Time Critical Removal Action, The Former Camp Wolters, Mineral Wells, Texas, Final Report Page: 1-4
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SCI UXO/OE Services
OE Time-Critical-Removal-Action, Former Camp Wolters TX
Final Report
1.3 SITE HISTORY
In 1921 the 56th Cavalry of the Texas National Guard was organized and used the Rock
Creek-Mineral Wells areas as field training areas. A grant for construction of the Texas
National Guard training camp was given to BG Jacob F. Wolters, commander of the 56th
Brigade, Texas National Guard. The city commissioners purchased 50 acres of land next
to Mineral Wells Lake for location of the headquarters. Citizens of Mineral Wells, led by
Mayor John Miller, joined together and leased 2,300 acres, surrounding the original 50
acres. The population of the city at the time was 7,500.
On October 13, 1940, the Department of Defense announced that Mineral Wells was
selected as the location of an Infantry Replacement Training Center (IRTC) large enough
to house 17,000 personnel. Additional acreage was leased totaling 7,500 acres. The
construction firms of Cage Brothers and F.W. Reeves & Sons from Dallas won the
construction contract to build the training center. Eighteen thousand men worked around
the clock to complete the training center in 3 2 months. The camp was turned over
officially to the Army on March 22, 1941 and was officially named Camp Wolters.
The camp became an important infantry-replacement training center (IRTC) with a troop
capacity that reached a peak of 24,973. From 1942-45, a German prisoner of war camp
was located in the center of the camp. The IRTC was inactivated January 19, 1946 and
the flag was lowered for the last time on August 15, 1946. Local businessmen purchased
the land and facilities and converted them to private use.
The tensions of the Cold War, however, resulted in the reopening of the camp in early
1951, under the authority of the U.S. Air Force. At the installation, then named Wolters
Air Force Base, was housed the newly formed Aviation Engineer Force; special-category
Army and AF personnel were trained there.
In September 1956 the base became the Primary Helicopter Center directed by the US
Army. The first class reported for training on November 26, 1956 and graduated April
27, 1957. The training was done at the Main Heliport and four stage fields. These
facilities grew to three heliports and 25 stage fields.
The School started with 125 Hiller OH-23 Raven helicopters and peaked in 1969 at more
than 1,300 including the OH-13 and TH-55 types. Over 41,000 students, representing
over 30 countries graduated from the primary helicopter school. In June 1963 it was
renamed Fort Wolters. At the time all army rotary-wing aviators received basic and
primary flight training there.
The Vietnam War increased the need for pilots, and the base became the home for
training not just army personnel, but also for the Marine Corps in 1968 and for the Air
Force in 1970. By 1970 Fort Wolters covered 8,500 acres and leased an additional 1,700
acres to help handle the 1,200 helicopters used at the camp. By January 1, 1973, 40,000
students had completed the 22-week training program and on February 1, 1973 the
DACA87-99-D-0013 1-4 September 21, 2001
Task Order 9 Rev January 30, 2002
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SCI UXO/OE Services. Time Critical Removal Action, The Former Camp Wolters, Mineral Wells, Texas, Final Report, report, January 30, 2002; Fort Worth, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth477571/m1/7/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Boyce Ditto Public Library.