History of Penfield Aviation Training Center in Travis County

Published: 1952

Updated: September 1, 1995

Penfield (Penn Field) was an aviation training center established near Austin in Travis County during World War I. Barracks, commissaries, and landing fields were constructed, and a railroad spur connected the installation with the Missouri Pacific system. In 1919 the site was sold to the Woodward Manufacturing Corporation, and the railroad track was sold to Bergstrom Air Force Base in 1940.

Mary Starr Barkley, History of Travis County and Austin, 1839–1899 (Waco: Texian Press, 1963).

Places:

Communities

The following, adapted from the Chicago Manual of Style, 15th edition, is the preferred citation for this entry.

Claudia Hazlewood, “Penfield, TX,” Handbook of Texas Online, accessed April 11, 2026, https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/penfield-tx.

TID: HRP23

Original Publication Date:: 1952
Most Recent Revision Date:: September 1, 1995

Keelboat reaches "raft on the Colorado"

188 years ago today
Majestic Theatre opens in Dallas

105 years ago today
Leading Texas woman made first secretary of HEW

73 years ago today

Shop & Support:

Join TSHA

Support the preservation and sharing of Texas history. Join TSHA today and help keep these valuable historical records free for everyone—while supporting student research, educator resources, and member access to our digital library and publications.

Choose a Membership Level →

Find out more about this place from our Texas Almanac:

Adopt Your Piece of Texas! →

Place

Penfield

Currently Exists

Place Type

Town

Town Fields

Has post office: No
Is Incorporated: No

Belongs to

Travis County

Associated Names

Penn Field

Coordinates

Latitude: 30.22873700°
Longitude: -97.75992100°

Commemorating 250 years of American independence through the stories, people, and places that shaped Texas and the nation.

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary in 2026, Texans have a unique opportunity to reflect on the state’s role in the American story. Through exhibitions, programs, educational initiatives, and community events across Texas, Texas America250 encourages celebration, reflection, and commemoration at both local and statewide levels. At the Texas State Historical Association, we are proud to support this important moment through our mission-driven work in history education and public engagement, including Texas History Day, and we invite students, educators, and communities to explore this milestone in meaningful ways.

“

On July 4, 2026, we will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence and the birth of the greatest nation in the history of the world. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Long may these ideals live in the heart of every Texan and every American. May God bless all who have defended our freedoms that we enjoy each day. And God bless the United States of America.

Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas

History of Penfield Aviation Training Center in Travis County

Bibliography:

Is history important to you?

Shop & Support:

Join TSHA

Find out more about this place from our Texas Almanac:

Commemorating 250 years of American independence through the stories, people, and places that shaped Texas and the nation.

Commemorating 250 years of American independence through the stories, people, and places that shaped Texas and the nation.

Find Events

Get Involved

Learn More

Share this entry on social media:

Bibliography:

Is history important to you?

Shop & Support:

Join TSHA ×

Find out more about this place from our Texas Almanac:

Commemorating 250 years of American independence through the stories, people, and places that shaped Texas and the nation.

Commemorating 250 years of American independence through the stories, people, and places that shaped Texas and the nation.

Find Events

Get Involved

Learn More

Join TSHA