|
1946-1951
After World War, Camp Wolters was
purchased from the War Department by a group of local businessmen and
became known as Camp Wolters Enterprises, Inc. Many of the buildings
were moved and converted to barns, warehouses, school buildings, and
homes. Those buildings remaining at the camp were converted into a
thriving industrial center.
During the latter part of 1950,
representatives of the Air Force and the Army discussed with company
officers the possible use of all of the buildings, roads, utilities, and
other property owned by Camp Wolters Enterprises, Inc., at the old Camp
Wolters site.
During the early months of 1951,
it was announced that Camp Wolters would be reactivated by the Air Force
and would be the home base for the aviation engineers. The Corps of
Engineers and a nationally known independent appraisal firm made
appraisals of the land, buildings, and other facilities, and after
limited negotiations, a price for those properties was agreed upon, and
a settlement was completed on this basis.
1951-1956
In
February, 1951, the camp was reactivated and redesignated Wolters
Air Force Base. Its mission was to house the newly formed Aviation
Engineer Force, which was established in April, 1951. SCARWAF (Special
Category Army with Air Force) personnel were trained here until 1956,
when the SCARWAF function reverted to Army Control.
In March, 1956,
Secretary of the Army Wilber M. Brucker and a party of Defense
Department and Army officials arrived at the base to inspect the
facilities.
The March 24 issue of
the Army Times quoted an Army source as stating that the Army was
ordered to take over Wolters Air Force Base as a site for primary
helicopter training, and on April 19, Headquarters Wolters Air Force
Base received a Department of Defense news release stating that transfer
of the base would be held during the summer of 1956.
On July 1, 1956, the
post was officially transferred to Army control and Camp Wolters
embarked on its new mission - training helicopter pilot. |