By Chris Sasser
Texas Transportation Institute
The cloudy cold weather did little to dampen the enthusiasm of several hundred folks who turned out for the dedication of the U.S. Army Air Forces Memorial on October 10.
The memorial stands as a tribute to all Army Air Forces cadets who served and the civilians who trained them. Nearly 8,000 301 st Army Air Forces Flying Training Detachment cadets trained at Corsicana Air Field during World War II. Trained by civilian instructors, the cadets are credited with flying essentially every type and model aircraft of the U.S. Army Air Forces inventory and serving in every theatre of WWII.
Among the speakers at the dedication were Major General Frank Padilla, Commander, 10th Air Force, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth (keynote); Alberto Acero, Consul General Republic of Mexico; and Dr. Tommy Stringer, Navarro County College.
“Mr. Acero brought a large spray of flowers to the ceremony,” said Sarah Farley, the fixed-based operator of Corsicana Municipal Airport and secretary of the Corsicana Field Aviation Heritage Foundation (CFAHF). “This area is considered hallowed ground by the Mexican government because a cadet was killed while training here. That sentiment was echoed in Gen. Padilla’s speech. He was one of thirteen cadets and instructors who died in training at Corsicana Army Airfield.”
Also in attendance were the Air Force quintet band, a color guard, cadets from Baylor’s ROTC unit and former cadets from across the country, including one each from the first and last class. There were also two flyovers from a PTl 9 and T38’s. Most of the members of the CFAHF were able to attend as well. These members, along with CFAHF President Gary Farley (Sarah’s husband), were instrumental in bringing the memorial to the airport. The day concluded with a big band hangar dance that also served as a reunion for cadets who trained here in the early 1940s.
“Unfortunately, with the low ceiling that day, we had several folks who were unable to fly in,” says Sarah. ‘We would have loved for them to be here. But it was still a wonderful event that would not have been possible without the efforts of many people. Gary and I just wanted to take a back seat and take it all in.”
Gary echoed his wife’s sentiments. ”This has been a ten-year project and the culmination of many countless hours of hard work. We have a very well represented memorial and are proud to dedicate the grounds as they are, with confidence that the men and women we honor here today will be forever remembered . “
