C-64, twenty C-47s and one B-25 by 11/30/45.

[SoldierBoyBliss]

Thanks Gary. I did a google and read a bunch on it. sad its gone, but what a cool history... just think Marfa and Alpine could be El Paso like now had the military bases/post stayed open and Bliss closed. How things would of been different.

[jaxart]

Originally Posted by SoldierBoyBliss

Thanks Gary. I did a google and read a bunch on it. sad its gone, but what a cool history... just think Marfa and Alpine could be El Paso like now had the military bases/post stayed open and Bliss closed. How things would of been different.

Marfa and Alpine have always been much smaller towns than the city of El Paso, and in addition, they don't share El Paso's strategic location. During and right after WWII, Biggs Field was a Strategic Air Command facility and much more active than the smaller training bases around the region, of which there were more than just those at Marfa.

[malamute]

I haven't been out there yet - I need to see them. I agree that having the base is what makes El Paso more successful - that's what brings the money here and attracts the people.

[mistabinks]

Ft Bliss definitely helps El Paso. I think the city and the base need to work together more and really utilize all the opportunities. That being said, El Paso most definitely is not an Army town.

[bree~]

Originally Posted by mistabinks

Ft Bliss definitely helps El Paso. I think the city and the base need to work together more and really utilize all the opportunities. That being said, El Paso most definitely is not an Army town.

I completely agree with that statement. I think some of the unappreciation (is that a word? LOL) makes people who are stationed here happy to PCS to the next base. If it weren't for Bliss, this city would be nothing more than a large town in the desert, yet the residents do not appreciate all the fiscal advantages the military brings to their town. In San Antonio, nearly every place gave a military discount. Same thing with Clarksville. Here it is few and far between.