Draughon–Miller Central Texas Regional Airport

Draughon–Miller Central Texas Regional Airport (IATA: TPL, ICAO: KTPL, FAA LID: TPL) is six miles northwest of Temple, in Bell County, Texas. The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015 categorized it as a general aviation facility.

History

In July 1942 the United States Army Air Forces acquired pasture land and began construction of Temple Army Air Field. including three concrete runways, several taxiways, a parking apron and a control tower, along with housing and other buildings. Buildings were utilitarian and quickly assembled. Most base buildings, not meant for long-term use, were built of temporary or semi-permanent materials. Although some hangars had steel frames, and the occasional brick or tile brick building could be seen, most support buildings sat on concrete foundations but were of frame construction clad in little more than plywood and tar paper.

Temple AAF was a sub-base of Waco Army Airfield and was used as a basic flying school by the Army Air Forces Flying Training Command, Gulf Training Center (later Central Flying Training Command). Cadets received basic flying indoctrination and training, primarily in North American BT-9s and Stearman PT-17s. By late 1944, its primary activity was multi-engine transition training and combat crew assembling on North American B-25 Mitchell medium bombers.