Long before Aransas County Airport became a hub for general aviation and private airplane charters, it played a vital role in one of the most important chapters of American history. During the 1940s, as World War II swept across the globe, this quiet corner of the Texas coast came alive with the rumble of radial engines and the determined focus of young cadets learning to fly.
Just outside the heart of Rockport, Texas, lies a hidden gem of American aviation history—Aransas County Airport. While today it serves local pilots, tourists, and business travelers, few realize that this quiet airfield was once a bustling military training ground during the height of World War II.
It all began with a legendary moment-when a PT-17 Stearman landed in April of 1942. The very same type of open-cockpit biplane we proudly fly today at Vintage Air Tours. That landing symbolized more than just progress—it marked the start of a wartime transformation that would leave a lasting impact on South Texas.
A Strategic Coastal Training Base
In the early 1940s, as the U.S. ramped up efforts to train pilots for combat, the flat open land and coastal location of Rockport made it an ideal spot for an auxiliary training field. The airport quickly came under the operational use of both the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Army Air Corps—a rare and remarkable dual designation.
By the mid-1940s, between 75 and 80 training aircraft were stationed at the field, filling the skies daily with cadets learning the essentials of military flight. From primary flight training in PT-17 Stearmans to more advanced skills in other warbirds, Aransas County Airport was a crucial stepping stone for the thousands of pilots heading off to serve in the Pacific, Europe, and beyond.
The airfield's uncluttered skies, coastal breezes, and proximity to the Corpus Christi Naval Air Station made it the perfect satellite for intense, fast-paced training operations. Many of the young men who flew here had never touched an aircraft before—they left with wings, rank, and orders to serve a country at war.
A Legacy That Still Flies- History takes Flight
Today, Aransas County Airport is home to charter operators, flight schools, and privately owned airplanes—but the echoes of its military past still resonate on the ramp and in the hangars during Living History Flights with Vintage Air Tours. Each time our Stearman lifts off, we’re not just offering an unforgettable ride—we’re honoring the history of those who flew here before us. History takes flight at Vintage Air Tours, and we’re proud to be preserving and sharing the legacy of Aransas County Airport. We fly the same skies. We taxi the same runways. And in the cockpit of a warbird, we carry the stories of a generation that rose to the challenge in America’s hour of need.
Make History take Flight at Rockport.
Book your flight and experience the legacy of a training field that helped shape the skies of freedom. Make history take flight today!