History Named after Army Air Corps pilot Lt. Bruce Kilpatrick Craig, a Dallas County native who in 1941 died in the crash of his B-24, Craig Field was a center in the southeast for the Army Air Corps and later Air Force undergraduate flight training during World War II and the Korean and Vietnam conflicts. At one point in its history, Craig was the busiest airport in the world with over 93,000 flight hours and 455,000 aircraft movements. In 1977, military aviation operations ended at Craig and the site was sold to the Craig Field Airport and Industrial Authority (CFAIA), which continues oversee operations and development of the site. Before the 1977 closure of the base, operations had largely been converted to aircraft maintenance; this provided a tremendous opportunity to aircraft manufacturers and refurbishing outfits at the time, which began to take advantage of state-of-the-art facilities left by the Air Force. Aviation businesses have continued to thrive for the last 30 years at Craig due to the lasting commitment by the individuals involved with the CFAIA. This commitment is evident in the continued investment by the Authority in the infrastructure of the complex which includes improvements in flight line technologies, perimeter security, resurfacing of runway and taxiways. As of 2009, the Authority is set to undertake approximately $3 million in improvements. These investments allow the Airport and Industrial Complex to continue to be an asset for its tenants, operators and the Dallas County community well into the 21st century. Training Class Reunions:
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