Ellington Field in Houston, Texas, has a unique heritage that mirrors the course of 20th century American military history. For 81 years, Ellington Field served the United States Army and Air Force through times of war, cold war, and peace. Over the past 8 decades the airfield has functioned in variety of operational roles: as an active duty base, an Air Force Reserve base, and an Air National Guard base. Overall, Ellington Field's economic, political, and technological impact on the development of south Texas cannot be underestimated. While most military facilities built in 1917 to train pilots for combat in the First World War have long since disappeared, Ellington Field remains active as a private field that serves the military, commercial, and general aviation needs of Houston.