Q. I’ve heard of Gary Air Force Base. Where is it located?
Gary Air Force Base no longer A. exists as a military air base. It was converted in 1965 into the Gary Job Corps Training Center and the San Marcos Regional Airport.
Gary Army Air Field was originally a World War II aviation base that was partially paid for by the City of San Marcos and the Federal government. Construction of the air field was begun in late summer 1942 and completed on Dec. 15 of that year. The base was initially a navigator training facility housing the 2536th Army Air Forces Base Unit. The first class of cadets to graduate from training started in February 1943 and by September 1945, over 10,000 navigators had been trained. In the San Marcos Public Library’s files (TTWC Gary Air Force Base), is a copy of the special debut edition of the ASTEROPE, the San Marcos Army Air Force’s Navigation School Newspaper. Inside this opening day program, it cheerfully described the plan for dedication ceremonies:
