Amazing America 250: The history of Dyess Air Force Base

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Dyess Air Force Base is more than just a military installation, it's a cornerstone of history and service.

KTXS went to the Dyess Memorial Museum where those stories come to life through the aircraft and airmen who made history.

"The Dyess Memorial Museum is here to display to airmen and also the public, the history and heritage of the United States Air Force," Base Curator at Dyess Air Force Base, Walter Nicolds, said. "And how it ties in to the history of the United States in general."

Before Dyess became what it is today, it was known as Abilene Army Airfield from 1942 to 1946.

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After it closed, Abilene took a major financial hit, especially since Camp Barkeley had also recently shut down.

"Abilene leaders started to look for an opportunity to reestablish a base of some kind in the Abilene area," Nicolds said. "When the Korean War came about, that was their opportunity to start lobbying with our Senator Lyndon Baines Johnson And, they also lobbied with Curtis LeMay, the father of the strategic Air Command (SAC)."

By 1952, Abilene Air Force Base was approved for construction.

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By 1956, it was renamed Dyess Air Force Base, after World War II aviator and Bataan Death March survivor, William Edwin Dyess.

"He was one of the few to escape from a Japanese P.O.W. camp during World War II," Nicolds said. "And so, because William Edwin Dyess was from Albany, he was well known local figure, which tied into why people wanted his name."

Nicolds said that Abilene has always had a deep appreciation for the military, and that’s why places like this museum matter.

"In 1979, General James P. Mullins was the commander of 15th Air Force," Nicolds aid. "And he issued an order for all units under his command to establish a history and heritage display of some sort Abilene decided to go with the museum."

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He told us that General Mullins’ goal was to learn from our past successes and failures

"If you can't learn from your past, where are you going to learn from," Nicolds said.

Today, Dyess continues to play a major role in Abilene.

"This is where B-1b pilots come to learn how to be B-1b pilots," Nicolds said. "And then, we're third on the list of the three bases that will be getting the B-21 We will be the last ones to have the B-1b Lancer and we'll also be the last ones to receive the B-21 Raider."

From the aircraft to the airmen, the Dyess Memorial Museum gives a closer look at the legacy that continues to define this base.

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