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Biggs Army Airfield

Biggs Army Airfield
Biggs Air Force Base
Biggs Field
Biggs Army Airfield - Texas.jpg
USGS aerial image as of 2006
Summary
Airport type Military
Owner U.S. Army ATCA-ASO
Location Fort Bliss, El Paso County, Texas
Built 1942
In use 1942–1968
Elevation AMSL 3,946 ft / 1,203 m
Coordinates 31°50′58″N 106°22′48″W / 31.84944°N 106.38000°W / 31.84944; -106.38000Coordinates: 31°50′58″N 106°22′48″W / 31.84944°N 106.38000°W / 31.84944; -106.38000
Map
KBIF is located in Texas
KBIF
KBIF
Location of Biggs Army Airfield
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
3/21 13,554 4,131 PEM

Biggs Army Airfield, Biggs AAF, Biggs Field, or simply "Biggs" (IATA: BIFICAO: KBIFFAA LID: BIF) is a military airport located at Fort Bliss in El Paso, El Paso County, Texas, in the United States. The airfield was previously Biggs Air Force Base, a Strategic Air Command installation, between 1947 and 1966. The United States Army began operations supporting Fort Bliss and its mission in 1973.

Biggs Field is now the home of the United States Army 1st Armored Division. In October 2011, the Airfield became home of the Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Armored Division. Biggs is also the headquarters for the El Paso Intelligence Center, a federal tactical operational intelligence center, and its DoD counterpart, Joint Task Force North. Biggs Field is designated a military power projection platform.

What is now Biggs Army Airfield started life in 1915 as an encampment at Fort Bliss, Texas, for the 82d Field Artillery. That location was on what is now Ft Bliss, approximately two miles, south southwest of the current Biggs Army Airfield. The next year aircraft of the 1st Aero Squadron used the field as a stopping point between San Antonio, Texas, and Columbus, New Mexico, in response to Pancho Villa's raid on the town. They were equipped with Curtiss JN-2 "Jennys", and their mission included scouting, observation, and courier service for the cavalry and infantry units on the ground. The field was referred to as "Fort Bliss Aviation Field". In 1919, the field was used to conduct air patrols of the US–Mexico border, when two squadrons of DeHavilland DH.4 bombers, known affectionately as "Flying Coffins", replaced the frail Jennys and the Border Air Patrol was born.


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